goodbye free! magazine

[skysabove]

Declan McGregor, one of the guys behind free! magazine has announced that it has ceased publication. Declan is going to be launching "FREE city" - a new monthly guide to gay Dublin in November.

First GI, now Free!, is Q-life next?

How come GCN - which is much less commercial than the others - has managed to survive so long?

[amnesiac]

The new GCN is far superior to free! Plus I think it get's governement fundign in some shape or form.

[skysabove]

Yeah, I agree that the new GCN is excellent. The quality of the writing has dramatically improved. I think part of the reason is that the old Community Employment scheme has been scrapped, and now GCN is attracting a lot of professional freelance writers.

[Pipe Dreams]

Free wasn't really that good, qlife has better articles, but then I've only see one issue, so its hard to judge there..

BTW did anyone see on http://www.gay-ireland.com about the "Cork Examiner" looking for a writer about the gay scene?

This is very strange as my sources say that its not true.

Maybe its a vain attempt at humour?

[KTS]

The new GCN is great. Free! was shite; good riddance.

[Pipe Dreams]

update from free mag

looks like free may not be dead yet!

see http://www.gaire.com/e/f/view.asp?tid=148808&parent=148808&id=106103

[Tom RED]

Maybe they meant the Evening Echo as the new revamped Downtown supplement has a gay column in it now called 'Out and About' (or was i imagining it??? )

As for Free Magazine the GCN editor was interviewed on queerid.com and said that the market has become overcrowded with gay magazines. I agree and feel there is only room for GCN. Its like Hot Press for the Gay Community and it's free!. Gi magazine was trying too hard to be like the gay press in the UK which are all crap anyway.

[redbulljunkie]

evening echo has an 'out and about' section in downtown? Maybe they'll have a photo section as well entitled "outings" [)]

[TheExile]

Tom Red - Sorry to hear you think the UK gay press is crap. I can't say I agree with you on this one.

I subscribe to Gay Times and the Pink Paper. I've also written for both these publications as well as The Guardian. Both Gay Times and The Pink Paper are held in high esteem by thousands of gay and straight people.

Why? Because they've served us all admirably and continue to highlight issues which concern us all. Through their writings and publicity campaigns they have achieved much - The age of consent and repeal of the dreaded S28 for a start.

It's ironic but I can recall a time not long ago when the Met police raided their offices and try to shut them down. I can remember when not one shop would put Gay Times on the shelf. Now you can buy it in your local supermarket.

Today the same police force who dragged the editorial staff through the courts with bullshite 'obscene publications offences' now regularly advertise in these publications for new recruits!

Gay Times and The Pink paper have and contineu to bring enormous positive change to our lives.

While obviously you're entitled to your opinion, I must say I'm really sorry to hear you feel the way you do.

[101333]

I thought FREE! was dead - there is an October issue - waste of papers as usual

[Tom RED]

Hi Exile,
My comment slating the UK Gay Press the was a tad bit rash and generalised. I didn't have the Gay Times or the Pink Paper in mind so apologies for roping them all together, it was a bit ignorant. I was thinking of Attitude and other gay 'lifestyle magazines' at the time.
I found that Gi magazine was trying too hard to be like these rags rather than find it's own identity and this is why I think it has failed. These magazines try to create this idea of the gay urban trendy man, that we must all aspire to be. Who occupies this fantasy world of vast loft spaces filled with Ikea furniture where everyone is dressed in Prada.
They avoid real issues like what you mentioned about the very disturbing Section 28 in Britian which basically passively supports gay bullying in shools and instead dictates every month what the 'urban gay trendy man' has to wear or listen to. It totally goes over my head and I find it irritating. I feel GCN has a good balance of politics and entertainment and doesn't dictate but informs us instead. And more than likely The UK equivalent The Gay Times and Pink Paper does too where Boyz (is that still around?) certainly doesn't.

This websites' present poll reflects my view.

Regards

[101333]

Well said Tom RED!

[TheExile]

Tom - Certainly agree with your comments about gay lifestyle mags, and I'm delighted to hear that my two favourite publications aren't considered crap after all!