Announcement: A new future for Sorted Magazine
Seven minute read
In September 2024 the founder and editor of Sorted Magazine, Steve Legg, went to be with Jesus. Before his death, Steve and his wife Bekah came to the difficult decision that the print magazine simply could not go on without Steve’s unique and sacrificial input. Following Steve’s death Bekah shared: “Now the race has been run. Steve has been, in his words, promoted to Glory. Please pray for those of us left behind as we face a future without our funny and faithful man – that we would continue to find joy in unexpected places and to find our security in the unshakeable kingdom of God.”
Just a few days before the final print issue of Sorted Magazine dropped through letter boxes, God birthed a new vision in the heart of our Digital Editor, Val Fraser. She explained: “The vision of a digital future for Sorted Magazine had been burning in my heart for months. I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer and I finally plucked up the courage to outline a proposal to Bekah.”
Now, many meetings later, Sorted Magazine has been lovingly re-imagined for you, our reader. We are calling it Sorted Digital. The editor of Sorted Digital, Val Fraser, is committed to faithfully upholding Steve’s vision for a wholesome magazine aimed primarily at a male readership. Sorted Digital will continue to offer all the great things which readers loved about Sorted Magazine.
So what is different? Sorted Digital could be likened to a nimble, more frequent, mini version of Sorted Magazine. It’s lighter, leaner and faster than the printed version. It’s free to all (with an option to financially support). It’s monthly, shareable, paper-free, ad-free and algorithm-free. It’s an online magazine published via email (with an associated website). Expect to scroll through features, culture, cars, columns and humour, along with comment and conversations about life and faith.
Bekah concluded: “I’m entrusting the future of Sorted Digital to seasoned media professional, Val Fraser, who has served Steve’s vision faithfully for almost five years. Won’t you join us for this new season? Whether you’re a longstanding reader or you’ve never even heard of us, we would love to have you on board. Existing email subscribers will automatically receive Sorted Digital online magazine. New readers can start receiving Sorted Digital online magazine (for free) by signing up here.”
Hello and welcome to Sorted Digital online magazine
Why are you receiving this email?
You are receiving this email because:
· You are, or have been, a subscriber to scm publications, such as Sorted Magazine OR
· You have recently signed up for the newly launched Sorted Digital online magazine.
Either way, hello, it’s lovely to e-meet you, I’m Val Fraser, the editor here at Sorted Digital. Much has happened at Sorted HQ over the last few months. In the interests of transparency, and before I begin sending out all the great Sorted Digital content, I thought it might be helpful to respond to some of your questions - those which have recently come my way.
What’s the story so far?
As you will probably know the printed version of Sorted Magazine (published by scm) ceased to operate following the death of its founder and editor, Steve Legg, in September 2024. There are no plans to resume it. Steve’s unique vision for a wholesome magazine aimed primarily at a male readership has impacted many. In spite of a global downturn in the print media industry, with Steve at the helm, the magazine became remarkably successful and was distributed across the globe.
Through the generosity of readers, copies found their way into the hands of many servicemen and prisoners. We know that Sorted Magazine has informed, inspired, entertained and most importantly, pointed readers towards the God of hope, often during the darkest of times.
Steve once told me that I was the answer to his prayers; that meant so much to me. I wasn’t close to him, in the way that some of you were, but we enjoyed a healthy professional relationship. He entrusted, encouraged and empowered me. (Stories about Steve’s empowerment of women are many.) Steve ran a remarkable race, and he has left a significant legacy. I am honoured to carry the baton forward for the next part of the journey.
So who is this Val Fraser and what’s her connection to Sorted Magazine?
Well sadly, I’m not the new Steve Legg, that’s for certain. The Sorted writers readily acknowledge that Steve was in a league of his own, and none of us even come close to his enterprising genius and capacity for outreach.
In reality I’m just a jobbing journalist who’s having a go at steering the Sorted ship. I usually write reported features, comment pieces and the occasional review. In 2020 Sorted Magazine editor, Tony Yorke, invited me on board as a columnist and feature writer, mainly for the website. Then in 2022 Steve appointed me as the Digital Editor with responsibility for the editorial content on the Sorted Magazine website.
How did Sorted Digital come about?
The vision for Sorted Digital burned brightly in my heart for several months before Steve’s death. Then, just days before the final Sorted Magazine dropped through letter boxes, I finally plucked up the courage to outline a proposal to Bekah. My timing seemed dreadful but I (mostly) trusted God to take care of it. On my darker days I tried to let the Sorted Digital idea go, but it just wouldn’t let go of me.
Many meetings later Sorted Magazine has been lovingly re-imagined for you; a digital reader. I’m so grateful to Bekah’s trusted friends, Ken and Karen Ferguson. They were her representatives throughout the transition process. Without their kindness and diligence the vision for Sorted Digital online magazine would never have come to fruition.
I gratefully acknowledge my unofficial wing-men: The love of my life and husband Bob, for his unerring emotional support and belief in my calling as a Christian journalist. Also fellow media professional and Sorted Magazine writer since 2013, Tim Barnes-Clay, for sharing his considerable journalism expertise and kind words.
The ongoing prayers of my unofficial wing-women continues to sustain me. Without all these good folks, and the God I serve, I would have given up long before I even got started.
What will Sorted Digital online magazine look like?
Sorted Digital has been designed for optimum readability on a mobile phone. It will arrive in your inbox and look very much like what you are reading now. Expect to scroll through half a dozen articles.
Who will be writing for Sorted Digital?
While I’m sad to say goodbye to some of our writers, I’m encouraged that a good number of familiar names have stayed on board. Together we are confident that we can deliver a little bit of that famous Sorted vibe. We have lots of great content in store for you. I’m hoping you will stick around to enjoy it!
Who will be reading Sorted Digital?
Initially Sorted Digital will be sent out to the email addresses of readers and supporters on our existing mailing list. I’m interested to learn how many of you will stay on board, how many will share the online magazine and how many will jump ship altogether! The first few months will enable me to gauge how much goodwill remains towards the work of Sorted.
How can you get involved with Sorted Digital?
If you are the praying sort, please would you pray for me as I transition towards writing and managing content for the online magazine instead of the website? The work is similar but there are also some new responsibilities and technical challenges. Please would you pray for our writers as they adjust to working with the new arrangements?
If you are the sharing sort, please would you consider forwarding the online magazine to one or two of your personal contacts via the share button below? It’s free to everyone and sharing would help to grow our reach.
If you are the encouraging sort, please would you consider sharing your thoughts, prayers and encouragements via the comment button below? Bekah, myself, the team of writers and all the other Sorted Digital subscribers will be able to read them.
If you are the giving sort, please would you consider helping with the ongoing expenses via the subscribe now button below? I’m keeping costs as low as possible and your financial gift would help to cover them.
When can you expect to receive the first selection of original Sorted Digital content?
I’m currently working on getting our creative ducks in a row, bedding in the new technology, and managing the mailing lists, so you can expect to receive the first selection of original Sorted Digital content by April, and once a month thereafter.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message and I hope to connect with you in the comment section!
God bless,
Val Fraser,
Editor, Sorted Digital
Brilliant…it was a really nice surprise to get the email. I have really missed my ‘Sorted’, and really looking forward to the digital version, sounds great and would like to support you - Val, in any way I can. Bring it on ❣️
So pleased to see Sorted reborn digitally. Looking forward to it.