Spec

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, Feb 1, 1995 by Lori Marden

Combining the timeless quality of a general interest magazine like Harper's with the playful, offbeat sensibility of zines is the aim of Spec, according to publisher and editor Matthew Jaffe.

Published by 24th Street Publishing, Inc., the bimonthly made its debut in November and targets an upscale twentysomething audience with an interest in reading. Each issue focuses on a specific theme, such as food, faraway places and machines (from the evolution of the paper clip to computers), with reprints from zines and small press magazines included in the mix. Regular departments include short fiction pieces, essays and reviews of music and books.

Circulation for the premier issue was 5,000 paid. The subscription rate is $19; the cover price is $4. A one-time black-and-white ad page costs $1,250. Address: P.O. Box 40248, San Francisco, CA 94140. Telephone and fax: 415-282-9397.