After reading the Underground thread and some of the things that came up about doing freesheets and the level of response it gets, plus with the schnews media gathering coming up, I got to thinking:
Of the free anarchist publications that curently exist:
How many are printed?
How are they distributed?
Is internet distribution useful?
How it is finaced?
How are articles gathered?
What sort of response is there for each issue?
For Gagged! - South Wales Anarchist Newsletter we print 5,000 copies on a bi-monthly basis (though often this is more like every 10 weeks) which are left in shops, pubs and clubs that are willing to take them, delivered door to door in certain areas, given out at stalls at gigs, community festivals, political events & in the street as well as generally just handed around. Several people outside of the areas where there are active groups take bundles too. Our e-mailing list has over 2,000 subscribers and we also post it around places like myspace.
As several people involved with South Wales Anarchists work in the printing industry we're able to do all the production side of things ourselves and keep costs to a complete minimum, however we still need money for production/postage. Donations we get on stalls and from tins some shops put next to Gagged! help alot, benefit gigs tend to be more stress than they're worth, whip arounds in meetings gather the most cash, wanna do subs in the future.
Most issues have 15+ different peopele writing for it, hassled by the editorial team which is 9 people on email list but between three and five in practise. Editorial sessions cut articles to shreads if need be, but always show the author the edits and makes sure they're happy or the artcle doesn't get printed (only ever had one problem in this). Most people invovled in anarchist activism in south wales have written for Gagged! at some point and we try to make sure new people feel able to submit articles. We usually get more articles submitted than we have space for.
Most issues result in a few emails, usually from either former activists who are pleased such a thing exists or rebellious youth wanting more info. Every now and again new people get involved with local groups/campagins they first heard about in Gagged! For small numbers of anarchists in more out of the way places in south Wales, distribution has given them a focal point for activies.
