It has been four years, very good years, since we published the first issue of Bloom Magazine. The support from the community has been overwhelming—far beyond what I expected when I arrived in town, knowing fewer than a handful of people and living in a crumbling student apartment at the corner of 10th and Lincoln.

My plan then was to make as good a magazine as I possibly could by enlisting the best available talent in town—the best writers, photographers, artists, and designers. It would also be an honest magazine, with a clear separation between advertising and editorial. I like to feel proud of what I do, and I believed then, as I believe now, that if you make something good, that is your best chance at being successful. I figured that if people would read the magazine—really read it—spend time with it, identify with it, respect it, feel proud of it, they would also see the advertisements—really see them, not just flip by. And although Bloomington’s population was too small to logically support a magazine like Bloom, I thought it had a fighting chance because I could see Bloomingtonians were supportive of quality in other areas of town life.

Very important in my plan was to make Bloom a positive force in the community—to support worthy nonprofits, to aid artists and musicians in their endeavors, to help the city grow in a good way, and to support the many small businesses that contribute to Bloomington’s character. To that end, I made the decision to write only about local businesses and to encourage readers to patronize local shops and restaurants.

Never in my plan was making a lot of money. I had spent my career as a writer and an editor, not as an amasser of wealth. All I wanted was to make a modest living, to put out a good magazine, and to have the privilege of living in Bloomington.

The recession has made the last year and a half pretty trying, but rumors (and we keep hearing them) of our impending demise are wrong. We will be here as long as the business, education, and professional communities and our readers want us to be here. The former demonstrate their support by advertising, which provides about 98 percent of our revenue. Readers can show their support by letting local businesspeople know that their advertisements in Bloom influence buying decisions.

Thank you all for allowing us to pursue our passion for making magazines. It is my sincere hope that you have enjoyed reading Bloom and that the magazine has contributed in some small way to the quality of life in our town. We begin our fifth year with great optimism for the future.

Buyer beware: Several businesses and individuals who have had stories appear about them in Bloom have been contacted by a Connecticut company called That’s Great News, trying to sell them Bloom plaques for $179. That’s Great News has an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau, citing “billing errors, unauthorized charges, and questionable collection practices.” For a better deal, contact ReFrame (236 N. Morton St., 333-6330). Bloom plaques go for $75.

Malcolm Abrams
editor and publisher

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