The other day I picked up a new magazine that has hit the racks: Monocle. Here is the magazine’s concept as it appears on their website:

We believe it’s time for a new, global, European based media brand. With a keen focus, strong reporting, sharp wit and more classic approach to design, we’ve dubbed our venture Monocle. At the core there’s a monthly magazine delivering the most original coverage in global affairs, business, culture and design. Alongside, there’s a web-base broadcast component covering the same areas through a variety of bulletins, mini-documentaries and talk formats. Focus on informing and entertaining an international audience of disillusioned readers, listeners and viewers, it is our intention to create a community of the most interested and interesting people in the world.

Edited out of London, Monocle is staffed by a team pulled from the world’s leading news outlets, magazines and broadcasters. Conceived by Wallpaper* founder and Financial Times columnist Tyler Brûlé, the launch team calls on some of his old alumni and new talent from The Independent, the BBC, Branches of Condé Nast and a host of other news outlets. Versed in politics, popular culture, business affairs, media, architecture and design, the editorial team will cover the world from its London hub and dedicated bureaux in Tokyo, Zurich and New York. Monocle will be driven by offering original, never-before-seen content to an audience of well-heeled, intelligent opinion leaders around the world.

Issue one is packed with nuggets of current affairs information. There were a few things about the magazine that attracted my attention. First was the size - at 242 pages, Monocle is not a thin piece of content. Second, was the global scale of the of its coverage. Third was the breadth of coverage. The magazine covers a myriad of topics, from arts to business to politics. So, I am giving Monocle my endorsement. Go ahead and check it out, I have. Oh, it’s also worth the hefty price (I paid $12.50 Cdn).