Member Benefits

The Magazine Association of BC (MABC) represents, connects and promotes the diverse British Columbia magazine industry by uniting and fostering the immense talent, knowledge and skills of its publishers. Established in 1993 to serve and promote BC magazines, the member-driven, not-for-profit association provides a number of member services and initiatives aimed at creating an environment that encourages entrepreneurial excellence.

Please note that the following benefits include both current and recent initiatives, and their continued implementation is subject to public funding approval.

Industry Credibility

Member magazines are permitted to use the association’s name and logo in their mastheads and on their websites, assuring readers that their publication meets established advertising-editorial criteria set by the Canadian magazine industry. MABC membership demonstrates that a magazine produces the kind of trusted editorial that draws devoted readers, offering advertisers positive affiliation with access to a potentially loyal market.

Advocacy

MABC works at the municipal, provincial and federal levels, lobbying government for policy that will provide stability for the industry. Advocacy is fundamental to ensuring that the industry environment is such that BC magazines can continue to contribute to the cultural fabric of the province and the country.

Professional Development

BCALME (BC Arts & Literary Magazine Event)

An annual conference geared towards small- to medium-circulation magazines, featuring speakers on timely topics in all areas of magazine publishing. Past sessions have covered in-house fulfillment, online brand building, contract publishing and adapting editorial for the Web.

Magazines West

To enhance industry knowledge and skills and facilitate networking, the association coordinates professional development events such as Magazines West, Western Canada’s premier event for established and emerging magazine industry professionals. Magazines West offers informative and motivational seminars, panel discussions and networking opportunities.

Members receive discounted registration rates to Magazines West and other association professional events that vary from year to year (past events have included Conference on the Coast and the Magazine Writers' Craft Fair). Members also receive Magazines Canada member rates to selected Magazines Canada professional development events.

Bursaries

Members are eligible to apply for travel and tuition bursaries to attend professional development events including Magazines West, MagNet: Canada’s Magazine Conference and Simon Fraser University Summer Publishing Workshops.

Internship Initiative

A new program to subsidize wages for member publications to hire qualified interns, providing support to the province’s magazines and training the next generation of workers.

Marketing and Promotion

Member Directory

The Magazine of Magazines, a publication listing all MABC members, is available both online and in print. Members are also promoted on the association’s website (www.magsbc.com), where they can post jobs and manage their public profiles. The printed version of the directory is also distributed to schools, media buyers, advertisers and libraries.

Web Ad Network

MABC is has contracted to do a feasability study and action plan on a member Web Ad Network.

Word On The Street Book & Magazine Festival

MABC subsidizes the cost of exhibitor space for its members at Western Canada’s largest celebration of words and reading. This outdoor festival draws approximately 35,000 readers, writers and literary-minded individuals to the Vancouver Public Library each year. MABC also coordinates event programming to spotlight member magazine content and provide information on careers in writing and publishing.

Main Street Magazine Tour

A celebration of local arts, literary and cultural magazines, the Main Street Magazine Tour sees MABC team up with neighbourhood businesses to showcase the local literary landscape of BC magazines for a series of readings, exhibits and performances, held in various Main Street shops and cafes.

Additionally, the association looks for opportunities throughout the year to provide community outreach to its members and raise the profile of BC magazines. Recent marketing initiatives include the following:

Transit shelter advertising: A poster featuring member magazines was displayed at bus shelters throughout metro Vancouver in both 2010 and 2009.

Vancouver Live! Video Screen Advertising: MABC produced a promotional ad highlighting member magazine covers, which ran on two outdoor video screens in downtown Vancouver in 2011 and 2010.

Richmond Public Library International Reading Room: Members were invited to donate magazines to a showcase of local media that took place during the 2010 Olympic Games.

Circulation and Distribution

Circulation Enhancement Initiative

MABC has partnered with the Abacus Circulation to provide customized database management software for selected small-circulation magazines.

Direct Mail Campaign

MABC is currently planning a direct mail campaign to generate new subscriptions for members. The campaign is scheduled to begin in Fall 2011.

BC Ferries/NewsGroup Newsstand Initiative

MABC works with The News Group to position member magazines in strategic newsstand locations on selected BC Ferries vessels, reaching regular commuters as well as tourists.

Canadian Media Circulation Audit membership

MABC members are entitled to membership in the Canadian Media Circulation Audit (CMCA) under the Vertical Publications & CCNASustaining/Associate Members category, providing a reduced rate to access the CMCA’s auditing services. (Note: auditing fees are additional and based on circulation. View membership and auditing fees at www.circulationaudit.ca.)

Technology

MagFlow

MABC is working with the SFU Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing and LiFT Studios to develop MagFlow, an online editorial workflow management system that allows magazine contributors to upload submissions to an online portal, where they can be assigned and managed by an editorial team and eventually published to the web.

Partnerships

MABC collaborates with a broad range of organizations and corporate sponsors to further its member-driven mandate.

MABC maintains memberships and partnerships with the following organizations:

· Access Copyright

· Alliance for Arts and Culture

· Association of Book Publishers of BC

· Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing

· Canadian Media Circulation Audit

· Canadian Society of Magazine Editors

· Cultural Human Resources Council

· Editors’ Association of Canada, BC Branch

· Federation of BC Writers

· Magazines Canada

· Vancouver Public Library

· Vantage Point

· Western Magazine Awards Foundation

We also work with the following industry supporters and suppliers, who share our goal of ensuring industry sustainability:

· OnTrack Media

· Ronda Barzilay and Associates

· Texterity

· Transcontinental-LGM Coronet

Other Services

· Job postings for and from members

· Help with grant submissions

· Networking events

· e-Newsletter

· Calendar and coverage of industry and member events

Attachment	Size
Benefits_of_Membership-Nov11.pdf	394.33 KB

Member Benefits

Upcoming Events

Featured Magazine

Jobs

Current Opportunities:

Read BC Magazines About:

Industry Directory

Public Funders

Member Directory