Downloaded and read your brief. Yes, wouldn't it be nice if we could subscribe and request the ad-free issue the way we can subscribe to certain websites, pay a fee and have no ads on the pages? However, having published a magazine myself, I know how much it costs to print on slick paper, especially in color. Nevertheless, I do wish ESSENCE would take a small profit hit to give more to readers. I was disappointed to discover that they got rid of the poetry editor and now will only publish poetry very occasionally. It was the one place, I think, we could read black poets in a mainstream publication. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. ~~Nordette