Smith Journal
The global men's magazine market just got a little more crowded, but it seems that there's room for one more title.
The global men's magazine market just got a little more crowded, but it seems that there's room for one more title. Smith Journal is an Australian-based, bi-annual publication aimed at 18-40 year old men (but not excluding girls) who are interested in making things that last and reading smart stories about likeminded people. “We created Smith Journal because we were interested in remembering, reviving and revamping forgotten traditions, skills and technologies,” says Editor-at-Large, Rick Bannister. “We believe there’s an emergence of thinkers – people interested to know where things come from, how they’re made and the story behind them.” Smith Journal is published by the founders of frankie – a bi-monthly lifestyle magazine with roots in craft and popular culture. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, frankie’s circulation rose by 43.20% in 2010 (topping 50,000 copies) making it the fastest growing publication in the country. One in four readers are men. The first issue of Smith Journal has a more humble print run of 20,000, but sales are strong and issue two is already in the works. The response reflects the growing global desire to connect with time-honoured traditions and understand the process and people behind a product.
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