Overland Journal - NEW MAGAZINE!

[woody]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/30/2007

Overland Journal, the first North American vehicle-dependent expedition publication.

"The publication for environmentally responsible, worldwide vehicle-dependent expedition and adventure travel."

Overland Journal is a new publication dedicated to expedition travel and exploration in North America and around the world. Featuring over 100 pages of expedition vehicles, travel stories, equipment reviews, and conservation news, Overland Journal will set new standards in adventure travel journalism. Our international editorial staff will collect the most captivating and informative stories ever seen in a vehicle-centered publication.

-Overland Journal is delivered perfect bound and in full color for archival quality.
-Each year features a Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Annual Gear issue.

Overland Journal is content-rich, with 10+ page feature adventures and no story breaks. Skills and technical features offer a level of detail and testing consistent with the expectations of our educated and professional readers.

Contact:
Published by Overland Journal, LLC, Prescott, Arizona www.overlandjournal.com
Editorial- Jonathan Hanson, Executive Editor, editor@overlandjournal.com
Operations- Scott Brady, Publisher scott@overlandjournal.com
Advertising- Brian McVickers, Marketing Director brian@overlandjournal.com

[DBS311]

Already got my 2 year subscription. We should all support a great publication like this cuz, well, it's all we got in the U.S.

Support Overland Journal!

[Lucy_FJ55]

Just signed up as a Charter member. Can't wait to see the premiere issue!

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by Lucy_FJ55

Just signed up as a Charter member. Can't wait to see the premiere issue!

xtwo

[MaddBaggins]

I got a sneek peek at Moab. Very nice! I plan on subscribing. You won't be disappointed.

[VBRoamer]

I signed up as well. Very experienced group of people putting it together.

[expeditionswest]

Brian,

Thanks so much for posting the press release. Stephanie and I were able to watch the Journal print on Monday, which was a very cool and rewarding experience.

The Premier issue ships today to all that subscribed on or before May 4th. Those that have subscribed after May 4th, the premier issue will ship throughout next week.

Everyone that subscribes before June 30th will get the premier issue.

We have also added PayPal subscriptions to the subscription page:

Thanks so much for all of the support, and for everyone that has subscribed.

[CameraCruiser]

Scott,

Congratulations on the magazine launch. I look forward to mine.

Even though this is way off topic, could you share the experience of creating and launching this new publication?

I woould like to how long it took from the "I have and idea" phase, to you watching your first press check.

Where did you find writers? Are you looking for more? Have you ever published before? Trials and tribulations of getting this off the ground? etc.

Thanks for anything you can share. Sometimes the story is how the story came to be.
--
Rob

[expeditionswest]

Hi Rob,

Our experience with creating the Overland Journal has been a total joy for me. Overlanding/expedition travel is one of the fastest growing segment of the OHV market, and it is building steam from the early retired that don't want a 40' RV, but would easily buy a Sportsmobile, EarthRoamer or 100 series with all the kit.

Just over a year ago, Jonathan Hanson (FJ40, Tacoma and FJ60 owner) and I first started talking about the concept. We believed (and the rate of subscriptions and advertisers has proved) that there was a large group of underserviced travelers/4wd enthusiasts. These are people that use a vehicle as a means of adventure and travel, not where just the vehicle is the hobby. Sure, we all love cool trucks and gear, but we buy them to travel and explore.

The Overland Journal is an independent publication, 100% owned by overland enthusiasts (our staff). I am blessed to have such great and talented people working with me.

From the beginning, we wanted to assemble the "best of breed", which is the highest quality equipment manufacturers and outfitters as advertisers and the most qualified editors. This would help ensure content quality consistent with a $45 subscription rate and very low ad %. For example, ads are only in the very front or the very back.

We worked on editorial first, talking with talents like Henry Cubillan, Tom Sheppard, Chris Scott, Tom Collins, etc., then we started looking for the best photographers we could find. Jonathan is also a great editor (13 books, Outside correspondent, National Geographic Adventure, etc.), which allows me to focus on the business side.

We are also not afraid of printing long stories, as expedition travel usually requires more than the 4-5 pages a trail story allows. For example, in the first issue, the main feature is over 15 pages on a Trans-Africa Expedition. Fun stuff!

We are always looking for good talent, especially those with exceptional photography. Image quality is a priority for us. We are not currently accepting contributions, but don't hesitate to send an email to our editor if you have a unique idea, or some great images. editor [@] overlandjournal.com

For example, the Summer issue will always be the photography issue. It features 10-14 pages of just images taken around the world.

If I can answer any more questions, please shoot me an email: guide@expeditionswest.com. I would be happy to help.

Thanks again for the interest and support.

[CameraCruiser]

Scott,

Thanks for taking the time to write. Your answers are inspiring because it shows what can be built with a small group of people with a dream and the guts to follow it.

I wish you all the success that you and your team deserve.

Also, have you thought of providing a downloadable version in PDF format for paid subscribers, or for those that want the immeadiate satasfaction of clicking buy now and receiving the latest issue?

Personally, I enjoy the hardcopies for a few months, but then have to recycle them or I would perish under all of the weight of the media accumulating around me. So I would love to have a digital copy to refer to and search after the hard copy is gone.

Thanks again,

Rob

[SINCITY100]

Its great to finally see ( thanks to you folks ) a U.S. publication that covers this type of lifestyle ... This journal will surely motivate those adventurous souls who love expedition-type travel..

THANK YOU !!

I wish your team the best of luck with this project Scott .

I think I had better go take some pictures !!

[spressomon]

Scott, et al: I received the first issue yesterday. A great read and a magazine that fulfills my main interest that has been sorely missing from today's plethora of monster truck type crap pubs (at least Stateside). So keep up the good work!


Christo & Lee: Great Slee ad and Great pic Lee...pretty much sums it up in a very simple way (simple is always harder to accomplish that it looks like it would/should be...kudos to you both).

[LIVERUST]

thumbed through it last night at a friends house. Just suscribed. Looks like a very good quality mag.

[Lucy_FJ55]

Just received the premiere issue...still drooling.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by expeditionswest

Hi Rob,

Our experience with creating the Overland Journal has been a total joy for me. Overlanding/expedition travel is one of the fastest growing segment of the OHV market, and it is building steam from the early retired that don't want a 40' RV, but would easily buy a Sportsmobile, EarthRoamer or 100 series with all the kit.

Just over a year ago, Jonathan Hanson (FJ40, Tacoma and FJ60 owner) and I first started talking about the concept. We believed (and the rate of subscriptions and advertisers has proved) that there was a large group of underserviced travelers/4wd enthusiasts. These are people that use a vehicle as a means of adventure and travel, not where just the vehicle is the hobby. Sure, we all love cool trucks and gear, but we buy them to travel and explore.

The Overland Journal is an independent publication, 100% owned by overland enthusiasts (our staff). I am blessed to have such great and talented people working with me.

From the beginning, we wanted to assemble the "best of breed", which is the highest quality equipment manufacturers and outfitters as advertisers and the most qualified editors. This would help ensure content quality consistent with a $45 subscription rate and very low ad %. For example, ads are only in the very front or the very back.

We worked on editorial first, talking with talents like Henry Cubillan, Tom Sheppard, Chris Scott, Tom Collins, etc., then we started looking for the best photographers we could find. Jonathan is also a great editor (13 books, Outside correspondent, National Geographic Adventure, etc.), which allows me to focus on the business side.

We are also not afraid of printing long stories, as expedition travel usually requires more than the 4-5 pages a trail story allows. For example, in the first issue, the main feature is over 15 pages on a Trans-Africa Expedition. Fun stuff!

We are always looking for good talent, especially those with exceptional photography. Image quality is a priority for us. We are not currently accepting contributions, but don't hesitate to send an email to our editor if you have a unique idea, or some great images. editor [@] overlandjournal.com

For example, the Summer issue will always be the photography issue. It features 10-14 pages of just images taken around the world.

If I can answer any more questions, please shoot me an email: guide@expeditionswest.com. I would be happy to help.

Thanks again for the interest and support.

Hey Scott: Where's my hat et al for being a "Charter Member"?

[expeditionswest]

Originally Posted by spressomon

Hey Scott: Where's my hat et al for being a "Charter Member"?

The hats and decals are being produced and will ship on June 30th (or possibly a little sooner). Thanks so much for the support!

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by expeditionswest

The hats and decals are being produced and will ship on June 30th (or possibly a little sooner). Thanks so much for the support!

Thank you for the update.

[wesintl]

I guess I missed charter membership but I don't care...

I saw a copy of the premier issue and I was very impressed. The kind of travel I like to do with my crusier is more along the lines of what goes on in overland travel. I just wish i had more time to devote to extended days of this type of activity.

I also need to hang out more on the expedition portal. Esp after my last solo arch canyon, conttonwood wash, beef, e-hill, lockhart basin run.

Thanks for taking a leap into this type of venture Scott. I look forward to more!

[expeditionswest]

Thanks Wes,

It was great to see you 70 in person at Cruise Moab. Awesome machine.

You can still subscribe for the charter subscriber all the way up to June 30th.

[wesintl]

I guess I shoulda noted that I paypaled saturday for a one year subscription. I'm just looking forward to reading the issue vs the charter member schwag

Thanks again! Pleasure to meet you too Scott!

[Whistler74]

Congratulations on what looks (and sounds) like a great magazine. Most of the North American magazines seem to ignore the "Expedition" concept.
I'm looking forward to when my copy makes it north of the 49th!

Best wishes!

[petescoffee]

My first copy arrived today. Great looking magazine. From what I have read so far I am going to enjoy it.

Do you know if the delivery months are going to be the same as Trails and 4wd Toyota Owners? Be nice to not get over loaded those months.
Anyway's Congrats on the new magazine.

Dave

[ballardcruiser]

Great debut... I wish you guys a lot of luck.

Now that you've launched, you have to convince ARB to make a nicer looking ad. Every other advertiser got all elegant for you guys -- Urban, Slee, etc -- but the ARB ad looks like it came straight from a generic crawler mag.

I know you can't be a jerk to your advertisers, but the ARB catalogs look great. They can do better than that ad!

Minor nerdy quibble. The mag itself was great.

[arcteryx]

Got mine yesterday. This mag is awesome! Henry emailed me about this a week ago and a couple of us Lone-Star Cruisers each got a subscription. It is nice to see a really great quality magazine, physically speaking.

One thing I would like to suggest when doing product reviews is to take into account cost. The RTT comparison is really well-done, but cost is not a factor. Consumer Reports does good testing and they have the best product, and then the best product based on cost. Perhaps you could incorporate this into future product reviews.

I realize that when you are doing this type of travel, you need the best gear available. Perhaps this is why cost was not mentioned. I think most folks base a buying decision based on cost though. An example is the RTT from car-top-tent that sold like hotcakes last fall from Mel. Not the best RTT out there, but the pricepoint was unbeatable.

Also, I really like the in-depth stories you present. After Graham's story thru Africa, he outlined specifics on the Rover as well as some good info on how one would need to proceed if they were to undertake a similar expedition.

Thanks and keep up the good work!