GOOD Magazine

Infobox Magazine
title = GOOD


image_size =
image_caption =
publisher =
paid_circulation =
unpaid_circulation =
total_circulation = 25,000+
circulation_year =
language = English
category = general interest/philanthropy
frequency = Bimonthly
editor = Zach Frechette
editor_title = Editor
firstdate = 2006
country = flag|United States
website = [http://good.is/ http://good.is/]

GOOD Magazine is a bimonthly American general-interest magazine founded in 2006 with a focus on social issues, politics and sustainable living. Founded by Ben Goldhirsh, son of entrepreneur and Inc. magazine creator Bernie Goldhirsh, "GOOD" has attracted widespread attention both for its subject matter and abnormal business model. The California based magazine's tagline is "for people who give a damn."

Founding and business model

In 2006 Ben Goldhirsh, then 26, decided to create a magazine dedicated to social causes. Eschewing experienced editors, he hired friends from college and high school, including Al Gore's son, Al Gore III. The team was initially criticized by industry experts such as Chip Block, who said "This sounds a lot to me like vanity publishing, a bunch of kids sitting around with something they think is a really good idea, and one of them has a lot of money." [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/fashion/17good.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1215065897-NpYAJlJjCmj23KSrNP48Vw A Magazine for Earnest Young Things] . "The New York Times". Sharon Waxman. September 17, 2006.]

One central part of "GOOD"'s business strategy was to have its subscription fees go entirely to charity. This effort has raised over $800,000 for charities so far. [ [http://good.is/ / Good Magazine Official Site] ] Goldhirsh explained the reasoning behind the strategy in an interview with Inc. magazine: "The idea was that we would incentivize consumers with the added benefit that their money goes to charity, incentivize these charities to reach their constituencies for the $20 donation, and enjoy the added marketing and public relations that would come from having an innovative strategy." [ [http://www.inc.com/articles/2007/06/goldhirshQA.html Inheriting the 'Entrepreneurial Spirit] "Inc. Magazine". Angus Loten. June 19, 2007.] Goldhirsh's theory has been criticized as not a viable business model, and the magazine is yet to break even. [ [http://www.foreignpolicy.com/users/login.php?story_id=3942&URL=http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3942 Doing Well By Doing Good] . "Foreign Policy Magazine". Carolyn O’Hara. September/October 2007]

Another change from normal industry strategy was to use their marketing budget to throw parties rather than do direct mail. Its parties have been reviewed and discussed by publications such as The Washington Post. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/?node=cityguide/profile&id=1142087&nm=0&displaySearchTerm=&displaySearchLocation= GOOD Anniversary Party: Editor's Pick] , "The Washington Post". Julia Beizer. Sept. 5, 2007.]

Press coverage

Around launch time in the fall of 2006, "GOOD" was featured in the "New York Times" and mentioned by APM's Marketplace. [ [http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/20/smart_sociallyconscious_business/. Marketplace: Smart (socially-conscious) business ] ] Then in late 2007 the magazine received increased media attention including a 2-part series on NPR. [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15143120 Magazine Aims to Be 'Good' for You] . NPR. October 10, 2007.] [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16548165 Magazine Makes 'Good'] . NPR. November 22, 2007] "GOOD"'s listing of the 51 best magazines received national press attention. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/business/media/12graydon.html Cheers and Jeers for Condé Nast] . "The New York Times". Maria Aspan. March 12, 2007]

The magazine's web presence has received coverage from NPR. [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17044230 A Vision of 'Good' Works in Magazines, Web] . NPR. December 8, 2007] "GOOD" has made 35 web videos of topics such as nuclear transparency to globalization, which are quite popular on YouTube, getting over 1,200 subscribers.

In 2008 "GOOD" Magazine was nominated for two National Magazine Awards, one for design and the other for transparency. [ [http://www.magazine.org/editorial/national_Magazine_Awards/Winners_and_Finalists/ 2008 National Magazine Award Winners and Finalists] . ASME.]

References

[http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jul/23/magazine/tm-goldhirsh30 LA Times profile of Ben Goldhirsh]

[http://www.magazine.org/editorial/national_Magazine_Awards/Winners_and_Finalists/ 2008 National Magazine Awards]

External links

* [http://good.is/ "GOOD Magazine" official website]
* [http://www.good.is/sections/video/videos.php "GOOD Magazine" video page]
* [http://www.good.is/sections/blog/blog_by_posts.php "GOOD Magazine" blog]
* [http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=GOODMagazine "GOOD Magazine" YouTube channel]