Magazine publishers

[charleona]

I have an idea for a magazine and would like to pitch it to a few publishing houses, any suggestions about how to put a pitch together and who I should pitch to or contact within the publishing house.

[joko]

not sure i understand you properly - you want to pitch an idea?

what would your role be? have you had any experience with magazine production before? do you know anything about it?

there will be very few ideas that haven't already been thought of so you have to offer them something more.

you will need to raise funds to start up the company, and to pay publishers etc, and staff to write copy etc.

you should at least mock up a sample copy on your computer to show them.

if you just have an outline of a magazine, you will need more.

get the writers and artists year book from any bookshop and phone a few up and ask for info

[charleona]

Well basically, I've been told that all I need to do is present my idea to a publishing house with research and content ideas. They will then, in affect buy my idea from me and give me a percentage of sales and an advance. As they already have writers, editors, advertisers, designers etc, I will not have to do any of that. So, I will then become an independent publisher for that publishing house. So, I need advice on how to present my idea to the publishing house and also who to contact within the publishing house.

[joko]

ah, i see.

I would suggest mocking up a full copy on your computer - get some glossy paper and a decent printer - but put the pages in one of those folders from woolies or somewhere full of plastic sleeves (attached). Don't go with staples and i'd suggest black as it looks most professional. (or get it properly bound if you can afford it)

you could also mount the cover, Logo, name, and a few select pages on A1 sheets of black mount board (any art shop) and get some kind of easel or stand to display them on (again an art shop or perhaps viking-direct.co.uk.

Then you must write a mission statement and learn your blurb off pat so that when you present it, it doesn't sound memorised but that you believe and feel it. ( I am sure you do anyway)

I would suggest also working out some budgetary, pricing, market, target audience etc information ( though you can't have all the facts - they will know this kind of thing too) it will look very serious and professional if you have done your research, especially into what your target audience wants.

also research, why this hasn't been done before and why there is a hole in the market - also research, why if it has been done, why didn't it work? it may well be something similar has been tried and failed - so find out.

cont:

[joko]

also you cannot copyright ideas - only names and your products so you also risk them nicking the idea and making their own version - if essentially they are producing the whole thing and your role would simply be to tell them the idea and then sit back and get a share of the proceeds i would think this is a risk. problem is they may say 'oh we already have one just like this in production' and you cannot do a thing about it because you have no proof. I cannot see them giving you a share, they will buy outright, especially as you will not be doing any of the work.

also do you expect it to be weekly, monthly, quarterly etc, how many pages?

is you subject interesting enough to a wide variety of people to sustain sales? or is it a niche? could it benefit from being coupled with another subject, i,e, homes and gardens, arts and crafts, etc. what products and advertisers will want to advertise in your mag?

overall you must convince them that this will fill a gap and will be snapped up by many people, so be vibrant, enthusiastic and positive (don't slag off other mags they may be favourites of the interviewers - or even made by the publisher!)

I would still suggest the writers and artists yearbook as they have names and addresses and what publishers specialities are. i would suggest calling and telling them the that you would like to set up a pitch meeting with them.

they will organise a date with you if they are interested - you will also get the name of the person in charge of this kind of thing - do not use 'to whom it may concern or dear sir/madam'
good luck

[charleona]

This is exactly the advice that I need. I have already thought and looked into everything that you mentioned, have a focus group in two weeks and in the process if circulating 1000 questionnaires. Thanks for your help and advice. Hopefully it all goes well. Is there nothing I can do about getting my ideas stolen?

[joko]

you can copyright the name, but perhaps book a consultation with a solicitor to see what protection you can use, but as far as i know, there is little you can do, because of the issue of proof.

there are some things you can do that may help but i am not sure how much use they will be - they are simple enought though.

firstly have a photo taken of yourself holding a copy of your mag etc underneath the large clock in a bank as dating proof.

you can also post a copy to yourself - but don't open it. this will give you a postmark date

you can also leave a copy with your solicitor as eveidence of the date

get them the to confirm the interview and purpose of the interview in writng so you have more proof.

you could even ask your solicitor to attend the interview with you to show them that you are protecting your interests.

obviously these things with the solicitor will cost but it may be worth it to prevent them thinking you are just some silly girl they can mess around (thats how these big places soemtimes think.

i would look into what you can physically offer them too - can you use photoshop, write copy, proofread etc - they be more likely to take you as a package if you can work with them for what money you will receive.

you could also look into possible investors to raise tyhe funds to publish - try any companies that would have an interest in your mag

i would advise you present all this to your solicitor asap anyway as i am sure they will be able to draft letters and advise you on your next step

let us know what its called and when it comes out.

[Kate77]

Be careful - I work in publishing and as Alan Sugar says

It's a dog eat dog situation!

what sort of mag is it going to be

[Kate77]

im not going to steal your idea. just the topic will do.
in order for it to be sucessful there has to be a market for it. is it business to business or consumer
have a look at some publishing house websites to see what your competition is like etc
EMAP
Brooklands
Reed
Haymarket
they are a few of the big fish

[charleona]

Its a men's mag...

I've looked at a lot of publishers already. Who do I contact within the company...should I just call and arrange a meeting?

[Kate77]

not too sure, will have a further think