[SEL] Re: SEL Digest, Vol 26, Issue 30

[Richard Backus]

Good points, Arnie. And when I said I think the hobby's peaked, in no way
did I meant to imply that it's run out of steam. Hardly, we all know that's
not true. I was simply trying to underscore my feeling that, compared to 10
years ago, the hobby is running a different course, and for many of the
reasons you've outlined.

Your points on the web are particularly relevant, because it has
fundamentally changed the landscape. It hasn't made magazines like GEM
irrelevant, but as you properly noted magazines like GEM, TOMM and SEM no
longer have the priority they once enjoyed, because information is now so
much more available. And that's a good thing, in my view, even if it makes
life a challenge in other ways.

And you're also on target guessing that GEM will evolve to include more
internally-generated material. That's a must, but even so, it won't happen
without the experienced input of readers, who are the lifeblood of any
title, suggesting topics, issues, etc. The small show reports as they
appeared in every issue in years back will certainly become a smaller part,
as they have already in the past few years.

Thanks for clearly articulating issues I didn't. Sheesh, maybe I should hire
you as our official mouthpiece!!
Regards,
Richard
-- 
Richard S. Backus
Editor-in-Chief/Farm Collectibles
Farm Collector, Farm Collector Show Directory, Gas Engine Magazine and Steam
Traction
1503 SW 42nd St.
Topeka, KS 66609-1265
Phone: 785-274-4383
Fax: 785-274-4305
http://www.ogdenpubs.com
http://www.farmcollector.com


> From: <sel-request at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Reply-To: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 12:00:05 -0400
> To: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Subject: SEL Digest, Vol 26, Issue 30
> 
> I'm not sure that I'd agree that the old engine hobby has peaked.  Rather,
> I think GEM (and other similar "interest" mags) are feeling the effects of
> the net.  In the 80's and 90's folks would send you a roll of film with a
> brief show report.  There would be many of those.  Today, folks whip out a
> web page show report with words and photos in a matter of hours after
> returning from a show.  The "news" of the show report gets distributed
> world-wide via a number of forums like this one.  The timeliness of that
> medium is impossible to match with a printed magazine.
> 
> The net has also forever changed the way a lot of old iron is bought and
> sold.  Engines are advertised on a variety of "Classified Ad" pages or put
> up for sale on eBay.
> 
> Finally, the "what is it" or "how do I" types of questions are now posted
> and answered in minutes via the net.
> 
> Those three categories alone represent a chunk of displaced content for
> GEM (and the other mags).
> 
> My guess is that GEM will evolve to include far more editorial-generated
> content and far less of the "this was our local show" or "here's my new
> engine" content that was in many of the older issues.
> 
> It may be a bit tricky identifying just what the "new GEM" should look
> like and managing the transition in format, but I for one am looking
> forward to the "newer and better" GEM.  Good luck!
> 
> See ya,  Arnie