GAL-Dem, an independent magazine for women and non-binary people of colour, is to close after eight years, it has been announced.
The publication, previously available online and in print, said that financial and structural challenges were behind the closure.
In a statement released on their website on Friday afternoon, staff said they were “incredibly sad” to announce that the platform would no longer be continuing.
Established in 2015, Gal-Dem was known for representing voices and perspectives generally excluded from mainstream media, particularly people of colour.
Staff said in a statement: “The hard decision to close the business has come from difficulties we’ve faced in stabilising our position both financially and structurally.
“Keeping a small, independent media company that is reliant on partnerships afloat over the last three years has been increasingly challenging.
“Through a global pandemic, brand budget reductions and economic downturn, we have worked tirelessly to reconfigure how we operate and keep gal-dem going through it all.
“And while we’re passionate about our membership model, it’s been difficult to sustain the level of growth needed here to support our work in the long term.”
The statement said that there was a “delicate balance” between marrying values as an independent publisher with profitability to keep the business afloat.
“It’s a balance we committed to navigating carefully and responsibly, and while we’re incredibly proud of the projects that we created, it also came with its own set of challenges,” the statement said.
“There have been so many wonderful, impactful moments that we can’t even begin to express our gratitude for.
“The support we have received since the very beginning has truly been overwhelming in the best way.”
The lengthy statement thanked contributors, readers and staff members, and said they were “proud of what we have been able to achieve”.
“While this chapter is ending, we hope that the spirit of what gal-dem proved possible over eight years will live on with you all. gal-dem to us, has been so much more than a magazine,” they added.
The magazine also produced a list of other independent organisations and publishers, from Amaliah, which centres the voices of Muslim women, to Polyester, an intersectional feminist arts and culture publication. Gal-Dem also invited former contributors to become part of a shareable public directory.
Founded by Liv Little in 2015, Gal-Dem has been celebrated for giving a platform to marginalised voices. They produced one print copy a year, with regular online output on their website, which will remain live for at least one year after the closure announcement.
