A monthly print magazine called The Static is launching to serve media, advertising, and design professionals. The publication aims to fill a gap left by digital-first outlets and promises original editorial content.
Media, advertising, and design professionals will soon have a new print-first publication aimed directly at their industries. The Static, a monthly B2B tabloid, is set to launch with a team of five, including former editors from Design Week and The Media Leader. The magazine will publish ten issues a year, with most of its 25 pages dedicated to original editorial content and a stated commitment to avoid republishing press releases.
Claire Foss, founder and publisher of The Static, said the magazine was created to address what she sees as a lack of dedicated journalism and accountability in the creative industries. Foss, a communications strategist with experience at Haymarket and William Reed, explained that many stories in media, advertising, and design are not being told due to commercial pressures and the limitations of digital-only publishing.
Subscribers will pay £12 per issue plus postage, with additional revenue expected from advertising and partnerships within the design sector. The editorial team includes Omar Oakes, former founder and editor-in-chief of The Media Leader, who will oversee media and broadcast coverage, and Tom Banks, ex-Design Week editor, who will lead design and advertising content. Emily Gosling, previously acting editor at Design Week and a senior writer at Creative Review, will head the Life section.
The Static will be available for pre-order ahead of its September 11 launch. The print run will be determined by demand, and sample articles will be published on a Shopify-powered website to encourage subscriptions. The magazine will also distribute up to 500 copies at select workplaces and transport hubs in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and creative spaces in Glasgow and Edinburgh, targeting major media and advertising companies.
Foss said the decision to focus on print was driven by declining online reach and a deteriorating user experience for digital journalism. She noted that online revenue models did not meet the team's goals and expressed concern about content being absorbed by AI aggregation tools. The Static aims to offer a product that feels distinct, hopeful, and engaging for its audience.
Omar Oakes described The Static as an independent editorial product that stands apart from the platform economy, emphasizing its print-only, subscription-led model and its commitment to original reporting. The launch comes as print circulation continues to decline for most publishers, with only ten UK magazines growing their print sales in 2025, according to ABC data.
For context, recent industry moves such as the expansion of Axios into new local markets highlight how publishers are experimenting with different formats and distribution strategies to reach targeted audiences. For example, Axios recently expanded its local news coverage with new city-focused newsletters, reflecting a broader search for sustainable models in media.
