And so it comes down to this: At the beginning of 2007, Leading Edge will become an independent magazine no longer affiliated with Brigham Young University. Since we have seven months to prepare, we’ve already started taking into account things we’ll be changing. Here’s a brief list:
1) We’ll still be working out of the Humanities Publication Center, but since the English Department doesn’t want us becoming a de facto student journal using the facilities for free, we’re working with Mel Thorne (HumPub supervisor) to rent the facilities. He was originally going to let us use them for free, so the rate should be reasonable.
2) We’re reducing our print runs to cut costs. Since we usually have a decent store of back issues, this isn’t going to cut into subscriptions any. We’re also switching to print-on-demand so that, in case we need more issues, we can print them as need be at minimal further cost. (This, among other things, has necessitated a change from our long-time partner MC Printing, to whom I will be sending an apology letter in the near future.)
3) We’re looking into becoming either a nonprofit organization or limited-liability company. Part of this is for tax and other protection in case we need to take out loans; part is to open the possibility of donations to keep the magazine afloat. (Hopefully asking for donations won’t be necessary, but it’s an option to keep open.)
4) Work is also underway to allow subscriptions to be bought online via credit card or paypal. We’re hoping this will increase subscriptions and, thus, revenue.
5) Although we won’t be able to offer Elang 351 (student journal) credit to BYU students anymore, we’re working with Linda Adams to allow Elang 399 (student internship) credit instead. This should help us keep a strong supply of university students coming, since not everyone comes (at least at first) out of love of the magazine.
6) Apparently in Matt’s trying to convince the department that SF&F is legitimate literature, he cited a professor that has since been hired on to BYU faculty. (I don’t know his name.) The English Department has said that if we manage to last two year on our own, and if he (or someone else) is willing to take us under their wing, there is a strong possibility of them taking us back. Whether that happens or not will likely involve financial considerations more than anything else, but it’s a possibility.
And I think that pretty much covers it. Like I said, most of this work was done by Matt Gibbons, so thank him for what help we’ve had. If you have any questions that I haven’t answered, or just want to rant, post below.
HOWEVER, please do not email the English Department with a rant saying how much you disagree with this, what a mistake they’re making, etc. We’re already on shaky ground as it is; a flood of angry emails will only make the situation worse. If you must express your feelings to them, I suggest a carefully written, polite, hardcopy letter sent via snail mail.
Since this post is probably the last thing I’ll officially do as TLE’s Senior Editor, I just want to thank all of you who’ve helped the magazine over the years. The dedication at TLE is enough that I don’t think it will die, and we’ll fight tooth and nail to keep it from happening—even those, like me, who are moving halfway across the country.
Thanks for listening.
(And again, please don’t email complaints about this to the English department. We need as much of their good grace as we can get right now.)
