The new RD way: Reinventing the magazine model

New publishing models, or rather variations on publishing models, are being sought by magazine publishers everywhere.

Samir Husni, the magazine consultant and commentator is one of those who say that readership-driven models are the only way forward for the business and he illustrates this in a current interview with Alyce Alston of Reader's Digest as it launches three new magazines in the U.S. She refers to herself as a "producer and a development officer".

One of these magazines, Best You, is being created on a platform created by Reader's Digest Canada, Best Health. Another, Fresh Home, keys off a startup from RD Australia.

“The model is completely different. I am leveraging the assets of our global company and I am leveraging the content from other countries,” she said. “You can’t publish a new magazine today if we don’t find a better way of efficiently planting seeds...We will not do it if it was not for the content re-purposing,” Alston said. “The cost will make it prohibitive in today’s marketplace. I have no other choice.”

(The third magazine is a standalone called Purpose Driven Connection, a Christian magazine and website (see earlier post) that is partnering with mega-church pastor Rick Warren and will build at least part of its projected 1 million circulation on a membership model.)