Seán Wood, CEO of Positive News tells Nikki Simpson about the magazine's journey from a grassroots initiative to a co-operative publishing model.

In this episode of the Making Money from Magazines podcast Seán highlights the importance of community engagement, financial sustainability, the challenge of news avoidance in society, and the impact solutions-based journalism can have.

Positive News raised a quarter of a million pounds in a month through the launch of their co-operative model, but the discussion also covers revenue diversification strategies, the role of grant funding and brand partnerships, all while maintaining a strong community focus from a small team.

Takeaways:

The cooperative model allows readers to have ownership and a voice.

Positive News focuses on reporting what's going right in the world.

Community support was crucial for financial growth.

Raising funds through crowdfunding was a significant milestone.

The transition to a magazine format helped establish a new brand identity.

Events for co-owners fostered community but required careful management.

Diversifying revenue streams is essential for sustainability.

Grant funding can enhance projects but shouldn't be relied upon.

Building a supporter base is key to long-term success.

Positive journalism empowers readers and fosters a sense of agency.

Keywords:

Positive News Magazine, cooperative Publishing model, International Magazine Centre, community journalism, financial sustainability, Making money from Magazines, reader revenue, brand partnerships, solutions journalism, media ethics, audience engagement, grant funding,

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nikki Simpson talks to Lindsey Stephens from Red Carpet Consultancy. With over 25 years in the industry, Lindsey knows how to sell advertising.

In a warm and entertaining chat Lindsey gives her top ten strategies for increasing advertising sales revenue for magazines. Including how to leverage press releases, creating a long term content plan, feature selling, events, and more.

Lindsey also touches on the importance of understanding the audience and maintaining touch points with clients. The conversation concludes with a focus on small and intimate gatherings as a way to solidify relationships with advertisers.

Takeaways

• Press releases can be turned into sales opportunities
• Creating a 12-month plan is crucial for advertisers and publishers
• Feature selling can invite new advertisers into publications
• Small and intimate events can solidify relationships with advertisers
• Understanding the audience and maintaining touch points are essential for successful ad sales
• Why knowing your magazine is key

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.