The Final Photo Mag: An Update
Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train
Twenty-one days ago I published my first post here on Substack. It was about the decline of the photo publishing industry, and how even the websites that replaced print magazines were also starting to fail. I mentioned that the single beacon of hope for photo magazines was Outdoor Photographer, the last one standing.
Outdoor Photographer is no more.
On Friday, OP’s editor Dan Havlik posted that he and the remaining staff had been let go.
But rest assured: there is hope! [Narrator: No, there isn’t.]
The new owners of Madavor Media are offering the Image Creators Network group of photography publications, of which Outdoor Photographer is the crown jewel (also including Imaging Resource, Digital Photo and Digital Photo Pro), for sale.
Banner ads on these websites offer an “as is” bundle including archives, websites and subscription roster for the price of $500,000.
In an interview with website PetaPixel, the company’s new owner said, “In response to the scores of emails we receive from contributors and readers, we offer you to pool your resources and purchase these beloved photo properties that have this support we are constantly hearing about.”
Unnamed contributors quoted in the PetaPixel piece say they have long gone unpaid, prior to new ownership. The new owner is quoted saying contributors will be made whole but on delayed payment scale. I’ve been told the same and, at least so far, that has proven true. And as someone who has been burned by publishers in the past for tens of thousands of dollars (I know!) I’ll take slow pay over no pay any time.
R.I.P. Outdoor Photographer.
Public Service Announcement
The people who create the content we consume—whether that’s via TikTok, YouTube, Outdoor Photographer or anything else—are obviously essential to their operations. And yet they wield the least power, are deemed the most replaceable, and are often the last to get paid. Corporate profits are up, creators are all working in a gig economy. When I started this paragraph I had intentions of summing it up with an action statement, suggesting something you could do to help. But I’m not sure what, actually, might help. If you’ve got any ideas, please share them in the comments.
Oh man so sorry to hear that you got stiffed as well. A long trail if OP burned bridges.
What a bummer-again. I have subscribed since issue one that featured Jeff Gnass way back in the 80’s. I eventually got images published by Rob S. and Chris R. later gave me an assignment after i sent him a book i published. Yeah, i was finally in! Then Werner went under and i got stiffed on my first big writing op. But it was nothing compared to the others. Talking with George Lepp, he got stiffed way more that I. Madavor took over and Wes gave me an assignment in his first issue as editor. I got paid then and was invited to keep submitting but never made it a priority and now, glad i didn’t. But you are correct, there are no awesome, professionally edited photo pubs left, that i know of. American Photo, Photo District News, and more-gone. What sucks is Werner knew they were going under and still were giving out assignments, including me. And chatting with Michael Gordon and Royce Howland the other day, the exact same thing is happening to them right now. I know none of the details today, but in corporate America, it seems all the principles take care of themselves first before locking the door on their way out.