[2] The publication's stated goal is to approach its subject from a "nonsectarian left, feminist, and anti-imperialist" perspective.

"[4] After formulating the journal's principles and gathering articles during 1973, Jump Cut's first issue was released in 1974.

Costs were kept low by publishing on newsprint in tabloid format and typing the copy on an electric typewriter (instead of having it typeset).

Distribution was initially done by volunteers driving copies to newsstands in Chicago—where Kleinhans and Lesage took college-teaching jobs—and San Francisco/Berkeley, California—where Hess settled.

[3] As of September 1, 2019, its back issues are available on the Internet Archive for reading or downloading in a variety of formats.