The Value of the Little Magazine

My newest endeavor as the Social Media Manager for the Humboldt State University Toyon Literary Magazine has lead me to do some research on the "little magazine".

Though they are only able to reach a tiny audience, as Paul Bixler, author of “Little Magazine, What Now?” states, the existence of smaller magazines allows for the broadening of publication subjects and available information. The value of the little magazine is that it allows communities of like-minded people to compile and distribute their work, views, and beliefs. They are able to spread the reach and influence.

Larger publications have to discuss broad topics that affect a variety of people in order to maintain their national audience. Lit mags, in contrast, are able to focus on a specific area or topic relevant to their area of production. This allows for more personalized writing.

Another wonderful aspect of lit mags is that they allow for the publication of not only academic knowledge but ‘laymen’s knowledge’, or practical knowledge, as well. Many brilliant minds have been barred from traditional education because they are unable to conform to the schooling system or are disadvantaged in some economic or cultural way. Although the ethics of that reality are an argument for another time, I will say that the abundance (everything from the Handyman Magazine to Toyon) of little magazines gives ‘laypeople’ the opportunity to publish their ideas and information without the need for academic approval. I find that to be a more equal playing field.

~ Ciera