[modeleng] Re: 'Smoke Rings' - Comment

Hello Roger,

I got bored with the UK ME about 4 years ago and in a similar vein I
stopped getting EIM two years ago.  I now get Australian Model Engineer on
subscription.

Recently I noticed that WH Smiths in the Galleries at Bristol had EIM and
ME on the shelves and had an item that interested me (the Scarab lorry),
so I bought one of each.

At least it gave me an opportunity to see what was in there, although it
re-enforced my view that it was sensible to stop getting them - in
particular I noticed that ME was thinner and in EIM Doug was still
ploughing on with his standard tank (they get the real ones through
refurbishment faster than him! :-)

However, whilst I accept that it is nice to have an opportunity "graze"
these magazines, the we are in a niche area and the publishers could (if
they wanted to) think laterally about ways of encouraging new readers. 
e.g. if people enquired about the magazine they could send out one (say 6
month+) old copy at half price as a taster, with the money refundable
against a future subscription.  They could put "occasional" articles on a
website to encourage people.  They could send old ME's (1 or 2 copies) to
the clubs registered on the Northern and Southern Federation, this may
encourage people to look and buy!

In conclusion (in my view!), ME and EIM are still in the "dark ages", the
management could do a lot more to encourage new readers without just
complaining about EU rules.  The magazine buyers don't come to you these
days, you have to go and attract them.

Very finally, if a magazine is good, it will sell itself (and that's the
problem with ME) - they have rested on past record for too long and people
are now realising that the current ME is not a touch on the old ME.  Now
AME, that's a different story.  Congratulations to the Aussies for a super
magazine (maybe the UK ME should have a look at the content!)

Right.  That should stir some debate.

Thanks for the opportunity Roger.

Cheers

Peter

> Hi All,
>
<SNIP>
>
>   What do others think about this editorial plea.   Have others a
> clearer view of the background to this possible situation.
>
>
>      Cheers,
>
>
>         Roger Mason,  in St. Agnes.
>


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