When I go to add a new zine to the EBSQ database each month, it's automatically given a number. This month's zine is number 100. A fitting number given a decision we came to last month. We've been really focused on bringing fresh content daily via EBSQ's blog. And the past few months especially, the zine has been feeling very extraneous and like a lot of extra work for very little payoff. This format isn't interactive. It's not easily searchable by subject. I think it's time for the zine as conceived by EBSQ innovator John Seed (which I took over in October 2001) to retire. This is going to be our last zine as we know it.
What will take its place? Expanded content in the EBSQ Community Blog. We already feature some great art marketing writing from Natasha Wescoat, and Kris Jean has just come on board with some weekly features promoting the EBSQ/Etsy Street Team. We'll definitely be adding a few more voices along the way, and keeping regular features such as EBSQ Live Studio demos, Featured Artist interviews, editorial content from me and Melissa Morton-Woodall, and the like. We'll definitely be keeping all of our back issues online, as well, and hopefully get the text into a database to make it easier to search, tag, etc, although that's a project that probably won't start until mid-winter.
So, loyal zine enthusiasts: are we making the right decision?
Amie Gillingham
1 November 2008
Get out of the vacuum and express yourself!
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