It’s a haven where people come to find refuge. A place open to anyone who shares the same passion or values. Even VIPs get something out of it, seeing it as an exclusive circle where they can expand their network. Long reserved for the nonprofit or business sectors—what if the media started forming clubs, too?
Les Glorieuses: Sisterhood as a Club
. They see the club as a safe space. A place where women (re)discover their power by sharing their readings, adventures, and projects. In line with their feminist newsletters, Les Glorieuses are breaking through the screen to share their values, offering their members a monthly get-together for a themed evening, free admission to feminist events, and access to a private LinkedIn group to help members expand their professional networks. This helps create “a close-knit community of women” while fostering the newsletter’s identity. Bolstered by member cohesion and the power of word of mouth, the independent media outlet has thus found a new avenue for diversification.
With Prior, an exclusive club as a gateway to the media
. Here, we’re taking the opposite approach. Joining the club to gain access to the media—that’s Prior’s entire mission. Conceived by David Prior, the former editor-in-chief of Condé Nast Traveler, this club for modern explorers plans custom trips for its members. Membership starts at $249 per year. It provides access to a weekly online magazine, events around the world, and itineraries designed by the editorial team to “bring the travel magazine to life.” At the premium end of the spectrum, a $5,000-a-year subscription available upon request offers members unlimited guidance on each of their journeys, all year round. Now more than ever, it’s not the destination that matters… it’s the journey.
Puck: The Elite Membership Option
. There are regular members, and then there are club members. Those who travel in business class… and who pay to break the fourth wall by keeping one ear tuned in to the newsroom. The privileged few who know everything before anyone else. In the business world, foresight is crucial. So at Puck, for $250 a year, premium readers can attend morning meetings and speak one-on-one with journalists eager to share behind-the-scenes insights with them. Puck’s slogan? “Puck begins where the news ends.” These lucky subscribers are also promised early access to all of the outlet’s editorial products and innovations. An unbeatable selling point that builds loyalty while making people eager to join the club. Ah, the power of the ego.
