Having provided evidence of life after death for nearly eight decades, Psychic News, the independent voice of Spiritualism, is about to demonstrate its own survival by returning more than a year after it was put to death.
Regular visitors to this website will be well aware of the sorry saga, ever since I broke the news on 10 July, 2010, that its demise was imminent. (Those unfamiliar with the story can use the search facility on this site to look up “Psychic News”.)
The exciting news is that Psychic News is returning as a fortnightly magazine, and its first issue (actually issue number 4,067) comes out on 15 December, two days ahead of its actual publication date (17 December) when it will look similar to the early sample, shown right.
I must, at this point, declare a personal interest, having become chairman of Psychic Press Ltd, the company responsible for publishing the magazine. It is owned by JV Trust, the Spiritualist charity which has made the resurrection of Psychic News possible, and one of the first visitors to the new Psychic News offices was its chairman, veteran Spiritualist Eric Hatton. He is pictured with editor Susan Farrow, sitting at the desk that was used for many years by the newspaper’s founder and first editor, Maurice Barbanell (photo credit: Paul Brett).
Many publishing companies are experiencing difficulties as they feel the impact of the internet as well as a global economic downturn. But Susan Farrow, Psychic News editor and managing director, and fellow director Paul Brett, believe they have a formula for success. The magazine, which sports a bright new masthead, will be available as both a printed publication and an online magazine which, for those with computers, is a much cheaper option since printing and postage costs are not involved.
Single printed copies will be on sale every fortnight at Spiritualist churches and newsagents priced £1.40 – the same total cost to purchasers as they paid for two issues of the 70p weekly newspaper.
The directors are so confident that they can attract new readers, as well as the loyal supporters who bought Psychic News when it was a newspaper, that they are making the first online issue available free. All you have to do is register for the trial issue at www.psychicnews.org.uk and you will receive an email when it is ready to download.
Better still, why not support it from the very start by subscribing now? A six month annual electronic subscription costs just £14, and for a whole year it is £26. You can place your order by going online and following the on-screen instructions.
For those who prefer to have printed copies, a six-month subscription costs £25 and for a year it is £48 (European and overseas rates on application). A call to Alita McGuinness on 01279 874341 will enable you to pay by credit or debit card over the phone, or you can send a cheque, made payable to “Psychic Press Ltd”, to:
Psychic News, Suite 6, Thremhall Park, Start Hill, Bishops Stortford CM22 7WE.
Any publication dedicated to making more people aware of the spiritual dimension that extends beyond our physical existence and the survival of consciousness beyond death deserves our support.
And if you’re looking for Christmas gift ideas, a subscription to Psychic News for family or friends may be the perfect solution.