JPG

Subscriptions

Woohoo! It's been a long and winding road, and we want to thank you all for your boundless patience and support. We couldn't have done it without you!

One of the biggest challenges we've faced in restarting JPG is how to publish the magazine while keeping ourselves sustainable over the long term. You've probably read headlines about the impending "death of print": Magazines folding, newspapers merging, all doom and gloom. We're determined to stick around, but it means we need to be responsible, financially and environmentally.

And so we're proud to announce that at long last JPG Magazine subscriptions are back, and they're digital!

Whoa! Hang on...we know what you're thinking, and the answer is yes, JPG will still be available as a printed magazine — we promised! But we can't ignore the costs of print, nor deny the many benefits of going digital:

• Greener: More than half of all magazines printed are never sold. That's a whole lotta' waste. Digital means less negative environmental impact.
• More Affordable: Digital means we have neither expensive distribution contracts nor postage.
• Faster: View issues online or download them instantly upon release. No daily mailbox suspense!
• Enhanced: Going digital allows us to enrich magazines with interactive content that links directly back to jpgmag.com.

That's all well and good, but wouldn't it be great if you could have the best of both digital and print? You will! Here's how:

While issue 20 onward will be printed on demand, we have back issues for sale from the original print run of JPG — issues 7 through 19. If you need to complete your collection, here's your opportunity! Supplies are limited, so get 'em while we got 'em!

We know you'll have questions about how this all works, so we've put together a list of questions and answers below we hope will explain things. It's new and it's different, but we're alive and we're excited — and we hope you will be too! Now, let's go make us some magazines^*!

^* Using fewer dead trees.

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Subscriptions FAQ

• Is JPG Magazine still being printed? If so, how often?

  Yes! Since we think the JPG experience is both and visual and tactile, a print edition of each issue will be available "print-on-demand." This means that JPG will be physically printed for those who value it as a high-quality photography magazine and want to hold it in their hands. We view each printed issue as a work of art — a collector's item. We'll produce new issues quarterly, priced at a level that is both sensible and economically viable, given the costs to produce each issue (the print edition will have a retail price of $19.00, but subscribers will pay around $14.00).

• How much do print editions of JPG Magazine cost?

  From issue 20 onward, JPG Magazine in its printed form will carry a retail price of $19.00, but because we've switched to a "print-on-demand" model, the actual price will depend on the page count and the cost of shipping the magazine to you. Additionally, digital subscribers will receive discounts on printed issues.

  Back issues of JPG — issues 7 through 19 — are available for purchase while printed supplies last at $3.00 each, plus shipping.

• Is JPG being run by the same company as before?

  8020 Publishing, LLC, the previous owner of JPG, sold most of its assets to a new, unrelated entity — 8020 Media, Inc. — in late February 2009. 8020 Publishing, LLC has since shut down. Several members of the current JPG team were also members of the prior team and are working hard to ensure that JPG retains its heritage, while building an exciting, sustainable future.

• Why is JPG Magazine now a hybrid digital & print-on-demand publication?

  Economics, plain and simple. It was the only sensible choice that provides a path toward sustainability. We had considered other options — including closing the magazine entirely, or trying to return to a traditional distribution model. Sadly, the challenges of the publishing industry are not unique to JPG — they are the reason why many publications are dying. The cost of print production and distribution require both an enormous subscriber base and a healthy advertising industry, neither of which are currently available to JPG. On the other hand, we couldn't imagine jpgmag.com without a print counterpart, so we think this hybrid model provides the best compromise.

• I never received all my issues. Am I still a subscriber?

  Yes! If you paid for a subscription to JPG Magazine and you have remaining issues on your previous subscription, we didn't forget about you: you're still a subscriber. However, subscriptions are now being fulfilled digitally. Additionally, we are offering a substantial discount on subscription prices for subscribers that choose to extend existing subscriptions for another year.

  You'll first need to visit our Update Subscription page, to transfer your existing subscription to a new digital subscription.

  Going digital is not a novel approach or strategy — indeed, it's where many publications are headed. Publishers that have shut down usually substitute another product to honor the unfulfilled subscriptions. In our case, we're delivering the same high-quality content. We think it's a pretty fair deal, since you'll be getting the same content you signed up for.

• Why doesn't it say I'm a subscriber on my profile?

  If you haven't already, you'll need to visit our Update Subscription page so that we can connect your subscription record to your JPG account. If you've already completed this step and your subscription still isn't showing, please contact our support team and we'll be glad to help.

• If digital is the future of publishing, why are you still offering print versions of JPG?

  We knew you would ask that! We also know that for some folks, looking at our magazine on a computer won't be the same as holding a genuine magazine in their hands. So we're teaming up with JPG's original co-founder, Derek Powazek, to offer magazines that are printed on-demand through MagCloud. Yes, it's a bit more expensive — but that's because trees are expensive. We wish it weren't so.

• Back in the olden days I could subscribe to JPG for less than the current offering. What gives?

  Remember the older olden days? (The first four issues of JPG were a combined $80.) We want to strike a balance between providing the best value, keeping JPG a sustainable enterprise, and making the best darn photo magazine possible. That means we must adjust the economics to support the costs — or risk failure (again).

• So how do I order a printed copy of JPG issue 20?

  Derek Powazek and our friends over at MagCloud are working tirelessly to ready their presses for the printed edition of issue 20. We'll let you know as soon as they're available!

• Will JPG Magazine still have newsstand distribution?

  Sadly, no — newsstand distribution just isn't economically viable. However, several retailers have expressed interest in carrying issues for sale in their stores, with a retail cost of $19.00 per issue. We hope you'll lobby your local retailers to stock a few copies. We won't be everywhere, but our business and publication will be a sustainable one.

• Are printed back issues available for purchase?

  Yes! we have back issues for sale from the original print run of JPG — issues 7 through 19 — for sale at $3.00 each, plus shipping/handling. If you need to complete your collection, here's your opportunity! Supplies are limited, so get 'em while we got 'em! To order, visit our Magazine section and choose your poison. From there, click the "Buy Printed" button!

• Do I still get a free subscription if my photo is published?

  Yes! Keep in mind, however, that subscriptions to JPG Magazine are now being fulfilled digitally. Printed editions will be available for purchase separately.

• It seemed like JPG was doing just fine before. What happened?

  In just two short years, we made $ —millions. Yep, that's a minus sign in front. By "made" we mean "lost." Of course, we couldn't be more proud of the work created in those 2 years. But we want to be around for even more years. That means making a few dollars to cover our costs. (We totally don't need millions. Dozens will do.)

Have questions we haven't answered here? Drop us a line!