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This topic has 24 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 17 July 2011 at 13:09 by Sub Mandrel.

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18 June 2011 at 12:52 #70497
Colin Jacobs 1
Participant
@colinjacobs1
Just wanted to say how much i enjoyed the current issue, a real eclectic mix and a very good read throughout, I think the current editorship is bang on and the drawings and photographs are superb.

Well done editorial team.
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18 June 2011 at 12:52 #37487
Colin Jacobs 1
Participant
@colinjacobs1
Well done
18 June 2011 at 13:16 #70500
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Which ?

This forum cover two magazines.

John S.
18 June 2011 at 14:01 #70501
Colin Jacobs 1
Participant
@colinjacobs1
Model engineer.
18 June 2011 at 15:18 #70505
chris stephens
Participant
@chrisstephens63393
Thinking of the current issue, the Editor says in a reply on the postbag page, “However, I can only publish the articles I receive.” Well, is it not his job to commission articles, as well as hope that articles are sent on spec? Are there no professional authors in our field of endeavour any more?

I appreciate that, all things considered, Mr Editor is doing the best he can and that he does not have a completely free hand, but is it not his job to lead not just follow?

I proffer the above to stimulate debate, not to criticise.

chriStephens
18 June 2011 at 16:05 #70507
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

I often ask for articles when I see something interesting in a newsletter or at an exhibition.

I have plenty of articles in hand and more on the way.

I won’t commision an article because I am then committed to using it and it just might not be good enough.

What I don’t have is unlimited resources to get drawings redrawn so I have to strike a balance between articles with drawings and articles without.

regards David
18 June 2011 at 21:08 #70524
Keith
Participant
@keith
David

What has happened to the Country Steam portable engine series – has it been quietly dropped?

Keith
18 June 2011 at 21:35 #70528
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

Back in 4408 when I have time to try and sort it properly.

regards david
14 July 2011 at 20:01 #71808
Gray62
Participant
@gray62
What’s going on with the digital issues, I have had issue 4408 for over a week now but it still is not available as a digital issue!!

CB
14 July 2011 at 20:06 #71809
Jim Nolan
Participant
@jimnolan76764
David,

Not wanting to be controversial hmm that’s a bad start. But what is the point of what I will call the editors page? This week it just seemed like an advertorial, nothing wrong with that I guess, but it just seems like a waste of an opportunity of some editorial comment or am I missing the point?

Jim
14 July 2011 at 20:23 #71811
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
It is news about an advertiser offering a long guarantee.

It was a press release and I was asked to run it by the office.

regards David
14 July 2011 at 20:25 #71812
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

4408 goes on sale tomorrow.

It is not late until tomorrow morning.

I will shout at the office.

regards David
14 July 2011 at 22:11 #71825
Gray62
Participant
@gray62
Strange David, it seems like ME doesn’t hit the digital issues until AFTER it hits the news stand yet invariably MEW is available in digital issues before I get my subscription issue which is rarely before it hits the shops!!!
15 July 2011 at 10:28 #71845
Diane Carney
Moderator
@dianecarney30678
I was assured by the ‘digital issue’ department on Wednesday that it would be available by first thing today (Friday).

Diane
15 July 2011 at 13:51 #71858
Edward
Participant
@edward
Posted by David Clark 1 on 14/07/2011 20:23:00:

It is news about an advertiser offering a long guarantee.

It was a press release and I was asked to run it by the office.

regards David

David

I have to agree with Jim Nolan. In my opinion the item concerned was a pure advertising puff, and had nothing to do with editorial content or comment. Publication of such material, whether it be advertorial or press release, only tends to undermine the editorial integrity of the publication.

The correct place for such stuff would be the “Trade Counter” pages.

Edward
15 July 2011 at 14:37 #71860
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi there

The magazine was otherwise complete when I was asked to put the press release in.

The only page left in ME and MEW was smokerings and eds bench.

regards David
15 July 2011 at 14:49 #71861
Gray62
Participant
@gray62
Ok, so the latest ME 4408 is now available in digital editions – but using the OLD reader, not the new one as was with 4407.

What is happening, are the digital editions going to have a new reader or not!!

regards

Graeme
15 July 2011 at 14:59 #71862
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

Thaey are having problems in Holland where the e version is created.

It will be swapped over when they get it right.

regards david
15 July 2011 at 15:14 #71863
Edward
Participant
@edward
Posted by David Clark 1 on 15/07/2011 14:37:19:

Hi there

The magazine was otherwise complete when I was asked to put the press release in.

The only page left in ME and MEW was smokerings and eds bench.

regards David

In which case, the management should not have expected you compromise your editorial integrity by asking you to place blatant advertising material on what is intended as a dedicated editorial page.

After all, they would have had the option to hold it over until space became available on appropriate page in a later edition, to reallocate some of the space allocated to in-house advertisements, or to add an additional four pages including the advertorial.

Edward
15 July 2011 at 15:23 #71865
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

As I said before, there was no time left.

regards david
16 July 2011 at 14:57 #71917
Eric Lougheed
Participant
@ericlougheed54619
One hopes that an editor is truly independent from ‘management’ – at least, that is currently what Newscorp would like us to believe.

Surely a magazine produced for, and financed by, amateur mechanics can have a little more integrity than just ‘doing what the accountants want’. And MEW suffered the same space-wasting intervention, did it not?

(Or, nastily, who in management has got a nice new electronic power system for free or below commercial cost?)

Eric Lougheed
16 July 2011 at 15:11 #71919
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi There

Newton Tesla offered an upgrade from a 2 to 10 year warranty.

That needed to be bought to the attention of readers.

Smokerings is for news, press releases and similar items as is Ed’s Bench.

That is why it was put in.

It was a press release, not a trade review.

regards David
16 July 2011 at 19:54 #71940
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
Where time allows, I’d recommend re-casting a press release into you own words; that way it can be shorter and fit in a larger editorial. Most of a press releas is ‘puff’ and you can put in what really is of interest and still keep the advertisers happy.

But not really a Murdoch-level issue this, is it?

Neil
16 July 2011 at 22:14 #71949
David Clark 13
Participant
@davidclark13
Hi Stub

I did rewrite it.

I never use press releases as is.

regards David
17 July 2011 at 13:09 #71969
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
Fair comment, David.

I think readers of old ME will see that your predeccessors have done much the same of the years.

I don’t see any problem in highlighting suppliers, as long as its in the open and that all have the same opportunity to have their services/goods featured.

Neil
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