About British Columbia’s Magazine Publishing Industry
British Columbia is a cornerstone of Canada’s magazine publishing landscape, with over 230 unique titles (Source: Creative BC) spanning literary, lifestyle, arts and culture, news, business, and special interest publications.
Magazine publishing encompasses periodical content delivered across print and digital platforms, including consumer magazines, literary journals, B2B publications, and niche special-interest titles. This includes everything from established lifestyle magazines, literary journals, and business publications. From automotive enthusiasts to environmental advocates, B.C. publishers deliver trusted journalism, compelling storytelling, and curated experiences that foster community and critical discourse.
The industry is evolving rapidly as premium print experiences, digital fatigue, and demand for trusted journalism are reshaping reader preferences. B.C.’s strength lies not only in its editorial integrity but in its creative professionals, writers, journalists, editors, designers, and publishers, who deliver thought-provoking commentary, engaging narratives, and striking visuals that capture the spirit and aesthetic of B.C.
Recent Impacts
$98M
Total GDP in B.C.
$109M
Direct Output in B.C.
1,269
Total Jobs
What Changed This Year
Estimated 2024 numbers for magazines ($98M in total GDP and 1,269 total jobs) indicate a slight decrease from 2023, which continues a long-term trend of steady decline (46.4% GDP loss, -6.7% CAGR and 44.4% job loss, -6.3% CAGR since 2015). (Source: CIERA™, 2024e).
Common challenges that are continuing to affect the global industry include declining print advertising revenues and Meta’s blocking of Canadian news content, which has further limited digital distribution.
Why This Matters
The magazine publishing industry delivers trusted journalism and curated storytelling, fostering community discourse, supporting critical independent media, and providing people in B.C. and beyond with depth, context, and cultural reflection that algorithm-driven platforms cannot replicate. Learn more in the Magazine Association of BC’s Cover to Cover: Inside BC’s Magazine Publishing Sector report.
More Information on CIERA™ and Sector Counts
The Magazine Publishing Industry Mapped Across the Sector Value Chain
CIERA™ maps business activity classified by Statistics Canada through what is known as the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). These NAICS codes are attributed in full or in part to a three-part sector value chain: Creation > Production > Sales + Distribution.
Some of the “culture industries” as defined by Statistics Canada contribute to more than one creative industry; these NAICS cannot easily be attributed to a single creative industry, nor can their business activities be proportionally allocated. In these cases, their economic contributions have been aggregated into CIERA™’s Multi-Creative Industry figures. Outlined boxes below are Multi-Creative Industry Services that contribute to this value chain. See those impacts here. See full annual CIERA™ tables.
Sector Counts
The total number of companies in B.C. is informed by various data sources, including industry submissions, coordinated manual and automated outreach, and comprehensive research.
Ecosystem
Associations
The Magazine Association of B.C. (MagsBC): represents the B.C. magazine industry by uniting the talent and skills of its publishers, editors, writers, graphic artists and salespeople.
Magazines Canada: is the national association and lead advocate for the advancement of Canada’s magazine media.
Resources
Find comprehensive resources on professional development programs, business resources, events, conferences, and more via MagsBC.
Funding
Creative BC Funding Programs: The Magazine Publishers Market Fund provides financial support for B.C. magazine publishers to attend select magazine fairs, conferences and events for the purpose of promoting their publication(s) in both foreign and domestic markets, expanding business opportunities and professional development as well as supporting the development of marketing materials and/or campaigns.
Canada Periodical Fund: provides financial assistance to Canadian print magazines, print community newspapers (non-daily) and digital periodicals, to enable them to overcome market disadvantages and continue to provide Canadian readers with the content they choose to read.
Visit MagsBC’s website for up-to-date funding available to magazine publishers in B.C.
Education and Careers
Academic and Training
See more via MagsBC.
Jobs
Find jobs via MagsBC, BC Arts Alliance, or WorkInCulture.
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