Esports Insider and LMG announce industry magazine: The Esports Journal

What is dead may never die. But rises again harder and stronger. Print media has endured, and continues to endure, a somewhat turbulent period but we at ESI, and our partners at LMG, are believers in the power of the printed word. 

Esports Insider and Latam Media Group (LMG), are delighted to announce our new joint venture; The Esports Journal.

“What is dead may never die. But rises again harder and stronger”

The Esports Journal is an industry-focused magazine, which will be available in print format at all good esports B2B events near you. We wholeheartedly believe there’s a gap in the market for such a project. The first issue will be released to coincide with our first ever North American conference, ESI NYC, which takes place on April 23rd at the Tribeca Rooftop in Manhattan. The agenda for the event is locked and we’ve already sold over 75% of tickets with less than two weeks remaining. There will be a digital version made available too via both ESI and LMG platforms, but ESI NYC attendees will get primary access.

Sam Cooke, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Esports Insider, commented: “This is an idea we’ve toyed with for a while. We’ve been producing daily business-focused content on esportsinsider.com for close to three years now, and then after chats with our Buenos Aires-based friends at LMG, we decided to go ahead.

“Maybe I’m nostalgic for the days of reading Match magazine and NME, but I do believe there is a space and will be a desire for an esports industry focused print magazine. The aim with the magazine is that it’ll be differentiated enough from ESI content in that it’ll be a home for longer form content, more in-depth interviews and insightful opinion pieces. All industry and business focused. Give us time, and we will deliver on this front.”

“I do believe there is a space and will be a desire for an esports industry focused print magazine”

Just as in ‘traditional sports’ there are numerous business-focused publications from SportsPro to SportBusinessReview, we saw there was space for such a magazine focused on esports. Some prefer to read their long-form content in a print publication, and indeed for the screens only amongst you, we’ll produce each version in digital format too, which naturally will be made more widely available.

The first edition will include interviews with industry leaders such as Jason Lake, CEO of compLexity Gaming, Nico Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality, and Saira Mueller, Director of Content at Gen.G and Founder of Women of Esports. There will also be features from the likes of DreamHack, Hitmarker Jobs and a piece with Shaun ‘Shonduras’ McBride, YouTuber and owner of Spacestation Gaming. 

Agustin Cikes, CO-Founder and COO at Latam Media Group, said: “At LMG, we are keen supporters of print magazines. Perhaps it’s as Sam said, I’m nostalgic because it reminds me of reading Wired magazine, or simply, the newspapers in the morning. What I do know is that I’m 100% sure that it’s much more effective to take a magazine home or to the office rather than bookmarking a link.

“For over six years, we’ve been distributing magazines in the Latin American gaming industry so we’re quite convinced that it’s beneficial for both companies involved, and the consumers alike.”

“It’s much more effective to take a magazine home or to the office rather than bookmarking a link”

He added: “Over the past few years, we’ve attended the most important business events in the esports industry, and one thing we noticed was that there was no specialised magazine focused on the industry. So here we are; about to launch a high-quality magazine with fantastic, exclusive content that will reach the most important executives of in the industry.

“We’ve already produced and distributed a low volume, pre-launch edition at Esports BAR Cannes, and the feedback was really positive. Now, with both a rebrand and Esports Insider on board, we’re sure this will be a success!”

Initially, in 2019, The Esports Journal will only be available at select esports industry events, but there are plans to expand beyond this should there be ample appetite for it. There will be a minimum of three editions of The Esports Journal in 2019, and you can pick each up at the below events:

• ESI NYC – April 23rd 2019
• ESI Hall of Fame – June 10th 2019, Los Angeles
• ESI London – September 16-17th
• Esports BAR Miami – 2-4th October

If you’re interested in getting involved in The Esports Journal please reach out via [email protected] and/or either Esports Insider or LMG. 

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