How to Start a Magazine: And Publish It Profitably [Hardcover]

James B. Kobak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 24, 2002

Included in this book are explanations of all the steps needed in planning, testing and executing the startup of a successful magazine, giving the reasons for and examples for each step.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The one-time owner of Kirkus Reviews, James B. Kobak, imparts magazine-industry wisdom in How to Start a Magazine. Moving from the conceptual to the practical, Kobak approaches his lesson in five parts: trends and statistics about the business; steps in starting a new magazine (mission statements, business plans, pilot issues, testing through single-copy sales, etc.); the major operations involved in publishing a magazine (i.e., editorial, production, marketing, circulation); magazine as brand ("It earns the loyalty, friendship and confidence of its readers as it speaks to them one-on-one about a subject they are very interested in"; "It establishes a market-place between its readers and advertisers"; etc.); and industry facts and information sources. Discussing case studies and stats of publilcations from Martha Stewart Living to the Harvard Business Review in a friendly, down-to-earth style, Kobak renders the jargon, concepts and numbers accessible.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

A timely and extremely informative book, How to Start a Magazine explains all the steps needed in planning, testing, and executing the startup of a successful magazine. But more than this, the book acts as a resource for understanding how profitable magazine publishing is carried out, as well as the current situation of the magazine field. Author James Kobak, an advisor to magazines since 1946, takes you through the perils and profits of magazine publishing with ease and a no-nonsense style.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: M.Evans & Company (September 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871319276
• ISBN-13: 978-0871319272
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wealth of information, June 1, 2004

By 

Your librarian (St Louis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Start a Magazine: And Publish It Profitably (Hardcover)

So you want to start a magazine? It won't be easy..it won't be fast--and it definitely won't be cheap!

Author James Kobak took up the unthankful task of trying to write a user-friendly guide to a profession that many magazine publishers study for four years or more at a university or college.

For the most part, Kobak does a pretty good job. He is obviously enthusiastic about the subject. He has been direct witness to the start-up and/or purchase of many magazines. So he knows his subject.

The reader faces one big challenge. Reading this book is like scraping the top off a mountain. Once the reader moves past the initial "you can do it" enthusiasm of the first few chapters, s/he is immediately faced with the immensity of the task that starting a magazine may present. By the time Kobak closes up his last few chapters with the drudgery of statistics, bookkeeping and forecasting, the shackles of optimism will have rolled away from the reader's demeanor and the reality of his/her endeavor will stare him/her boldy in the face.

There is so much information crammed into the 300-some pages of this book that I ran my highlighter dry trying to capture it all. Kobak writes in an unintimidating style for those new to publishing. That said, however, the information is sometimes muddled by sloppy editing and the author's occasional lapses of clarity in his writing.

For its wealth of information alone, this is a must read for anyone who plans on starting a publishing venture without going the college route. Kobak eplains very clearly that starting a magazine is not inexpensive. Perhaps that is why he priced his book so reasonably. So that we readers could learn that fact first.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First half great. Second half wanting., February 5, 2003

By 

Travis C. Ward "C. William Anderson" (Silverton, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Start a Magazine: And Publish It Profitably (Hardcover)

Unlike the more down-to-earth Starting And Running A Successful Newsletter or Magazine, this book is targeted for the up-scale magazine publisher wannabe. Still, it is a worthy addition to anyone serious about publishing for profit.

I have researched high and low for statistical data regarding circulation promotion. This book is the only one that provided quality information that can be used to guage one's prospects after test marketing. This information will prove intensely valuable when I get game and small livestock farming in the test marketing stage.

He also provided great advice regarding establishing the scope to insure you provide what your readers want, with the operative word WANT instead of need. To a degree, of course, he slips into consultant mode, but this wasn't too distractive.

It was only as he got into the later chapters that I felt like he was too intent on getting readers to hire consultants than in providing content for the reader.

James does a great job in explaining the life cycle of periodicals and why so many die after having outlived their usefullness.

I encourage all who consider publishing to buy this book when they buy Cheryl Woodard's.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Tough Read, September 4, 2005

By 

C. J. Porter (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Start a Magazine: And Publish It Profitably (Hardcover)

I found How to Start a Magazine by James Kobak difficult to read and somewhat depressing. The promises on the cover, in my humble opinion, we never fulfilled and the textbook-style format was flat. I felt as if, rather than a telling me "how to" he was telling me all the reasons "not to." He also came from only one perspective--that of a large scale, national publication. My goal is to build a local business-builder magazine. Therefore, much of the information was irrelevant for me. Based on the cover promises, I thought I'd found the ideal book for my needs. It didn't deliver.