EC Magazine?

[Miaplacidus]

Hey everyone,

I have noticed that a site I know, who is run by the same people who run EC and whose name I am not going to mention (you all know what site I'm talking about), publishes a magazine regularly, although one that would be considered inappropriate here. I think there's a printed version, but the version which has caught my attention is the online version, distributed for free in Adobe PDF format (files with .pdf extension)

I was wondering, why don't we port the idea to EC and do something like that? I mean, something more interesting (in fact, very respectfully, I'm going to say that the magazine I mentioned is not very interesting), less cluttered with ads, and apt for those younger than 18. It might be fun.

I know that this may be a stupid idea, but it's a personal dream of mine. I ran a magazine which went bankrupt in 2004 before we could bring the online version up. Who knows, it might be interesting. We could write about subjects of general interest for the young and not-so-young LGBT (and straight) community.

I'm not a graphics designer but I can put things together. If anyone likes the idea, post your ideas or suggestions here, or PM me. If this is approved I'll start working as soon as possible. But I can't do this alone. I need your support.

Fred.

[Paul_UK]

Well the JUB Mag is mainly adverts for porn sites, which is what pays for its production. It is also fairly easy to distribute through gay clubs etc.

Trying to find organisations that would want to advertise in a magazine for this community could be more difficult, as would be distribution of a paper copy.

A PDF publication for download by members wouldn't require any advertising, just someone with the time and patience to put it together.

It will be interesting to know what people would want from a magazine, and what they could contribute.

[Jamie]

hmmm this is an interesting one. I guess we also have the difference between jub being a fairly massive forum whereas we're more like an extended family on this one. A nice little community where many of us know of the others.

As far as what i'd like from such a publication if we could get one started:

Some news from around the world which pertains to GLBT affairs (as we already have members posting)

Some coming out stories would be good

Some snippits from some recent discussions... the bests bits of EC for the previous month.

Although we are limited in what could be included.

[nisomer]

that would be really cool! plus you could have like editorials, commentary, and extras from members.

but yeah it would take a lot of extra time from people, especially seeing as how none of them would be payed.

[Miaplacidus]

I can put all things together if needed, but as I said above, I couldn't do it alone. It wouldn't be so difficult. The magazine I edited didn't take more than a day a month.

[Kimi]

That's an interesting idea Fred!!

I think it will be interesting to see if you can interview one of the member and write about it on magazine. Like what he/she like to do or what do you wanna be, what do you want to learn newly...etc just general question about the member so we can know each other better.

Also I thought you can introduce new members somewehere on the magazine.
I know we have same purpose section here but it is totally up to them to post there or not so I thought maybe we could just mention their name and date.

Don't know if this is a good idea but if you can show cool people or cool homepage or blog or gallery that might be interesting too.

Definitey agree with all suggestions above:thumbsup: That's sounds great to me!

We could put global news about gay rights or pride and some other big news from the world too. Maybe we could make pages like newspaper. There is news section, music, sports, just anything.

Or since we have some great artists it could show their art works too.

I'm really looking forward to help you Fred. Though I don't know if I'm useful:eusa_doh:

[Micah]

Curious: Why does this have to be in a magazine format? What about website format? Some of the things that have been mentioned (such as articles, interviews, world gay news, member art work, blogs spots etc) could easily be posted on a website, updated periodically. This way, you could do it without having to worry about publishers, collaboration of articles into a magazine (people could post articles individually) etc.

Maybe you could start with the website then move on to the magazine, seeing how successful the website is first.

I have nothing against the magazine (infact i think the idea of having a hard copy would be awesome)...just thought I'd throw in an alternative to consider :)

[Miaplacidus]

Curious: Why does this have to be in a magazine format? What about website format? Some of the things that have been mentioned (such as articles, interviews, world gay news, member art work, blogs spots etc) could easily be posted on a website, updated periodically. This way, you could do it without having to worry about publishers, collaboration of articles into a magazine (people could post articles individually) etc.

Maybe you could start with the website then move on to the magazine, seeing how successful the website is first.

I have nothing against the magazine (infact i think the idea of having a hard copy would be awesome)...just thought I'd throw in an alternative to consider :)

There are two things to consider. 1) Empty Closets is a website already. 2) I'm not a web designer...

However, it would be possible. We'd have to discuss the matter.

[Jamie]

think I personally like the magazine idea better, as since it'll only be released periodically then there will always be a wealth of new info (as apposed to a website where it would come in drips and drabs - much like the forum).

Also if it was in a magazine format it could always be printed out and read as such. Websites don't generally make for such good printing.

[suburbs_of_sodom]

I agree that it should be in magazine format, if it's going to include news from EC. I also like the idea of having different sections, because just news from the gay community could be a little old, especially if a big event, like the VT shootings, occured. We could have movie and cd reviews, upcoming events (i.e. theatre, speakers of interest) in major cities around the world/reviews and summaries of these events. Also, if the contests ever get going, the winner could get a spread in the magazine (bravo style! I was totally tempted to write Elle). I also like the idea of having spotlights on certain members, because, even though interests and whatnot play out in the forums, there probably so much that we don't know about each other.

If done right, this could be really fun!

[SpikySpice]

That's an interesting idea Fred!!

Don't know if this is a good idea but if you can show cool people or cool homepage or blog or gallery that might be interesting too.

Definitey agree with all suggestions above:thumbsup: That's sounds great to me!

We could put global news about gay rights or pride and some other big news from the world too. Maybe we could make pages like newspaper. There is news section, music, sports, just anything.

Or since we have some great artists it could show their art works too.

I'm really looking forward to help you Fred. Though I don't know if I'm useful:eusa_doh:


I really agree with Kimi and you guys. Members Blogs in this site are cool
But I understand that it's not easy to do it, because we need lots of sponsors and people , money, publishers, and time
But if everybody really want to do it, it's better that we should do it, but it's about time!

[Miaplacidus]

I really agree with Kimi and you guys. Members Blogs in this site are cool
But I understand that it's not easy to do it, because we need lots of sponsors and people , money, publishers, and time
But if everybody really want to do it, it's better that we should do it, but it's about time!

To do it, we need the following, if we have the content:

1) A computer (mine is available)
2) A page layout program (I was thinking of Scribus, I have it installed)
3) An image editor (GIMP, Photoshop)
4) A word processor (OpenOffice.org Writer, Word)
5) An illustration program (Xara, Inkscape, CorelDRAW, Illustrator)
6) Someone capable of doing something productive with those things (I can use 2, 4 and 5; maybe 3 if I try)

But the people and time parts are very real. I'd spend some time on it if there are other people interested.

Anyone interested in cooperating, just PM me.

Fred.

[Micah]

To do it, we need the following, if we have the content:

1) A computer (mine is available)
2) A page layout program (I was thinking of Scribus, I have it installed)
3) An image editor (GIMP, Photoshop)
4) A word processor (OpenOffice.org Writer, Word)
5) An illustration program (Xara, Inkscape, CorelDRAW, Illustrator)
6) Someone capable of doing something productive with those things (I can use 2, 4 and 5; maybe 3 if I try)


7) Someone to pay for the magazine to be published
8) Someone to pay for the magazine to be distributed
9) Places to actually host the magazine (if you wanted to put it in a shop for people to pick up, for example, you would have to decide WHICH shops)

I think those three are the hardest! But certainly something we can brainstorm about!

[Miaplacidus]

7) Someone to pay for the magazine to be published
8) Someone to pay for the magazine to be distributed
9) Places to actually host the magazine (if you wanted to put it in a shop for people to pick up, for example, you would have to decide WHICH shops)

I think those three are the hardest! But certainly something we can brainstorm about!

The "host" would be Empty Closets itself: I have talked to an administrator about it. I never planned to make an actual printed version, at least not at first. I always thought of a PDF-based magazine, to be distributed for free, online.

[nisomer]

actually come to think of it, a website is an even cooler idea! and no, EC is not really a website, it's just a forum. Everything you can do in a PDF Mag you can do in a website, and then some.

[Miaplacidus]

Oh, the opinions are divided. It seems that we'll have to do both... I'd be glad to cooperate with both projects.

[Paul_UK]

The "host" would be Empty Closets itself: I have talked to an administrator about it.

Yep, that'd be me. There's no problem with a PDF download (I'll host it) which people can print themselves. The cost for producing that is zero (just time and enthusiasm) which is great for us. It also means no adverts, which is great for readers too.

[suburbs_of_sodom]

We might also need editors, especially if there are to be specific sections (i.e. LGTB news or Arts). Editors could be helpful also to get all the articles/submissions into a specific format for easy assmebly (I'm assuming that it would be one person to do the final assembly). It might even be prudent to delgate tasks to certain people/groups of people, like if a few people have a special affinity for photoshop, then they could handle the graphics etc.

This of course could end up being to bureaucratic, but if done correctly and efficiently, it could help to spread out the workload.

[SpikySpice]

actually come to think of it, a website is an even cooler idea! and no, EC is not really a website, it's just a forum. Everything you can do in a PDF Mag you can do in a website, and then some.

Well, so we need to make it like a cool web site and , and leave out some pages for the magazines

[Miaplacidus]

For those who haven't noticed, I am talking about an online magazine... I never planned to print it.

[nick79]

To lighten things up, I suggest a humorous section... eg a funny photo or joke.

[Kimi]

For those who haven't noticed, I am talking about an online magazine... I never planned to print it.

Yeah, and VERY clearly.


I think there's a printed version, but the version which has caught my attention is the online version, distributed for free in Adobe PDF format (files with .pdf extension)

[Miaplacidus]

I'm working on a couple of master pages for the magazine. As of now they're heavily reminiscent of the magazine I ran on high school, but I have introduced some modifications. I'll make the PDF files available to the public as short as they're finished.

However, my old "Menkalinan Narrow"-themed pages are optimized for monochromatic printing, so I don't think they'd be the right design for a full-color online magazine as this one. If anyone has any suggestions, or wants me to e-mail him/her a sample, just PM me.

I'd like you to suggest a default font for the magazine, too. So far, the samples use the same as the high school magazine, Humanist 521. I like that one, but maybe you don't.

[botanyboy03]

Well, I know I will see preview versions of this, since Fred( my BF for all you who don't know already) will and already has run some sample things by me. So you have a test audience, hehehe. I like the idea, but I have never looked at JUB's mag.

Zac

[Miaplacidus]

We should choose a name, too. Until now, the magazine has only been referred to as "the magazine" or EC Magazine (by me).

[Miaplacidus]

Here they are. The masters, even page and odd page, in Menkalinan Narrow style. This is ultra-basic, of course.

[Miaplacidus]

Well, this is version 0.11a. A full page. Let me know what you think.

[nick79]

Well I think it looks good!

[Steam Giant]

I think a magazine is a great idea! (sorry to come in so late ; ; ) If you need a copywriter, I like to write ^^ and as far as what I'd like to see in it, the "Poetry, Short Stories or Whatever" thread is pretty popular, so a section for creative works would be nice, I think.

[Kimi]

I think a magazine is a great idea! (sorry to come in so late ; ; ) If you need a copywriter, I like to write ^^ and as far as what I'd like to see in it, the "Poetry, Short Stories or Whatever" thread is pretty popular, so a section for creative works would be nice, I think.

I've thought about doing Short Stories Section...At first I thought we gonna collect the stories from the writers(which is off course EC member) but if we do that the "Poetry, Short Stories or Whatever" thread might get less popular or less readers because of the magazine and we don't want that. This magazine will be part of EC web site. I mean the web site is the main we don't want any decline in population of web site or decline in amount of post.
But what we can do is that we put quotation from the "Poetry, Short Stories or Whatever" thread and intoroduce it to everyone who might not know about that thread.

[Steam Giant]

Oh, that's a terrific idea! I hadn't considered that putting the same thing in the magazine would detract from the thread. I wouldn't want that to happen, I love seeing new poems there ^^ and you never know what to expect next! Ideally, if the two would work around each other, that would be really great!

[Miaplacidus]

Or we could organize another contest, this time for stories and poetry. The winner is then featured on the magazine.

[GuitarGirl1350]

Articles on current events, GLBT related and not. Artwork. Writing. Opinions and adivce.
I leap at the chance to work on this project. Excellent idea Fred!

[Paul_UK]

Well, this is version 0.11a. A full page. Let me know what you think.

Yes, I like that. It's good to keep the page background white with just colours for pictures and stuff, as it will use less printer ink when people print copies for themselves. It'll also come out better if printed in black-and-white.

[Miaplacidus]

Hey everybody,

I think it's time to organize the project. All interested people, contact me. And it would be good if the site made an announcement (like in the main page, as they do in the other forum)...

Thanks.

[Miaplacidus]

I have posted some information on a new thread - "EC Magazine - General Information and Guidelines" - on this forum. Please check it out.

[Miaplacidus]

Having received the first designs for the cover, I'm happy to tell everyone that the first milestone has been reached and therefore now EC Magazine is now at version 0.2.

Everyone is still welcome to participate.

[kiryt100]

This is an awesome idea. If you need any graphic design expertise, just holler. I'm a graphic designer (some of my sites are http://vanessa-online.org, and http://easily-distracted.org). I think a magazine would be great. Maybe we can get in touch with GSA in high school sponsers so they can print out a copy and the club can look at it. Just some ideas =]