Fifteen years of Delayed Gratification magazine
Everyone who works in independent publishing knows how hard it is to keep the lights on. But there’s a small group of publications that have cracked the code and managed to turn their independent magazines into sustainable businesses.
Delayed Gratification magazine launched 15 years ago with the bright idea of using the slowness of print as an advantage. Rather than racing to be first with the news, they dedicate each issue to a three-month period and reflect on events after the dust has settled. It’s a great idea for a magazine, and a great use of print, but as editor Rob Orchard explains in our last podcast interview of 2025, it’s also just the beginning.
In the conversation above he reflects on what they’ve learned from publishing 60 issues of the magazine, including the constant battle with deadlines; the changing demands of social media; and the advantages of advertising on the Underground.
I think he must be the most-interviewed person on our podcast, but that’s with good reason. Speaking to him is always great fun, and really interesting, so I hope you’ll enjoy listening to our conversation. (Or watching it via the video below.)
If you’d like to hear more conversations with independent publishers, take a scroll through our podcast archive, and follow us wherever you get your podcasts so we can send our new episodes to you as soon as they’re ready. We’ve got one more coming this year – the second part of our 2025 roundup will land on Friday next week, ideal for a bit of relaxed listening over the Christmas break. And then we’ll be back with more independent magazine makers in the New Year.
