Rather surprisingly there seems to be very little information readily available for publishing local community magazines and few resources available to help would-be publishers. Fortunately, there is an answer, and what better way could there be than to share your advice and experiences with like-minded individuals.
The opportunity to begin publishing local community magazines came to me quite by chance. At the time I had no previous experience of publishing and certainly no qualifications that would be deemed applicable, but it was immediately clear that there was great potential for publishing a local community magazine.
I searched the Intenet for information, expecting to discover dozens of web sites relating to publishing local community magazines but while there were indeed a small number, they all seemed to focus on producing booklets of local business advertisements, and my visions for a community magazine were very much different.
Undeterred by the lack of available information and assistance I went ahead, and now, more than three years later, I work for myself publishing two local community magazines comprising such wonderful stories and recollections of local people.
Not everyone will be so fortunate as myself but publishing local community magazines is an extremely satisfying profession.
Rather than keeping my knowledge and experiences to myself, I decided to write about how I began publishing community magazines in the hope that it would give inspiration to others, as almost every town or village is an opportunity for someone to publish a community magazine.
There is an increasing awareness of the potential for publishing community magazines, evident from the number of people who have taken advantage of the information I provided, however, there is clearly room for additional and on-going assistance, a place where those like-minded people can get together and share their experiences with each other.
With that in mind I decided to publish a forum where anyone with an interest in publishing local community magazines can communicate with people with a similar interest.
Publishing a local community magazine is one of the most satisfying achievements you will ever attain and your success is exemplified in the joy and pleasure that you provide not only to your readers but more especially to those people whose stories and photographs you are able to publish.
So no longer do you have to work in social isolation and struggle aimlessly to find the answers to your publishing problems and queries. Join the Community Magazine Publishing Form and share your knowledge and experiences with others.
Michael Norfolk
A publisher of local community magazines for the past three-and-a-half years, the author makes much of his experiences and knowledge available to others. If you have an interest in writing or publishing, then visit Writing and Publishing and submit your own articles.