Earlier this month, The Atlantic published an article with this ominous-sounding quote: “So far, there isn’t a single model for our kind of magazine that appears to work.”
It’s another “the death of publishing as we know it” and we’re setting out to solve that problem.
At The Good Men Project, we know that we’re having a conversation that simply isn’t happening elsewhere. What other website is having a global conversation about what it means to be a man in the 21st century? Do you know of any?
We knew it would be hard to do what we are doing right from the start. After all, not only are we talking about men and goodness, but many topics related to men that are provocative and polarizing. The changing roles of dads. Marriage. Divorce. Custody. Birth. Death. Sex. Pornography. Human Trafficking. Racism. LGBT issues. Business Ethics. War. Prison.
We also knew, even as we were starting a new publication, that it was a difficult time for online publications to monetize. Newspapers and other media companies are folding. Journalists aren’t being paid. Online advertising pays a digital dime for every dollar a print publication gets. In fact, three other publications about men that started around the same time we did have since ceased to operate.
And yet, how how else to sustain such an important conversation other than to find a business model that works? It reminds us of the New York Times publisher Arnold O. Sulzberger’s belief that a news organization, above all, had to be profitable if it hoped to maintain a vibrant, independent voice.
Yes, it’s hard. But we don’t care if things are hard, as long as they are not physically impossible.
And so, here we are with a business model that we think is fundamentally different than most out there. What we are doing is this — you get to choose the kind of user experience you want. If you want to come, soak up some great content for free, and have advertisers pay for you visit here — drop in any time and live with a few banner ads.
But for those of people who really want to be charter members of this organization — those of you who want to help lead the conversation and not just follow it — come join us as Premium Members of The Good Men Project.
For starters, you won’t have to see the banner ads. When you sign up to pay a small amount ($2 per month, or $20 per year) – you’ll log in and the ads will be gone. You’ll also get cool extra stuff – invites to exclusive online video chats, a copy of the original Good Men Project Anthology that put us on the map, and more. Find out more details of the offer here.
And as charter members you can help us figure out what other benefits you would like. Tell us what would make the conversation better for you, and we’ll work to make that happen. For if it’s one thing we know about having a conversation, you have to listen as much as you talk.
Ready? Sign on up below. Need more info? Here it is.
With your help, we will figure this out. Thanks for your support.
Register New Account
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Payment is by PayPal. Your membership will begin once you receive the welcome email and click the link to return back to The Good Men Project.
Thank you for being a part of the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
Questions or Feedback? Email [email protected]
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photo by Stephen Sheffield