8020 Media

8020 Publishing is a media company that allows online communities to take an active role in creating its final print magazines. They have currently have two magazines JPG and the yet-to-launch Everywhere. They let their online users handle the heavy role of creating the content. They also let them critique and vote on the print content. However, 80... 20 Publishing still fills normal publishing roles like choosing themes, putting the magazines together and providing the final vote on all published content. Their editors act more like curators letting their contributors the online communities provide the raw content. Taking this approach has provided them with a built-in magazine subscription audience not to mention two loyal online communities. It has even led to them [receiving two](http://www.circman.com/viewmedia.asp?prmMID=3180&prmID=1) industry awards in 2007, Circulation Innovation of the Year and Best Use of Viral Marketing for Audience Development. 8020 Publishing took over JPG in June 2006 and gave it a new website and updated the magazine in September 2006. In the seven months since relaunch they have reached a 15,000 paid circulation, 75,000 registered members and 5 million online pageviews per month. JPG was originally launched in September 2004 by founders Derek and Heather Powazek. They used [Flickr](http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/flickr) for community discussions, Gmail for submissions, Notifylist for the mailing list, and Lulu for printing issues 1-6. 8020 Publishing entered the Deadpool in January 2009. In an email to friends, CEO Mitchell Fox wrote: In the face of these extraordinary economic times, in a devastated advertising climate, we can no longer continue to operate the business due to lack of funds, and hence we have to close 8020 Media effective immediately. There is no doubt that our company has done what no others have yet to dothat is, prove that the web and print can work effectively together, one supporting the other. Weve also proven that community generated media CAN be a ...Read More