Cover to Cover: A Mini Magazine Conference

Presented by Issues Magazine Shop

On Sunday, March 22, we’re flipping through the world of magazines.

From 11AM–5PM, join us for a one-day conference that celebrates the people, ideas, and stories shaping magazines today—across independent titles, commercial giants, and the many voices and businesses that support them.

Fueled through the afternoon by delicious bagel sandwiches for purchase from Lofi Bagels.

We'll see talks from magazine founders, publishers, and writers, both local and global. The schedule for the day includes:

• Print Isn't Nostalgia. It's Bedrock. by Megan Schertler, Co-founder of In Real Life Media.
• Causing Good Problems by Isaac Nikolai Fox, Founder of Lore.
• A talk (TBD) by Ojus Jain, Founder of Esses.
• Publishing x Psychedelia: Lessons in Sensory Experience by Hillary Brenhouse, Founder of Elastic.
• Local Journalism Matters: Bringing Magazine Sensibilities to Local News by Inori Roy, Associate Editor at The Local.
• Laboratory for New Criticism: The Whitney Review from Ethos to Practice by Whitney Mallett, Founder of The Whitney Review.
• The New Rules of Magazine Publishing by Anja Charbonneau, Founder of Broccoli.

See full talk descriptions and speaker bios in the Agenda and Lineup sections.

Throughout the afternoon, industry experts will be hosting roundtable discussions in our breakout rooms. Reserve a spot as an add-on for $10. You'll be talking about:

• Distribution, with James Laffar, Managing Director at Ra & Olly
• Funding, with Sue Carter, Literary Officer at the Ontario Arts Council
• Printing, with Patrick Brown, Account Manager at Hemlock Printers

Finally, this year we're livestreaming the event. Which means you can tune in even if you're out of town, or stuck at home.

Stick around from 5-7PM for an after party, because we don’t get enough opportunities to hang out as an industry. We can promise good wine from our friends at Grape Witches and a killer snack spread from Pasta Forever.

Whether you make magazines, read them, or dream of starting your own, Cover to Cover is a place to learn, connect, and get inspired.

Photographs by David Pike.

Doors at 11AM / Talks start at 12PM / at

Info: Time to mosey on in, grab a coffee and a Lofi Bagel, and find a seat.

Info: In an era of synthetic content and eroding digital trust, print is re-emerging as an essential medium for building trust with audiences. This talk looks at how that shift is reshaping opportunities for magazines, and the mindset publishers need to have to build durable, trusted brands.

Info: Since 2025, Lore has broken out of Toronto and onto the international magazine scene with a blend of cheeky storytelling and editorial photography. In this talk, Creative Director Isaac Nikolai Fox will unpack the growth strategy that's helped Lore build a cult following beyond Toronto—and the human touches that keep the entire team feeling excited and valued, every step of the way.

Info: Add on a ticket to join a roundtable discussion with industry experts. Room 1: Distribution with James Laffar, Managing Director at Ra & Olly. Room 2: Funding with Sue Carter, Literary Officer at Ontario Arts Council.

Info: Elastic magazine aims to reclaim psychedelia as a radically expansive and diverse category, resisting the narrow, cartoonish version that dominates the popular imagination. Founder Hillary Brenhouse will talk about why twisted art and writing matter in twisted times, how institutional partnerships helped get this independently published project off the ground, and the practical realities of realizing a very big idea with a very tiny team.

Info: This talk will cover the six-year journey of The Local magazine, including our mandate to report on underrepresented communities and untold stories in a city that is an undeniable media hub. I'll talk about the growing possibilities of our non-profit funding model in an otherwise bleak media landscape, the kinds of unique projects it's allowed us to do, and how we keep it all running with care for our contributors and consideration for unheard voices in the Greater Toronto Area.

Info: Add on a ticket to join a roundtable discussion with industry experts. Room 1: Distribution with James Laffar, Managing Director at Ra & Olly. Room 2: Printing with Patrick Brown, Account Manager at Hemlock Printers.

Info: This talk traces the first three years of The Whitney Review of New Writing: the urgency to expand literary criticism through an interdisciplinary ethos, the nuts and bolts of publishing a niche print periodical, and the cultivation of readership and community through social programming.

Info: Is the key to making a successful magazine ignoring all the things you think you know about making a magazine? In this talk, Anja Charbonneau, the founder and creative director of Broccoli, shares insights earned from nine years of running a thriving, print-only publishing company built around creating beautiful magazines. From editorial schedules and financing to distribution and brand building, she digs into the details magazine makers need to know to succeed in the 21st century.

Info: Add on a ticket to join a roundtable discussion with industry experts. Room 1: Funding with Sue Carter, Literary Officer at Ontario Arts Council. Room 2: Printing with Patrick Brown, Account Manager at Hemlock Printers.

Info: Time to mingle, hang out, network, or just stand by the snack table and eat cheese. We'll have wine by Grape Witches, and snacks by Pasta Forever.

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