My first issue of dispatches arrived yesterday. I had subscribed a week or so earlier, deciding I should support the sort of journalism I am optimistic will become more prevalent in the future. Or, really, the sort of journalism I enjoy most.

I had considered subscribing before, each time deterred by the relatively high price tag. $25 an issue is about what it costs for a full year of pretty much any other magazine subscription. For $75 you can get a full year (4 issues)… You essentially get an issue for free by paying for three all at one.

The issue is titled “endgame” and is about global warming and caught my attention with the compelling images of Philip Blenkinsop I saw in the little flip-through on the website.

The overall impression of the issue is impressive even though the book is diminutive in size -  the same size as a standard Moleskine notebook and twice as thick. Reminds me of old trade books or paper swatch books I used to get by the dozen when I was working in the design industry. Some pretty dramatic differences from other magazines caught my attention immediately:

1. Written and photo essays are treated independently. Instead of one taking a supporting role to the other, the essays stand alone, splitting the issue by contributor instead. It lends the sense that your view is enhanced by a multitude of perspectives.
2. No advertising. Or, at least not much. There is an actual advertising section. That’s right, a chapter set aside for ads. Somehow they convinced people to pay for advertising that was clearly separated from content. But, then, I was even more surprised that I actually spent time carefully reviewing each ad to see who would support such a publication in such a way. It felt a little like the print version of the so-called “underwriting” businesses do to support NPR.
3. The quality of the content is high. The design is well done and very simple with brightly colored chapter title pages and clear text. The photographs are printed on what I suspect is a digital press with that strange look that toner lends. Not sure if it’s that toner sits on top of the page more so than ink or the slight moiré pattern digital lends. Really nit-picky. Still I look forward to the day when demand is high enough for the production to be moved to an offset press.

The overall impression reminds me of a reference book or text book. Something that you retain; not a disposable periodical. But it was the photo essay by Balazs Gardi that convinced me that this will remain on my shelf for years. An edit of ethereal images I doubt one could find in even the most progressive photo-friendly publication. Sparse landscapes. Blurry ice dragons… Most shown as double page spreads. Image 14 from Mexico City is amazing. A fantastic photo essay about water of all things without a single cliché.