An employee of Pulse magazine, whose tagline is The Heartbeat of Black Gay America has informed me that after only three issues that the magazine may be no more.
Published by Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), Pulse truly made a huge splash onto the market in '06 with its premiere issue. The covers, the layout, the photo shoots, the articles -- all top notch and beyond extraordinary. But the magazine biz is tough, and my source says that people aren't getting paid and it looks like the magazine may have run its course.
I pray this isn't so. Could it be that for all it's glitz and glamour, Pulse was putting the cart before the horse? I mean, we as black gay men always want the best of everything, but maybe the powers that be at Pulse should focus on making the venture successful before going too overboard on asthetics.
Just my two cents. Let's keep our fingers crossed though. Or maybe some of you with deep pockets can swoop in and save it. We certainly need this magazine.
That is a shame about the magazine. Black gay men have few outlets to be heard as it is. Maybe things will work out. Time will tell.
Posted by: E | December 01, 2007 at 02:45 PM
In a world of specifically targeted, instant information via the Internet, general interest monthly and quarterly magazines have absolutely no future. It was an idea for a bygone era.
Posted by: Bernie | December 01, 2007 at 03:58 PM
You're right Bernie, I think all publishiing has taken a hit due to the internet -- e-books and the like are taking over, new gizmos are making hard-copy less necessary.
A magazine in this day an age has to have an online presense as well, which is something Pulse never had. When I first heard of it I went to Pulse.com and Pulsemagazine.com and couldn't find it. Bad sign.
But I still believe nothing can replace the glossy, hard-copy sitting on the coffee table. I hope Pulse pulls this out, because I enjoyed the magazine extremely.
Posted by: taylor Siluwé | December 01, 2007 at 05:48 PM
Darn...I really liked Pulse!
Posted by: Cocoa Rican | December 02, 2007 at 05:40 PM
I have to admit, I don't have the money to save the mag, but I really loved the articles. I hope that this is just a rumor, a really bad one.
Posted by: Wil Lavender | December 03, 2007 at 12:43 PM