There’s unorthodox, then just a big further afield is The Print Edition.
In an age of seemingly endless and disposable media, two men have launched a podcast-to-print product that is just odd enough to carve a profitable niche.
;)
Issue 1 of "The Print Edition"In short, The Print Edition is a quarterly printed tabloid-sized newspaper that “celebrates an escape from the algorithm and a deeper connection to what’s around us. What will you find here? Well, things we’re interested in ourselves. Travel, style, sports and the details that make those things better.”
OK, we have a blend of freeform and tidiness. Structure but squishiness. I like the flexibility.
But prepare to get into the weeds with me here as we dig into the principals. You’ll wish I had a Pete Frame family tree to help guide us through the tentacles that feed The Print Edition.
Let’s start with Central Division, a weekly Substack podcast by “old friends David Coggins and Michael Williams. For over five years we’ve been discussing everything from black tie rules to airline clubs to our favorite struggling sports teams.”
;)
Issue 2 of "The Print Edition"Williams is the publisher of The Print Edition, as well as founder of A Continuous Lean and the editor of The Old Ghosts. A Continuous Lean is described as “a first-wave men’s style blog (founded in 2007) turned newsletter written by Michael Williams. The goal here is to create a space for discovery, an appreciation of considered things, and evolved viewpoints. I’m intrigued by old and often overlooked companies that make things in traditional ways. The goal is to buy less, but buy better and avoid being annoying about it all.”
And The Old Ghosts is a web publication and merch shop “that explores life through the lens of craft, design, travel, tradition, and golf. We look to the time-honored and richly colored experiences that can be found outside of the worn path, both on and off the golf course. We publish weekly and will tell stories about interesting things we find along our journey. The Old Ghosts aims to expand the aperture around the game, and will focus as much on craft, style, travel, gear, and epicurean undertakings as it will on golf.”
;)
Issue 3 of "The Print Edition"You’ll note the word "epicurean," which relates to “the pursuit of sensuous pleasure, especially refined food and drink.”
Coggins is editor of The Print Edition, and also writes The Contender newsletter. He also wrote the book “The Believer: A Year In the Fly Fishing Life.” Of The Contender, Coggins writes:
“For years I’ve written about travel and style, from where to buy a suit in Naples to great whisky bars in Tokyo. I started The Contender to connect with people who share these passions. Here you’ll find stories about everything from how to wear a tuxedo to Bahamas fly fishing to good literary biographies to the nostalgic case for bad beer. I also answer reader questions every month where we reach a new level of obsessive detail. I’m really happy that over the last five years we’ve created an active, generous and thoughtful community.”
TLDR rehash: Williams and Coggins have their own gigs but collaborate on The Central Division podcast, which has now spawned The Print Edition newspaper. They collectively celebrate how to relish life at a slower pace.
;)
At 60 bucks a year, or $15 an issue, The Print Edition is not cheap. I haven’t seen any of the three issue published to date, so I can’t put my own value on it. Outside of the three covers I’ve included with this post, I’ve only seen one, tightly cropped, image of an inside page article. The newspaper looks thin — maybe 12-24 pages depending on the newsprint stock — but sometimes less is more when it comes to long-form journalism.
Retail distribution is through 19 newsstands and high-end shops in the U.S. and Europe that have advertised or otherwise contributed to the venture.
Coggins says there is “no master strategy” behind The Print Edition.
“We just tried to make it good. … It doesn’t have to be something more strategic than that. The fact that it’s a little improbable speaks, hopefully, to the charm of it.”
After three issues, I find it surprising the founders — and readers — have shared so little detail about the publication online. Maybe that’s in line with their larger mindset: celebrate “an escape from the algorithm and a deeper connection to what’s around us.”
For more detail on the genesis of "The Print Edition," below is a Substack video that captures the spirit, passion, and skill Williams and Coggins bring to their adventure.