POD Magazines Target Lifestyles of the Niche and Fameless

The Internet has seen an explosion of new magazine titles due to the easy availability of print on demand publishing technology, according to self-publishing web site Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com). Niche titles include "Hairless Dog World" and "The Journal of Out of Body Travel," but the trend has also seen magazines with broader appeal, like "JPG Magazine."

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB)September 28, 2006 – By most accounts, the magazine industry is suffering, with 9 of 10 new publications failing, often after publishing only a single issue. Add to that the financial pressure of $613 million in advertising shifted from print to the Internet in 2005. But in this case, the Internet may be the tail that wags the dog – the hairless dog, that is.

"Hairless Dog World" is one of over 40 titles cited in a new report on print-on-demand magazines from Lulu.com, a self-publishing web site. In 2005, over 350 new magazines launched, according to the American Society of Magazine Editors, targeting topics from needlework to fishing. But that, suggests the Lulu.com report, may be just the beginning.

“More and more publishers seize the opportunity to use the Internet as a testing ground for niche content,” enthuses Lulu.com founder Bob Young, recently named by Silicon.com to be one of the top movers and shakers in global high-tech because of the way Lulu has rattled the publishing industry.

More and more publishers seize the opportunity to use the Internet as a testing ground for niche content

In addition to "Hairless Dog World other periodicals published on Lulu.com target some of the narrowest, least glamorous topics imaginable, including “BrickJournal” a magazine for adult LEGO fans, and the official journal of the Out of Body Travel Foundation.

But there are also titles with broader appeal. “JPG Magazine” a photography journal built around an online community of photobloggers, launched using Lulu.com over a year ago and, having achieving a fair amount of success and praise, recently received over $1 million in venture funding from CNET founder Halsey Minor. Its founders, including Derek Powazek, credit Lulu.com with having made the idea possible.

Lulu.com – Lulu is the largest self-publishing web site in the world, offering over 55,000 print on demand books, with over 2,000 new titles added each week. It is changing the world of publishing by giving more control to the creators of books, video, periodicals, multimedia, and other content.

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