http://powazek.com/posts/786 It's pronounced poe-WAH-zek. Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:26:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://powazek.com/posts/786/comment-page-1#comment-1610 Geoff Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:42:32 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/786#comment-1610 That was pretty much the model we were using for Inkblots back in 1995 -- little to no advertising, with the cost of the magazines being nearly completely supported by the purchasing public. The downside to that was the each issue often wound up being pretty expensive -- which is, alas, the same problem faced by McSweeney's. There's an interesting sweet spot in there somewhere between perceived value and cost of production, but I'm still not entirely sure where it is. This is the same problem that's faced literary magazines from the dawn of time. I think where McSweeney's (and Inkblots, actually) got it right was the creation of a non-pretentious, non-elitist publication; subscriber-supported publications have a higher degree of success when they appeal to, are accessible to, and are welcoming to as many people as possible. But then again, hey, this ain't rocket science. :) That was pretty much the model we were using for Inkblots back in 1995 — little to no advertising, with the cost of the magazines being nearly completely supported by the purchasing public. The downside to that was the each issue often wound up being pretty expensive — which is, alas, the same problem faced by McSweeney’s. There’s an interesting sweet spot in there somewhere between perceived value and cost of production, but I’m still not entirely sure where it is. This is the same problem that’s faced literary magazines from the dawn of time. I think where McSweeney’s (and Inkblots, actually) got it right was the creation of a non-pretentious, non-elitist publication; subscriber-supported publications have a higher degree of success when they appeal to, are accessible to, and are welcoming to as many people as possible. But then again, hey, this ain’t rocket science. :)

]]> http://powazek.com/posts/786/comment-page-1#comment-1592 Derek Powazek Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:23:58 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/786#comment-1592 Middlemen that help give people a voice, reward good contributions, and inspire participation are good indeed! Middlemen that just get in the way, slow down the process, and add cost to the bottom line? Not so much. Middlemen that help give people a voice, reward good contributions, and inspire participation are good indeed! Middlemen that just get in the way, slow down the process, and add cost to the bottom line? Not so much.

]]> http://powazek.com/posts/786/comment-page-1#comment-1589 Andy Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:45:04 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/786#comment-1589 I do like this, but <i>I think</i> middlemen in general are inevitable, and not so bad. I do like this, but I think middlemen in general are inevitable, and not so bad.

]]> http://powazek.com/posts/786/comment-page-1#comment-1588 Ricky Irvine Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:32:25 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/786#comment-1588 Here's <a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dave+Eggers.(THE+PROGRESSIVE+INTERVIEW)(Interview)-a0171139391" rel="nofollow">the original source</a> of the quote. Here’s the original source of the quote.

]]> http://powazek.com/posts/786/comment-page-1#comment-1587 beth Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:50:45 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/786#comment-1587 Dave Eggers is definitely onto something. In the digital age I think there's a lot to be said for a high quality, tangible product. (Thus the resurgence of vinyl records) I buy every issue of both of those publications because each has wonderful writing, beautiful design and illustration, and a nice heavy paper stock that feels good in my hands. It's a nice change over say reading Wired online. Dave Eggers is definitely onto something. In the digital age I think there’s a lot to be said for a high quality, tangible product. (Thus the resurgence of vinyl records) I buy every issue of both of those publications because each has wonderful writing, beautiful design and illustration, and a nice heavy paper stock that feels good in my hands. It’s a nice change over say reading Wired online.

]]> http://powazek.com/posts/786/comment-page-1#comment-1585 James Farmer Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:41:13 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/786#comment-1585 Great article, missed that, thanks for sharing :) Great article, missed that, thanks for sharing :)

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