Guru Magazine
Guru Magazine was an online crowd-sourced magazine supported by the Wellcome Trust.[1] and published by Guru Magazine Ltd. It was a bi-monthly popular science magazine published in DRM-free ePub, Adobe PDF and kindle formats.[2][3] Guru Magazine was designed to be read on tablet devices, smartphones and eReaders[4] to reduce publishing costs .[2] and for environmental reasons.[5]
The magazine was launched on 1 June 2011, and explores science topics and their relevance to everyday life.[6] The magazine is distributed for free on the magazine's website.[2] Dubbed a 'science lifestyle' periodical,[3][6] it was founded by Dr Stuart Farrimond, communications professional Ben Veal and graphic designer Sarah Joy in Trowbridge, UK.[2][4]
The magazine features crowd-sourced, original writing from scientists, journalists and students from around the world. Regular contributors are termed 'Gurus' and include South African broadcaster Daryl Illbury, Canadian personal trainer Matt Linsdell and Detroit-based Dr Kim Lacey.[2]
History and profile
Founder Dr Stuart Farrimond trained as a medical doctor before being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2008.[7] Following surgery he developed epilepsy and was unable to continue in the medical profession[8] He started a career in lecturing and science communication[4][9] and described his medical background as the inspiration to communicate 'tricky concepts'.[10] The magazine was launched following the apparent high readership of Dr Farrimond's science blog "Dr Stu’s Blog".[4][9] Stuart Farrimond described the magazine's launch as an effort to "bridge the gap between popular science writing and lifestyle magazine journalism"[5] and to give opportunities for new writers to get their work published.[11]
Since the magazine's launch, two of Guru Magazine's contributors, Stuart Farrimond and James Lloyd were finalists in the Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize 2011 Archived 3 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in association with the 'Guardian' and the 'Observer')[12] and Stuart Farrimond was shortlisted for 'Individual contribution to Technology' Award in The SPARKies 2012[13] and 2013[14] for his efforts in developing Guru Magazine to bring science to the masses.
In September 2012, it was announced that Guru Magazine was awarded £12,000 for the funding of an interactive mobile application, allowing readers to access magazine content via Apple's Newsstand application and Google Play.[15] The mobile app, offering an automatic free subscription facility, was released on 28 March 2013.[16] Guru Magazine ceased publication in July 2018.
References
- ^ "Public Engagement Funded People Awards" Archived 18 May 2012 at the Library of Congress Web Archives, Wellcome Trust. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Halfacree, G. "Guru Magazine pushes a publishing revolution", thinq_, 11 August 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ a b Irvine, R. Best Free Digital Magazines, Webuser Magazine, 5 April 2012, 286: 56.
- ^ a b c d Wilkinson, M. "Trowbridge doctor's bid to make science fun", Wiltshire Times, 12 August 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ a b Riggen-Ransom, M. "Guru Magazine sets the poetry of science to digital motion" Archived 1 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Pop!Tech, 19 August 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ a b Good, B. "Launch of Guru, a new science magazine" Archived 6 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Association of British Science Writers, 31 May 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ Parkes, B. "Doc on bike prior to brain op", Wiltshire Times, 10 April 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ Dubrovnik, E. "Elvis + Interview with Dr Stu Farrimond + Hair vs Fur (podcast)" Archived 25 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Reality Check (podcast), 17 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ a b Cowan, K. "Science lifestyle project gets worldwide attention" Archived 2 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Creative Bloom, 23 August 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ Jones, A. "Dr Stu's Guru!", Trowbridge Magazine, 1 September 2011, pg 12. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ Purcell, A. "Interview with a Guru", I, Science, 21 July 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011
- ^ Cowan, K. "National Science awards recognition for two guru magazine writers" Archived 25 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Creative Bloom, 19 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- ^ Maher Roberts, D. "SPARKies 2012: Full List of Finalists" Archived 17 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Bath Digital, 5 March 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
- ^ James, K. "SPARKIES shortlist focus: individual contribution to tech"[permanent dead link], Bath Digital, 10 March 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
- ^ McAthy, R. "Digital science mag Guru receives mobile app funding", Journalism.co.uk, 28 September 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
- ^ Curry, S. "Science: now available in easy-to-swallow tablet form", Guardian.co.uk, 28 March 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.