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

[mullt at att.net]

Perhaps GEM will evolve like many other print publications are these days and have both a print version of the publication and an online version. 

I wrote a two part technical article for a trade journal a few years ago. They put the first part in the print version of the journal and the second part in the online journal.

Tom in St. Louis
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Richard Backus <rbackus at ogdenpubs.com>
> 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
> 
> 
> 
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