CL World may become history

[Bob Kruger]

   I was referring to Newsweek, not CL World.

   Brett

Never thought you were, my friend. Truth be known, we are probably right of the Pope...

I should have quoted something else. 

My apologies.

V/r

Bob

[john e. holliday]

If CLW does make a change, I would like to see a CD verson lke Stunt News.   Takes up a whole lot less space and is in color.

[Bob Kruger]

The reality is, CLW is probably ALREADY in a digital format before it goes to print. A conversion to PDF is just a matter of software and a few short minutes of processing power. It's the business decision to forge ahead and make it an option is what will take the time.

.....

You think virtual magazines are an odd concept? All the big trade shows in the computer industry are almost all virtual now. You used to be able to go press the flesh with guys from IBM, HP, INTEL, etc at COMDEX every year in Vegas or Atlanta... now, it's virtual. Tech Data, and the other distrubution wharehouses have dropped their trade shows too. Now once a year, you log in and go to virtual booths. You "Chat" with real sales people on line minding the booths. You drop your virtual business card into virtual fishbowls after visiting a booth for a chance to win a give-away. I kid you not!
This is the world we are becoming, like it or not.

The other news piece was that Hallmark was cutting way back on printed greeting cards as well. This is where even with all the Ebay deliveries, the Post Office is still taking it in the shorts.  Cha cha cha change....

EricV

Years ago, the USPS made the business decision to underprice mass mailings, e.g. junkmail, and overprice 1st Class delivery.  Now we email rather than send letters, pay on line rather than with an envelope, and the revenue stream dried up.  USPS is in a heck of a squeeze.

As for CLW being in digital format prior to printing, you can bet on it.  There are different packages out there for that.  From there, its very easy to output it through Adobe Acrobat and put it in PDF format, processed for pagination and security, and then be in a format can then be downloaded.  Then it is just a matter of uploading it to a web site, creating the hyperlinks, etc.  There is another option that I have used on line but never tried:  e-magazine format.   Not downloadable, but readable on line.  CDNN Sports uses it.  Their catalog used to be downloadable in PDF format, but they use the e-magazine format now.  I know that it would take a robust web site to handle the bandwidth.  It is a viable option if there is a concern over the mag being pirated.

Bottom line is there are options to keep CLW affordable and increase its circulation through the digital domain, especially for international users.

V/r

Bob

[John Gluth]

Just went to Brodak site for my first time subscription THANKS to the encouragement from all of you.
Hope to receive the current issue. 

John

[Serge_Krauss]

   I was referring to Newsweek, not CL World.

   Brett

Newsweek has always leaned "right." The problem with mass print is that fewer and fewer of us can...

1) read critically
2) afford magazine subscriptions.
3) understand news, propoganda or otherwise.
4) wait for gratification.
5) be interested in much more than the blemished lives of people we imagine we know.

Thus the popularity of gossip rags, most of which also are threatened by the immediacy of the internet. CL World doubtless is more the victim of #2. That is the case in this family recently - since the investment scandals. I hope that it is sustained, since a hard copy of any good publication is preferable for the reasons given above. It's part of our legacy, as is Stunt News, FM, and the previously more informative M.A.N. I miss my S.N. hard copy, but am reading it on-line to maintain our own priorities here. Hence, no CL World so far either.

Let's try to keep politics out of especially as benign an issue as the survival of a good non-political publication.

Thank you very much.

SK

[Robert Zambelli]

Although have a laptop, iPhone and iPad, I have never and will never download a magazine to any of them.
Maybe I'm just a traditionalist but I really like having the magazine in my hands - I take them on airplanes, to the table, in the bathroom, wherever.
I like to quickly leaf back and forth to study various articles at random.
Something to consider - many people on this website may indeed be into the digital age, welcoming magazines in electronic format. I'm sure that they are comfortable doing so.
But, I know for a fact that there are many who are not and have absolutely no interest in the internet. For that matter, a lot of people do not even have a home computer – hard to imagine but it’s a fact.
And many who do have desktops which indeed rule out portability.
It was mentioned that Newsweek will soon be available in digital format only. It’s a whole different thing. I truly cannot believe that anyone would collect and save issues of Newsweek for reference. Our model aircraft magazines are quite a different thing. We often read and reread various articles that pique our interest.
There are many articles, photos and tech info that are indeed worth saving. Flipping through a magazine is kind of fun for me. Staring at a computer screen is not. I spent the last thirtysome years of my engineering career doing that – for magazines, give me a soft copy!
Regarding CLW going digital. At this point, I cannot say for sure but I doubt that it will happen in the near future.
I have recently spoken to John and there have indeed been quite a few renewals. This should keep things going and satisfy new and recurring subscribers. Hopefully, CLW will continue to serve the interests of all the CL disciplines.

Bob Z.

Ps – keep in mind that the premier issue was sent out at no cost to anyone. It came out of John’s pocket to the tune of around $5,000.00.

[Serge_Krauss]

Bob-

Well said!

SK

[Bob Kruger]

Bob;

There are a couple of dynamics here that I think you are missing.

Firstly, for those of us who are comfortable with the digital domain, whether something is stored digitally or print format doesn't really matter.  Whether you agree or not, when properly archived, digitally stored data is just as safe as printed, and it doesn't degrade with time.

Secondly, we bemoan the aging demographics of control line.  If you want to appeal to a new generation, it bears consideration that publications be in a format they are comfortable with.  Many of the younger generation prefers digital over paper.  Whole school districts are going to digital textbooks, so digital publications will most probably be their preferred format as time goes on.  

Thirdly, costs for international members can be better controlled due to no shipping costs.

Finally, consider choice.  If some readers want paper, fine, if they want digital, fine.  Both can be easily accommodated.  You can read CLW as you hold your magazine, someone else can read it holding their tablet.  This means numbers, numbers with correct pricing assures profitability and sustainability.

But, let there be no doubt, if you are publishing these days, you need to be on the digital train, lest you be left behind at the station.

V/r

Bob

 

Although have a laptop, iPhone and iPad, I have never and will never download a magazine to any of them.
Maybe I'm just a traditionalist but I really like having the magazine in my hands - I take them on airplanes, to the table, in the bathroom, wherever.
I like to quickly leaf back and forth to study various articles at random.
Something to consider - many people on this website may indeed be into the digital age, welcoming magazines in electronic format. I'm sure that they are comfortable doing so.
But, I know for a fact that there are many who are not and have absolutely no interest in the internet. For that matter, a lot of people do not even have a home computer – hard to imagine but it’s a fact.
And many who do have desktops which indeed rule out portability.
It was mentioned that Newsweek will soon be available in digital format only. It’s a whole different thing. I truly cannot believe that anyone would collect and save issues of Newsweek for reference. Our model aircraft magazines are quite a different thing. We often read and reread various articles that pique our interest.
There are many articles, photos and tech info that are indeed worth saving. Flipping through a magazine is kind of fun for me. Staring at a computer screen is not. I spent the last thirtysome years of my engineering career doing that – for magazines, give me a soft copy!
Regarding CLW going digital. At this point, I cannot say for sure but I doubt that it will happen in the near future.
I have recently spoken to John and there have indeed been quite a few renewals. This should keep things going and satisfy new and recurring subscribers. Hopefully, CLW will continue to serve the interests of all the CL disciplines.

Bob Z.

Ps – keep in mind that the premier issue was sent out at no cost to anyone. It came out of John’s pocket to the tune of around $5,000.00.

[Serge_Krauss]

I agree Bob too.

Still, for me, despite the lack of color, I do like to be able just to pick up my copy on the spur of the moment and easily scan and skip back and forth quickly, when an idea presents itself - or when looking for inspiration.

As newsletter publisher though, I'm naturally happier to e-mail a more attractive product, rather than stapling, folding, addressing, adding postage, driving to the P.O. - AND buying toner cartridges. Of course the electronic newsletters can be printed quickly by their recipients. And YES, the e-files are easily stored and arranged.

Finally, I have to admit that as we age and accumulate periodicals that have immense value to us, but are unwanted by anyone else, it can get crowded and even troubling in our homes.

SK

[john e. holliday]

Yep, I have several stacks of magazines beside the bed that are taking up room.   Tried the school and they don't want them.   Anybody local to me that wants them let me know.  Otherwise off to the recycle bin. 

[FLOYD CARTER]

Newsweek lost customers because they overhauled their format under a new female CEO.  The magazine became a big photo-enriched tabloid-like weekly instead of reporting hard news.  I guess she figured the people wanted entertainment, but I'm glad it will no longer be delivered to me.

Floyd

[Serge_Krauss]

Floyd-

That seems to be a trend across the board in news, automotive, aviation, sports..."journals."  I don't know that either extreme would work for that news magazine. Too many people look at magazines for the pictures, and the internet provides that entertainment. We just aren't such a literate society anymore, something that has been particularly evident this season.

SK