Edge YK magazine to return, as a quarterly, after hiatus

The publishers of Yellowknife’s Edge YK magazine, which has not been produced since August last year, say a new issue will appear in February.

Edge YK will move from publication every two months to quarterly, beginning with the next edition, said Jeremy Bird of the magazine’s publisher, Verge Communications.

“The next issue should be coming out pretty shortly. We had a period of transition but our next issue will be out within two or three weeks,” Bird told Cabin Radio on Tuesday.

The magazine, first published in December 2011, began life as a quarterly but soon transitioned to six editions per year. Featuring articles written by residents about life and current affairs in Yellowknife, it is free to read and carries paid advertisements.

An associated website at one point ran daily breaking news coverage but now more usually reproduces content from the print edition.

The main focus is making sure we have something that’s sustainable.JEREMY BIRD, VERGE COMMUNICATIONS

Laurie Sarkadi, Edge YK’s former managing editor, left the post following last August’s edition – the magazine’s 44th – to study for a Master’s degree in English in Guelph, Ontario.

In her final note to readers, Sarkadi said the magazine remained “cool, fresh, [and] focused in an irreverent way on the aspects of our city that set it apart from other places in the world.”

Bird said February’s issue would be one of four this year.

“As we’ve gotten bigger as a communications company,” said Bird, referring to publisher Verge, “we’ve been investing more resources and time on that side of things. When Laurie left to go back to school, that gave us an opportunity to kind-of look at things from a different perspective. Everyone who works on the magazine is also working on other projects.”

Cabin Radio understands the magazine generates little revenue for Verge. Bird said Edge YK was seen by the company as more “a community service” than a commercial product.

“I don’t want to see it die,” he said. “We’re just trying to figure out a way to keep doing the things that keep the money rolling in as well as providing people locally with a magazine they can read and enjoy.

“Even from the very beginning, we realized, obviously, the market’s limited and we’re not going to be able to sell 80 pages of ads per issue, just because of where we live and operate.

“The main focus is making sure we have something that’s sustainable, that pays everyone who works on it, and can continue to deliver good, local content.”