Novels, newspapers, magazines, zines... What you folks reading these days? (Local zines Eau Claire Analog, EC PUNX, ArtFly III pictured)

Fine, I'll admit it: I'm a fan. I think it's important to care about your work – not necessarily whatever your day job is, but the thing you go out of your way to put serious effort into, on your own accord. But I might have gone a little overboard in doing so. Is it self-absorbed that I have growing stacks of Volume One issues in more than one place in my apartment? That I'm a fan of something my name is in? Don't answer that, I'm just thinking out loud here. I'm a fan of other publications too, though. Always have been.

For the past two years I've consistently eaten up every digital issue of The Reader, Chicago's longest-running alternative print magazine, and tracked down the latest print version whenever I visit the Windy City. During college, there was one semester I worked three part-time jobs on top of classes to make ends meet, and still shelled out a few bucks for a print subscription to The New Yorker. I was a teen when the Kindle launched but made it very clear to my parents: that thing is blasphemy and I'd prefer a tower of physical books any day. Younger than that, I'd leave my mom in the checkout line of Festival Foods to peruse the magazine stand for the latest Tiger Beat, J-14, or other riveting tween magazine and insist on taking at least one home. 

Make your return to physical media and pick up a local publication ASAP, folks. It just feels right.

mckenna scherer

managing editor

I've been an avid print media fan for practically my entire life (I have shelves full of books at my apartment and my dad's house, plus bins and bins of DVDs – more physical media I refuse to let go of). But I'm a bit biased: I've always been a book worm, and I make it a point to read regional print publications regularly (what kinda journalist would I be otherwise?). All that said, I'm curious: What are you reading these days? Like, routinely reading and loving? What, or who, are you a fan of?

In a return to my roots (translation: frequenting Racy D'Lenes a lot these days for iced coffee and vibes) I've been stopping at the Racy's community bulletin board just inside the front (back?) door quite a bit lately. It's plastered with overlapping flyers, business cards, and posters, and I like to see what folks are up to around town. During one of my recent stops, I noticed a stack of pamphlets on the adjacent bookshelf. Turns out, it wasn't a regular-shmegular pamphlet – it was a zine.

Man, zines are cool. (Shameless plug: Volume One started out as a zine back in 2002.) And other people around here must think the same, considering a few recurring zines can now be found around town. Click here to read about three such zines you can get your hands on today (including the one I stumbled across at Racy's). Make your return to physical media and pick up a local publication ASAP, folks. It just feels right.

The first issue of Volume One in 2002.