Editing Linux Journal

{{Short description|American technology magazine}}
{{Primary sources|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox magazine
|title = Linux Journal
|image_file = Linux Journal website screenshot.png
|caption = ''Linux Journal'' website
|frequency = Monthly
|company = Specialized System Consultants, Inc.<br/>Belltown Media, Inc.<br/> Slashdot Media LLC.<br/> Linux Journal, LLC.
|country = United States
|firstdate = March 1994
|category = [[Computer]]
|language = English
|website = {{URL|https://www.linuxjournal.com/|linuxjournal.com}}
|issn = 1075-3583
|logo = Linux Journal logo.svg
}}

'''''Linux Journal''''' ('''''LJ''''') is an American monthly technology [[magazine]] originally published by [[Specialized System Consultants, Inc.]] (SSC) in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] since 1994.<ref name="Searls_2019"/> In December 2006 the publisher changed to Belltown Media, Inc. in [[Houston]], [[Texas]]. Since 2017, the publisher was Linux Journal, LLC. located in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]. The magazine focused specifically on [[Linux]], allowing the content to be a highly specialized source of information for [[Open-source model|open source]] enthusiasts.<ref name="book-tiasarh"/> The magazine was published from March 1994 to August 2019, over 25 years,<ref name=first/><ref name="LJ-Ceases"/> before being bought by [[Slashdot Media]] in 2020.<ref name="LJ-Slashdot" />

==History==
''Linux Journal'' was the first magazine to be published about the [[Linux kernel]] and [[Linux|operating systems based on it]]. It was established in 1994.<ref name="book-tiasarh">{{cite book|last=Hlubik Schell|first=Bernadette|title=The Internet and Society: A Reference Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xPFrOIsUKTkC&pg=PA256|access-date=26 October 2016|year=2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-031-5|page=257}}</ref> The first issue was published in March 1994 by Phil Hughes and [[Bob Young (businessman)|Bob Young]], who co-founded [[Red Hat]], and it featured an interview with Linux creator [[Linus Torvalds]].<ref name=first />

The publication's last print edition was August 2011, issue 208.<ref name="last_print"/> Beginning with the September 2011 issue, issue 209, the magazine transitioned to publishing monthly in digital-only formats including various desktop, mobile, and e-pub platforms.<ref name="digital"/>

In early July 2014 it was revealed that the NSA's [[XKeyscore]] program targeted readers of ''Linux Journal''<ref name="NSA-1"/> as part of targeting people interested in the Linux distribution [[Tails (operating system)|Tails]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2014/07/the-nsa-thinks-linux-journal-is-an-extremist-forum/|title=The NSA thinks Linux Journal is an "extremist forum"?|last=Gallagher|first=Sean|date=3 July 2014|website=Ars Technica|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref>

On December 1, 2017 ''Linux Journal'' announced that it would cease publication due to running out of funds, having fallen into debt and being unable to pay employees for months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/linux-journal-ceases-publication|title=Linux Journal Ceases Publication|last=Fairchild|first=Carlie|date=1 December 2017|website=Linux Journal|language=en|access-date=2017-12-03}}</ref> However, on January 1, 2018, it announced that it was rescued by [[Private Internet Access]]/[[London Trust Media]]—which shares similar values—and that the magazine plans to grow:<ref>{{cite web|last=Fairchild|first=Carlie|title=Happy New Year- Welcome to Linux Journal 2.0!|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/happy-new-year-linux-journal-alive|date=1 January 2018|website=Linux Journal|access-date=2 January 2018}}</ref> According to editor-in-chief [[Doc Searls]]: "''Linux Journal'' should be to Linux what ''National Geographic'' is to geography and ''The New Yorker'' is to New York—meaning about much more than the title alone suggests."<ref>{{cite web|last=Searls|first=Doc|title=Worth Saving|url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/worth-saving|date=4 February 2018|website=Linux Journal|access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref>

On August 7, 2019, the ''Journal'' announced that it would be shutting down and letting all staff go.<ref name="LJ-Ceases"/>

On September 22, 2020, ''Linux Journal'' resumed activity under the new management of Slashdot Media.<ref name="LJ-Slashdot"/>

== See also ==
* ''[[Linux Magazine]]''
* ''[[Linux Format]]''
* ''[[Linux Voice]]''
* ''[[Linux Gazette]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="first">{{cite journal |last=Young |first=Robert |title=Interview with Linus, the Author of Linux |journal=Linux Journal |date=1 March 1994 |url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=2736 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020226222251/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=2736 |archive-date=2002-02-26 |access-date=6 September 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="last_print">{{cite web|last=Searls|first=Doc|title=Linux Journal Goes 100% Digital|date=19 August 2011|url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/linux-journal-goes-100-digital|publisher=Linux Journal|access-date=19 August 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="digital">{{cite web|last=Kinsman|first=Matt|title=How Readers Respond When a Magazine Goes Digital-Only|publisher=Folio|date=23 August 2011|url=http://www.foliomag.com/2011/how-readers-respond-when-magazine-goes-digital-only|access-date=7 September 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="NSA-1">{{cite web |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/nsa-linux-journal-extremist-forum-and-its-readers-get-flagged-extra-surveillance |title=NSA: Linux Journal is an "extremist forum" and its readers get flagged for extra surveillance |last=Rankin |first=Kyle |date=3 July 2014 |website=Linux Journal |access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Searls_2019">{{cite magazine |magazine=Linux Journal |title=Linux Journal at 25 |author-first=Doc |author-last=Searls |date=2019-04-01 |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/linux-journal-25|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="LJ-Ceases">{{cite web |last=Rankin |first=Kyle |title=Linux Journal Ceases Publication: An Awkward Goodbye |website=Linux Journal |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/linux-journal-ceases-publication-awkward-goodbye |date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812013229/https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/linux-journal-ceases-publication-awkward-goodbye |archive-date=August 12, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="LJ-Slashdot">{{cite web| website=Linux Journal | title=Linux Journal is Back |url=https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/linux-journal-back |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://archive.org/details/linuxjournalmagazine?sort=-date Linux Journal issues] on [[Internet Archive]]

{{Linux|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct computer magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Linux magazines]]
[[Category:Linux websites]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1994]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2019]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Colorado]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Texas]]
[[Category:Mass media in Houston]]
[[Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States]]