So You Want to Start a Magazine (CDJN 101)

A Smart Launch and Long-Term Success

Launching a magazine is an exciting and rewarding thing to do, but the process – from developing a concept to day-to-day business management – is more complicated than it seems.

Join us for an intensive two-day course that emphasizes all the practical aspects of launching a magazine in today’s highly competitive market. If you are thinking of starting up a magazine, you will gain from the experience and insights of an expert and save time and money.

Instructor D.B. Scott, one of Canada’s leading magazine consultants, will guide you through the process, from things you’ve considered, but don’t know how to do (such as getting and analyzing printing quotes) to things you may not have thought of at all (such as your obligations as an employer of in-house staff and freelancers).

What You’ll Learn

The course covers numerous practical issues, including the following:

Understanding your audience
How to translate your idea into a viable business
Sizing up your competition
The structure and economics of a typical magazine
What business structure is right for your magazine
Information you can get for free; information that’s worth paying for
What makes magazines different from other media
How to develop editorial that wows your readers
Working with freelancers
Using worksheets and templates for everyday tasks
Tips and tricks about circulation, fulfillment, production, and newsstand sales
How to understand the post office
How to promote your new magazine and get it noticed
The ins and outs of direct mail
How much to pay ad sales reps and other staff
How to get the best price for ads and subscriptions
The secrets of private and public funding
How to write your own launch timeline and business plan

Your Instructor

D.B. Scott is the president of Impresa Communications Limited, a consulting firm that specializes in assistance to the magazine publishing industry. He presides over the industry’s most-read blog – Canadian Magazines. He has held many senior positions in magazines including publisher and editor of Ontario Living, editorial director of Saturday Night Publishing Services, corporate editorial director of Comac Communications Limited, editor of The City magazine (Toronto Sunday Star), and managing editor of Quest magazine.

Upcoming Course Dates and Fees

Please consult the CDJN 101 for details of upcoming offerings.

Enrollment

Enrollment for this course is only available by fax. Please print and fill out a Mail-In Enrollment Form and fax the form, including your credit card number and expiry date, to

CDJN 101 Enrollment
Fax Number: 416.979.5196