Two related calls for help in the feminist publishing world this week.

The first, via Lisa Jervis over at the Bitch Magazine blog, is about South End Press.

If you're not already familiar with South End, you should get to know them right now. They are, as their letter notes, "the nation's only unapologetically radical, feminist, mission-driven, and majority women of color publishing collective." Their list is tremendous: big names like bell hooks, Vandana Shiva, and Howard Zinn, plus less well-known but no less important books from Incite!, Andrea Smith, Kristian Williams, and many more.

And they're in trouble, because Borders is in trouble, and the unfortunate thing about the publishing business is that the actual producers of actual content are generally at the mercy of retailers and distributors when it comes to our financial survival.

The short of it is that they need help, particularly in the form of their community supported publishing program. You pay a monthly fee and get their books for free. Sounds pretty great. More info about that program here.

The second comes from Off Our Backs, an almost 40 year old feminist news magazine. From an official statement:

We are not closing down yet, but things are a bit difficult for us right now. We are trying some last-ditch efforts in the hopes that we will be able to raise enough funds to continue publishing.

Ironically, we have been in a process of actually coming closer to achieving self-sustainability, but have a shortfall of approximately $20,000 at this time. When we are able to afford enough staff to continue our new subscriber campaign, we in fact are able to steadily increase our revenue. If we can manage to fill this gap, we believe that we will be able to continue building our growing subscriber base through our subscriber
outreach campaign, which, when we have been able to do it, has been remarkably successful.

As the oldest feminist publication in the United States, we are in our 38th year of publication, so hopefully, we'll be able to weather this latest downturn in funds and regroup to keep going. Rest assured that all of us on the collective are trying as hard as we can, and we have managed to come through funding shortfalls before, but we're not sure right now how this will happen.

You can donate to off our backs here, and even better, subscribe to the newsjournal here.

We have to support independent and feminist media, particulary during times of economic decline so that we don't lose important venues for these writers and ideas.

5 Comments

July 16, 2008 12:00 PM

[0+]  MzBitca said:

The Southend Press sounds interesting and there are definitely books on their list that I have wanted to read but can't find around here. Is there anyone else here that suscripes to it?

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July 16, 2008 6:32 PM

[0+]  Endrju said:

Donate to "Off Our Backs" link isn't workin' for me. :(

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July 16, 2008 7:57 PM

[0+]  Hugo Schwyzer said:

Thanks for the notice, Miriam -- I've become a subscriber to the community at South End as of today. And I'm also a supporter of Bitch itself, which can always use aid as well.

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July 22, 2008 8:29 AM

[0+]  Bobbo said:

Please support both South End Press and Off Our Backs. I've bought many books from South End Press over the years and have never been disappointed.

I was living in D.C. when Off Our Backs first started many years ago and I knew several of their founders and early contributors. It has changed and evolved over the years (Do any of you old-timers remember the Chicken Lady?), but has remained a thought-provoking and worthwhile feminist publication.

Independent publishing is certainly one way to prove your courage and those who take it on deserve our appreciation, solidarity and $$$$$.

Bob Simpson
The BobboSphere

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July 22, 2008 10:23 AM

[0+]  South End Press said:

Thanks for the support and helping to spread the word about South End Press Community Supported Publishing.

We are currently a finalist in this month's ideablob competition with an opportunity to win $20,000 to really develop a CSP movement. Will you please help us make that happen by voting for the South End Press CSP between July 22 and 31st?

Support South End Press by voting here: http://ideablob.com/ideas/2735-Community-Supported-Publishing-

in struggle & solidarity,

South End Press
www.southendpress.org

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