Ellie Burnage works for publisher Exact Editions based in the UK
“Membership is a relationship. People give their money, but also their time, ideas, expertise and connections to support a cause that they believe in […] It’s a two-way relationship.”
Ariel Zirulnick, Fund Director of Membership Puzzle Project (Press Gazette, 2021)
In recent years, many specialist interest magazine publishers (and media organisations as a whole) have transitioned into membership models as a way to create engaged communities of readers with shared passions, hobbies and interests. This means that in addition to regular subscriptions, publishers are also offering their communities access to myriad other benefits under a membership umbrella, such as discounts, events, discussion forums and digital access to archives.
The theme of this year’s World Digital Preservation Day is ‘Preserving Our Digital Content: Celebrating Communities’; and Exact Editions has helped magazine publishers to do just that. The platform’s services allow publishers to sell and manage access to their digital editions as part of wider membership packages, both preserving their history in a fully-searchable format and bringing communities closer together with shared resources.
We’re highlighting three Exact Editions publishing partners who are bolstering the membership benefits for their communities with streamlined digital access.
World of Railways
The World of Railways Plus membership, run by Warners Group Publications, is a digital package for railway enthusiasts. The membership includes unlimited and fully-searchable digital access to all new issues and the extensive archives of British Railway Modelling, Narrow Gauge World and Garden Rail as well as the archives of Engineering in Miniature and Traction.
In addition to unlimited access to the five railway titles, Warners also brings members a Trackplan Archive, hours of railway modelling video footage, exclusive competitions and RMweb Gold, the UK’s biggest model railway forum.
“The extensive digital magazine archives add a tremendous amount of value to the new membership.” Steve Cole, Publisher at Warners Group Publications
The digital editions of all five titles are directly accessible behind their website log in.
The Biologist
The Royal Society of Biology (RSB) offers members unique opportunities to engage with the life sciences and share their passion for biology. The digital archive of the organisation’s magazine The Biologist is available behind a log on their website, supported by Exact Editions.
Other RSB membership benefits include access to a ‘Continuing Professional Development’ scheme, volunteering opportunities and discounted training courses.
Crafts
In the lead up to the 50th anniversary of Crafts in 2023, the magazine (which is published by charity The Crafts Council) turned to membership to bring its loyal readership of makers and craftspeople closer together.
There are bronze, silver and gold levels of membership, all of which include access to the complete digital archive on the Exact Editions platform stretching back to 1973.
When asked why memberships were the right option for Crafts, Editor Debika Ray said:
“Memberships make a lot of sense for us as a charity, because we represent a very specific interest group: craftspeople and makers. It’s a readymade community and so the membership programme is almost putting a label on something that already exists and enabling people to come together, giving them an opportunity to do that through us.” (Steady HQ, 2023).
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Specialist interest publications that educate, inform and entertain are crucial for the communities they serve, providing a central focus point of shared knowledge. By both preserving these publications digitally and assisting publishers in bolstering their membership’s offerings, Exact Editions’ services help guarantee the continuation of these important communities.
Find out more about World Digital Preservation Day 2024 here.
Click the links to read Exact Editions’ previous blog posts for #WDPD2023 (A Concerted Effort from Autocar & Exact Editions), #WDPD2022 (Exact Editions’ Year in Preservation) and #WDPD2021 (How Digital Edition Break Down International Barriers).
Questions about Exact Editions? You can contact us by emailing info@exacteditions.com.