Industry 03/24/2008
Drift Magazine
For almost three years now, Drift Magazine has been a digital surfing magazine, available to download free from the internet. March 2008 represents a landmark for Drift, celebrating the launch of its first printed issue.
Drift is currently read worldwide, in over sixty countries, and is recognised for its refreshing take on the alternative surf scene. Throughout its brief history, Drift has focused on sustainability within the industry, and highlighted the work of several other affiliates including WiLDCOAST in San Diego and Surfers Against Sewage in the UK. The magazine has covered such issues as coastal management, community projects, surfboard manufacture and travel.
The magazine is a reader-driven publication, choosing to highlight issues within the industry through the voice of its most important members, the surfers themselves.
The creators of Drift have taken steps to ensure that the magazine and web site are an open forum for anyone with a view or opinion to be included, bringing a realistic and honest voice to the reader. New talent is showcased in each issue, with artists, photographers and musicians from around the globe.
Click-thru to see more spreads from the current issue:
Howard Swanwick, Managing Editor said “I felt the time was right to move into a printed version, as we have such a large following through our digital venture. We’ve been developing the digital platform for some time, and now our readers seem to understand what we are about. In order to be understood more thoroughly and have a bigger impact we simply had to move into a printed version.”
Drift has been able to offer informative and progressive news and features, and represents the entire surfing community. A fifty percent readership growth since 2005 is testament to the growing popularity of the magazine and its editorial values.
“Its unbelievable just how much support we have received from the surfing community” said Howard, “over the last three years we have had contact from all sorts of people, community development managers, oceanographers and wildlife enthusiasts right down to local surfers who just wanted to share their feelings with us. It’s been overwhelming but in such a positive way.”
Polestar Publishing Ltd, publisher of Drift Magazine, have been researching alternatives to paper-based magazines for some time, and are now confident that in the short to medium term, they can seriously look to replace a tree paper magazine with a realistic alternative.
They have also been working hard to secure a more sustainable production of Drift Magazine, looking at producing the magazine in different parts of the world to reduce the carbon footprint of overseas fulfilment. Polestar will be looking to expand the licensing of the magazine in the near future, to different markets.
Drift Magazine is available as a subscription priced at £19.95 in the UK, for 6 issues. It will also be available in selected outlets in the South West and through surf shops nationwide.
www.driftsurfmagazine.co.uk
www.polestar-publishing.co.uk
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