I am not in favour of the advert placing between the magazine articles. I do read the ads particularly if I have something in mind so as to get a view of the market so I would still read them if they were placed outside the article section. The layout is disjointed and not really user friendly anymore.

I think the publishers of ME are too commercially orientated to consider the feelings of the readers and are just intent on maximising their prophet.

I agree with Lambton, so much so that I have subscribed to Engineering in Miniature as a replacement for the Model Engineer subscription that I have had for a good number of years. I have a feeling that I am not alone in thinking this way having read various forums.

Hi There

I was specifically told I had to include next issue as well as the bit on contents page.

We are looking to move the issue number where it can easily be seen but it won't go top left as before.

The cover is designed to attract readers to the magazine in the newsagents, nothing more.

Scribe a line was not drop[ped for any reason.

I include it as and when.

Advertising is a necessary part of the magazine.

Without advertising, no magazine and that means we have to encourage readers to look at the adverts, not hide them away at the beginning and the end.

regards David

David

I accept your comments re content and advertising – if I didn't then I guess I would stop taking the mag! I welcome the news that the issue number will move to "where it can easily be seen" but WHY NOT at top left as before? Who makes these decisions and on what basis? Like many others, I suspect, I file my copies for easy reference and having the issue number really helps – especially as articles often run over several issues. It will be really inconvenient if the number is put anywhere else other than top left.

HERE IS WHY:-

Just behind my chair, in easy reach, and available in an instant – very quick to flick through to locate the right number.

Please tell the bean counters and whizzo designers that this should be a case of function before style. – and what gain to the company if, in an attempt to gain new readers, they p**s off and lose long standing customers?

Norman

As I have mentioned in another thread, I have stopped my subscription to ME because I think the publishers are not in tune with their readers and seem to have lost the plot.

David, I really hope that you will make every attempt to continue with 'our magazine' in its present format as forcibly as you possibly can. Just because the office staff have opinions about how to attract readers, they are not necessary right and no doubt will alienate some readers.

As Eric wrote 'Get a grip!' in the nicest possible way.

John

So Jason, every MEW customer has to use "Tippex" or a temporary label to fix something that the supplier could fix once ?

Yet another example of getting customers to do the supplier's work.

"If you agree, press 1. To disagree press 2 or, for all other queries press 3, To speak to an operative, hold the line." (For half an hour and we may get back to you. Meanwhile, we'll play you some naff muzac interspersed with a verbal assurance that we "Value your custom&quot.

Andy

” temporary fix”.
For some reason the top left flag is no longer possible. . ( I have no idea but it has been said it isn’t. ..no reason given)..
If for some reason printing on pink paper becomes the fashion , we will have no recourse beyond buy or not.. get over it

I care more about the content. Though do prefer black text on white paper…

.

Norman,

When I first commented on the 37 pages … it was in comparison with the previous [BS] boast that there were 68.

Yes, the actual editorial content has remained pretty stable.

MichaelG.

Very true … But, I remain happier with an honest approach to counting.

MichaelG.

I'd love to be able to comment on the new look, but I've not received my copy yet!
I phoned the subscription Dept. and explained that I had not received issue 209 and they said they would arrange to send me a copy.
Received a large envelope from them yesterday only to discover that they had sent me a copy of issue 208 and the ARC catalogue !!!

I've now emailed them asking them to sort this out. I've been a subscriber since issue 1 and I'm not impressed.

Iain

by David Clark;

"We are looking to move the issue number where it can easily be seen but it won't go top left as before.

…

regards David"

Let's guess where that will be … the top RIGHT corner perhaps?

Sarcasm aside, MEW is one of the magazines who have (had) the issue number placed in a place where it is effectively found and easy to use. The number is part of the "masthead" of the page and thus effectively has become a clear part of the branding which is now being challenged for what it seems just for the sake of change rather than anything else.

Due to the discussion about the uncertainty of digital issues, I have recently paged through all of the issues prior to my paper versions. It was clear that magazine design have changed a few times earlier, but the masthead has been left as is with the exception of background color. The masthead has then become the recognition element carrying the mag onwards even if the rest of the page design have changed.

That is an important factor to bear in mind and to re-use with caution as it is the same as a logotype.

If the top left corner is not supposed to carry the issue number, what should be placed in its place? Number of pages, or FREE SOMETHING, or any other kind of information that is far less useful compared with the issue number. Information such as number of pages, Free something, or similar may well be placed in the bottom right corner and can be as large as is appropriate, and it will create visual balance to the page as well.

/Peter

Hmmm John yes an interesting way of looking at things –

"Let's tart up the cover as that might get us some new sales – never mind that we p**s off our long term readers each of whom may have spent ( at today's price) up to £878 with our business"

Good grief – having worked out the cost of all that paper sitting behind me maybe I should have spent it on metal or castings or tools instead?

Norman

Norman,

Bad move there!

I DARE not tote up the cost of all the magazines & books I have, as it will give me palpitations or worse, and that doesn't cover all the ones I've binned or given away either.

Yaoo are still totally ignoring their users, resulting in their share price now sliding.

Happy customers = survival & expansion

No customers = death to the business

Geoff – I REFUSE point blank to use the word growth or growing instead of expansion or expanding! Old fart I am and like being so, so there!

N,

Growing with reference to organic matter yes, no problem with that, nothing more natural.

It's when it's used in conjunction with an inanimate lifeless object, that's when it makes the blood overheat a tad.

SHMBO and myself have controlled our middles from 'growing' too much. The never ending battle.

Geoff – Searching for another post somewhere where I mentioned '… let's be at it' but can't find it!