Publishing your own community magazine offers many benefits. Firstly, there is a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from being able to fulfil someone's dreams of having their memories or life story published. Meeting these people and hearing them relate their memories of many years past are very interesting and enjoyable exercises. You learn a lot about the history of your town and how it used to be from these eye witness accounts. The people you come into contact with become your friends and you share a part of their lives that they have probably never disclosed in such detail to anyone previously. It is important, therefore, to treat what they reveal to you with the utmost respect.

Secondly, you are obtaining unique content, which can be used to your advantage if you also maintain an associated community website.

I first became interested in documenting the history of my hometown through historical accounts and personal recollections and constructed a community website from which to display this information. Only when I began to realise that many people with the knowledge I was searching for did not have access to the internet did I contemplate publishing a community magazine.

I now maintain two community websites which have become a resource for local information and personal recollections and help to promote my desire of obtaining further material for publication in my two community magazines. I have a ready supply of totally original and unique content without having to resort to rehashing someone else's work to make it appear my own.

Establishing a community website is a great starting point for publishing a community magazine. You will obtain material that can be used to get your magazine off the ground and which will provide a source of material for future issues. It is surprising how many people will wish to become involved once they learn of your ambitions.

Local history and personal recollections of your hometown are highly marketable and because it is such a niche area there is often very little competition. Your local newspaper will undoubtedly include regular short features taking a look back at past times because they are aware of the interest that such features generate among their readership. However, their main objective is to provide an up-to-date news service and they are unable to devote greater resources to covering what in all respects, is more desired information.

Even now, many local towns do not have an internet presence and yet they can be maintained and monetised just like any other website. They provide a steady stream of visitors and will help to promote your intended magazine and help you to obtain material for publication. A community website should be considered an important stage in establishing your community magazine.