Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Decatur Living Magazine Revolutionizes
Publishing Paradigm

While newspapers and magazines around the country suffer reduced circulation and revenues at the hands of ever-increasing media choices, local start-up Decatur Living magazine has unveiled what they call “a new publishing paradigm… internet-proof, recession-proof, the whole deal.”

The model is simple: Create flattering editorial content that resembles extended ad copy and the subjects of those profiles will enthusiastically purchase ad space to go along with it.



“Advertisers have become gun-shy,” notes the publisher. “Why would they risk purchasing advertising when there’s always a chance your editorial staff will uncover unflattering details about them or, worse, ignore them completely? In some lofty quest for ethics and credibility – and this is the part that kills me – publications drive this separation between reporting and advertising. It kills their profit-potential.”

Instead, Decatur Living keeps things simple with an intuitive, and fair, adjective-to-ad size policy. Purchase a full-page ad and you’re guaranteed at least 10 fawning adjectives, ranging from “delightful” to “exceptional” to “elegant.” By contrast, an eighth of a page ad will get you “unique.”

The idea is catching on. “It’s the answer to a lot of industry prayers,” she asserts, “and not just in print media. For example, consider this Decatur Blur online thing. Have you seen it? Not too savvy. I mean, who’s going to advertise with them when it’s only a matter of time before they try to make you look like a total jerk?”

“Grow up, kids,” she offered. “You’ll never get rich biting the hand that feeds.”