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Model Forum / General / Models / February 2008Modelmakers, Engineers and Who will get your money
Some time back we had a couple of interesting discussions on the future direction of our specialist magazines; for those interested in such things the business model of the new owners outlined here might be of interest: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/02/05/cnmags105.xml Read through to at least "the really clever bit" to see how we will be encouraged to buy new toys. I make no comment either way except to ask can "reviews" posted by someone who has just bought their dream really be "independent" and what of the "professional" reviews that we will have to buy the magazines to read, does "professional" equate to "independent"..... If it does it will be the first time in my (limited) experience. I also tried to use the many "user review" sites that are about when I was looking for a digital camera and found it a really confusing experience. The really positive postings were invariably followed by a really negative "experience" or vice versa of course. So much so that I wondered who was actually writing these reviews particularly as they always seem to include the opposition product that proved to be "superb" and cheaper??? Anyway, I'm sure it will work and the future of our magazines will be assured for a while even if the direction might not appease the "flat earth" brigade. Apologies to JS for stealing his descriptor form an earlier discussion. Regards Cynical of Wales On Feb 28, 9:30 am, jontom_...@hotmail.com wrote: > Some time back we had a couple of interesting discussions on the > future direction of our specialist magazines; for those interested in [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Cynical of Wales Keith, Some time back there was problems with one magazine. It and its other similar products was on the point of being in liquidation. I'll call it bankruptcy for easier understanding. It/they were 'bought oit' for not much more than the price of a couple of decent houses- in Leeds. At least, that is what the Press at the time informed us. We, that is you and me, could have mortgaged our all and become the proud owners of a series of magazines. The point is that behind us there is a debt to be serviced or paid back. Somewhere, somehow one cannot camp out amongst a set of unsold magazines! Fine, but let us look at the history which led to the purchase, whatever was going on, it hadn't worked. The firm was one of the classic three which fails even in times when the world is affluent. Today, we each owe HM Government some £32,000 for the present state of Northern Rock who before it went arse over tit actually gave away £25 million to a rugby club. This AM's breaking news! The rest of the news if we ignore a few chimney pots which were not being used is that the next 5 years will be short of money flow. What will happen to our pastime and its supportive magazines is only to be guessed at. For myself, I couldn't get a toss of whether more chimney pots fall. The magic of only another group of aspiring business men may succeed or fail in the next couple of years. There are more important things in life which require my attention. Another Grumpy Old Man >Fine, but let us look at the history which led to the purchase, >whatever was going on, it hadn't worked. The firm was one of the >classic three which fails even in times when the world is affluent. >Today, we each owe HM Government some =A332,000 for the present state of >Northern Rock who before it went arse over tit actually gave away =A325 >million to a rugby club. This AM's breaking news! Your cousins across the pond are not doing any better with banking. Shared sorrow is small consolation. Wes <snip> >Regards > >Cynical of Wales Sounds as though everything is to become an 'Infomertial', just you won't necessarily be told so. Richard More Cynical than ever... ><snip> >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Sounds as though everything is to become an 'Infomertial', just you >won't necessarily be told so. It has been that way for a long time in the print magazines anyway (manufacturer loans/gives product to the mag to review, etc. etc.), so whats new? You can be sure that when a new product gets reviewed in a magazine, they didn't go out and buy one themselves. All that is happening here is the application of new technology to an old technique. Regards, Tony > On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:21:50 +0000, Richard <sharkface-pilot at > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Regards, > Tony I suppose that it really depends if the "paid for" reviews are trusted more than the freebies. Personally I'm not convinced that a review in a magazine, say ME or MEW is any more trusted than the opinions of people I recognise as knowledgeable in a forum like this. The "pay per sale" model is the way that most of the price comparison engines work (Kelkoo et al) but quite how it works in such a small niche is difficult to predict. Anyway the whole concept depends upon the community content being compelling enough. Village Press in the US have good web forum that I'm certain must drive subscriptions but it's not rich on content aside from the forum. Given the recent improvements in MEW I look forward to their much awaited website launch. Regards Charles > > On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:21:50 +0000, Richard <sharkface-pilot at > [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Charles I think you have touched on an important fact there Charles. The internet has transformed the information available to us - bit by bit - but the 'net' effect is huge. Before buying anything you can discover all sorts of unsolicited and unwarranted opinions from experts and amateurs alike. The 'net' also has the potential to undermine some other forms of communication, although I am sure the technology of magazine production has enabled smaller print runs to be a lot cheaper, there is still a need for the production of the magazine. I expect we will continue to see a netward migration, and I think the technology is just about there to provide an internet distribution mechanism that allows for a reasonable charge and won't be undercut by people sending free copies to all their friends (which I think is the main thing holding it back). Steve |
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