Random House of Canada, traditionally a book publisher, has diversified its offerings with a daily electronic magazine as part of its new digital strategy.

The online magazine (that Random House calls the first-ever from a Canadian book publisher) is named Hazlitt, and Random House also plans to launch a line of e-book originals entitled Hazlitt Originals, "intended to take Canadian writing and writers to an international audience, and to push to boundaries of this evolving format," reads a message from Random House to its writers.

The magazine is led by Director of Digital Publishing and Hazlitt editor-in-chief Christopher Frey, and Hazlitt senior editor Alexandra Molotkow, magazine journalists who joined Random House earlier this year.


"Exploring culture and current affairs, Hazlitt will publish great original and contemporaneous writing from both Random House of Canada and outside authors on everything from politics, music, the environment, warfare, art, film, business, sports, pop and literary culture, and more," reads a release.

The publisher says the magazine content will be available for free. But Hazlitt Originals will carry a cost — the first featured Hazlitt e-book is The Man Who Went to War from Patrick Graham, priced at $2.99.

Meanwhile, The Walrus Foundation, known for its award-winning magazine The Walrus, did an opposite move earlier this year when it launched a line of print books in partnership with Coach House Press.