This issue of alternative travel magazine Boat totally transformed the career of Alec Dudson, the editor-in-chief behind Intern Magazine, inspiring him to track down its creators and eventually start a magazine of his very own. I remember the afternoon when my friend Fred Paginton showed me his ever-so-carefully kept copy of Boat’s first issue back in the summer of 2011. It turned out to be the moment that re-captured my interest in magazines and led me on a voyage of my own. A journey which three years later has seen the second issue of my own publication recently released.

There was something about the way that Fred expertly extracted the magazine from his collection that immediately commanded my attention. Upon seeing the cover, I was instantly intrigued. Two kids (I’d guess aged twelve to fourteen) perched amongst urban wasteland, a tower block visible in the distance.

SARA
-JEVO

The outlined words in the bottom right corner instantly provided that bit of context that convinced me I had to read more. I have always been drawn to documentary photography and film, Boat were taking that approach to making a magazine and it excited me incredibly. The way Fred had handled it, made me contemplate it as an artefact, the texture and print making the words all the more poignant.

Sure enough, upon reading the issue cover to cover I was struck by it being one of the most honest, transparent and endearing publications I had ever taken in. The image on the cover, was from a series by Jasmin Brutus entitled ‘The Others’. The children featured we’re socially outcast due to having something other than Serb, Croat or Bosnian roots. Erin and Davey (Spens, the couple behind the mag) used that image as a means of declaring the children a true part of the city and said so much about their approach to exploring new places, striking a major chord with me.

Some months later, having contacted Erin to ask if I could intern for Boat, I received an invitation to meet Davey. Expecting some kind of formal-ish interview I turned up at the studio only for Davey to give me a copy of the first three issues and tell me that I could come in when I wanted. That open and welcoming attitude runs through everything Erin and Davey do and it comes out in every page of Boat to this day.

For the next seven months they took me under their wing, let me be a part of their fourth issue from the very start to the very end and taught me more than they will ever know. It’s a really beautiful thing that people with such giving, inquisitive and considerate personalities make a magazine. It’s even better that it exists as such a true reflection of both them personally and all the individuals they meet on their noble, cosmopolitan journey.

intern-mag.com

Boat

… is a travel publication inspired by the slow-tourism movement. Edited by husband and wife duo Erin and Davey Spens, they pick a different city each issue and the team move out there for three or so weeks, to really get under the skin of a place. Always keen not to pick the most obvious destinations past issues have included Detroit, Kyoto and Lima. The result is a travel magazine with a lot of guts and soul that doesn’t really feel like a travel magazine.
Alec Dudson


This innovative editor-in-chief first started Intern Magazine as a response to 2013’s frustrating job climate which meant that many budding journalists and editorial creatives where working for free for up to a year without securing their first job. Deciding to do something about it, Dudson set up the magazine to showcase incredible writers, designers and photographers that were still slogging away for free, highlighting the huge amount of untapped talent and making sure every contributor was paid. Now on its second issue, Intern Magazine continues to seek out exceptional interns and publishes biannually.




















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