Left-leaning political magazine Dissent, which has featured work by several Penn professors and President Amy Gutmann, will partner with the University of Pennsylvania Press to alleviate its operation expenses.
Penn Press will take over the business side of the magazine, including design, promotion and subscriptions. The editorial side will remain independent.
Dissent signed the contract two weeks ago and the partnership will officially begin in November.
Maxine Phillips, the magazine's executive editor, said Dissent faces the same challenges of every other print newspaper and magazine: climbing printing and mailing costs and a plateau in subscriptions. Its small staff and independent status compounded the problem.
The magazine began exploring solutions last spring, and Penn Press reached out to them.
Phillips intends the partnership to help her staff "focus on putting on a high-quality, provocative, analytical magazine."
One of the biggest changes will be access to online content. Dissent previously offered its material online for free but will require a subscription for access with Penn Press.
Penn Press Director Eric Halpern said the arrangement is mutually beneficial.
Penn Press does not currently publish any other magazines that, like Dissent, are as engaged in contemporary affairs but looks forward to raising its profile in academic discussions of politics and public policy.
