Wednesday 7 May 2008

Oh, you're making us blush


A fella called Tim Holmes bought a magazine from us. Coincidentally, Ben met him once over a decade ago. Now Tim is 'A
Course co-ordinator for the Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism and the MA International Journalism: Magazine Pathway at Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies'
We didn't know that. But he has a blog lots of magazine types read and some of those types have bought Sideburn too. They said this review Tim put on his blog is why. If you haven't bought SB yet, read on.

The power of passionate editorial in print
Last night I had a stark reminder of the power of a printed magazine: its name is Sideburn.
Sideburn is an A5, perfect bound, 82+4, full colour throwback – or rather, it is the classic iteration of journalistic passion. Produced by two guys in a small town of the flatlands that surround FormerEmap's motorcycling centre of operations, it is all about, and only about, flat-track motorcycles and the people who build and ride them.

In grown-up commercial terms, that's a niche of a niche of a niche. In reality it's a fantastic magazine, full of the kinds of machines and people I love to know about.

For all the teaching I do about professional magazine craft and the digital future of publishing, Sideburn contains one eternal lesson. When you come down to it, there is nothing, NOTHING, to beat passionate editorial in a mobile product. Totally, unconditionally mobile. No electricity or signal or wireless network needed. Available anywhere, anytime.

Great things come in small packages, as Kenny Roberts once found. (photo: Superbikeplanet.com)

http://timholmes.blogspot.com

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