Thread: MEW magazine heading > downhill

By way of comparison I just did a quick count up of the 'doing stuff' pages in the latest (Sept/Oct) 'Australian Model Engineering' magazine.
Of 76 pages 24 were dedicated to hands on projects etc.
6 pages were for Dave Harper's 'Steam Chest'.
The remaining 36 pages covered club news and club rally stories ......and many pages of ads.

And yes, advertising is necessary to help pay publishing costs etc. but is 33% content for 'hands on' a fair percentage for this type of magazine?
Is it the same old MEW story of 'we all complain but not many are willing to contribute articles'?

Regards, Peter.

Originally Posted by David Clark

.............I can only publish what I am offered...........

Dear David, I did sent you an article to publish, about two years ago. I think you lost it. During that time you apparently lost several articles from other submitters too. And it does not help that you do not send out any acknowledgement of receipt. Because without it, any submitter is left in dark if you simply lost the article, or intend to publish it later, or if the article is not suitable at all. In my case, I simply could not be bothered and put my article in the public domain, so everyone interested can download it for free. I wonder how many other would-be submitters do the same.

Then there is the digital back issues that I subscribed to. A few months later you simply changed the product, by removing the print feature from your e-reader. I was not offered a refund.

But the above are not the reasons I stopped subscribing the magazine. Nor the ads, they were always there. My reason was the constantly deteriorating overall quality of the articles.

Originally Posted by David Clark

So, get writing these articles now. All I ask is no more tool posts or fixed steadies.

What is wrong with tool posts? Has MEW ever published anything about the construction of a Multifix 40 position tool post? Not interesting you think? Has MEW ever published a comprehensive review/comparison of all toolposts available on the market for bench lathes? Boring you think? Or is it maybe the fear of alienating the advertisers of particular products. Surely readers can expect the editors of the magazine to contribute something too, like comparisons/reviews of toopsts or machines etc etc, and not only rely on submitted articles from the readers.

And no, I am really not interested in CNC. I come home from a day working with computers and automation. For me, CNC would be just a continuation of work. I need to relax and do something manually. Those few readers that are interested in CNC surely will find other ways to learn about G-code. Or is it maybe some of your advertisers that push for CNC articles to be included, so they can better sell their high profit margin ready built CNC machines?

I really wish MEW will recover from its current low.

Regards, Chris

Originally Posted by David Clark

I have been reading your complaints. They are the same as on the english forums so no change there.

David, thank your for responding to this thread.

Are you suggesting that because these complaints are the same as on the English forums they are therefore not valid?

To me it suggests the opposite, you have a problem with your subscribers not liking your current product.

It sounds like a very glib dismissal of what to me are very valid observations.

BTW I am currently a subscriber to your magazine, but if the current trend continues I may have to review that position when my next subscription becomes due.

The number of complaints of articles submitted and subsequently lost also do not bode well for the future of a once high quality magazine.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

David, thank your for responding to this thread.

Are you suggesting that because these complaints are the same as on the English forums they are therefore not valid?

To me it suggests the opposite, you have a problem with your subscribers not liking your current product.

It sounds like a very glib dismissal of what to me are very valid observations.

BTW I am currently a subscriber to your magazine, but if the current trend continues I may have to review that position when my next subscription becomes due.

The number of complaints of articles submitted and subsequently lost also do not bode well for the future of a once high quality magazine.

Hi Guys,
I'm afraid I am another potential contributor who, after discussions with DC1 (David Clark) as to whether the subject matter I was proposing, was both suitable and acceptable...and then after I sent it in to him...I really didn't hear anything more.
After about a year, I then contacted DC1 to enquire if there was a problem with my article, or if he wanted it re-written etc. etc.
I was told at that point that he had lost or misplaced the article...so I reminded him when it had been sent and he subsequently sent me an email to say that he had found it again.
However, he still didn't give any indication as to if, or when, he was ever likely to publish my submission.

In terms of timescale...For me...I originally sent in my Submission back in March 2012, so for DC1 to say that he can "only publish what he is offered" doesn't totally reflect the experiences of some of the other guys who have also stated that either their submission was "lost", or after a significant period of time, was never heard off again.

Please note...This is only my personal experience of the outcome of writing an article for possible inclusion in MEW.
Other contributors may well have better luck than me...
As the saying goes: "Your mileage may vary"

Regards,
Neebs

Hi,

When I read the OP I thought Morrisman had read my mind. I had a subscription with MEW for 12 months and had bought someone else's previous collection (issues 134 to 145 Feb 2008 to Dec 2008) and some odd ones from here and there. I find the older issues are better and the newer issues filled with more ads and repeated subjects or articles. I still buy the occasional issue but generally feel a bit let down buy them.
So I tried a free copy of Machinist's Workshop, received it in the mail today. Probably about the same amount of ads. This issue has six articles two of which are covered over multiple issues and an extra 8 pages of gunsmithing ( with one of the gunsmithing articles having a practical relevance for me). Overall its not a bad magazine but I'm no sure if I want to pay $50 or more a six issues a year. They a sister magazine which I can't remember what its called, I might try that copy before I make up my mind on which one I will subscribe to.
The link to these magazines is somewhere on page 1 of this thread (I think).

Ben.

Just received issue #208 and David has responded to our complaints in his editorial.

Basically he is saying that as subscriptions are still going up the complaints from us colonials "downunder" are totally unjustified. Apart from that they were only voiced on a "woodworking forum", implication being "what the hell would they know anyway".

Oh well, "there are none so blind...................."

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Basically he is saying that as subscriptions are still going up the complaints from us colonials "downunder" are totally unjustified. Apart from that they were only voiced on a "woodworking forum", implication being "what the hell would they know anyway".

He is obviously quite skilled in alienating people and costing his magazine some subscriptions...

K.

I found this two faced approach Fred described a little upsetting as I couldn't work out why you would set out to alienate a section of your readership and discourage others who might have been leaning your way. I dug around on the web a bit and found this small piece describing the CEO of the publishers of MEW -

Owen Davies is CEO of hobbyist publisher My Time Media. His current focus is growing his ecommerce business, which started with their print magazines in modelling and crafts markets, but now is expanding into related sectors such as model railways where they have built a content website and online community which is driving a good proportion of sales. “Ecommerce may be a better way to monetize online content and communities than advertising. A magazine with a good subs base is a bonus, but not essential.”

That of course is the answer - the editor of MEW is just following corporate policy. They don't want subscriptions as they just get in the way of selling stuff on line. Strangely enough I'm now feeling a lot better about the editorial policy in MEW, and feeling no quarms about ever reading the magazine again because they don't want you to!

Michael

If he wants to continue with his pompous attitude vote with your wallets. Start a campaign among us "low class colonials" as they like to call us to blackban his publication and all it's advertisers. Don't be shy about making it known as to why no sales to "down under colonials".

Off my soap box now.

Ken

A better idea would be to write articles and publish them here. Ok, so you miss out on the wonderful $85 per article*...but that's a terrible rate anyway and is more of an insult than a payment (especially if you are supplying pictures too).

Approved rates by the Australian Author's Society are $892 for 1,000 words or less, and $0.89 cents per word thereafter. (freelance, casual rate).

In the field rates from newspapers and magazines are typically around $0.50-65 a word, top of the market is about $1 to $1.25 a word...however that assumes you can get paid (something that Fairfax seems to be bad at...not that Rupert's much better, even with all his chest-thumping about google stealing 'his' content).


*At today's rates

I too used to buy MEW and it had some good stuff in it and then went downhill. I like to fart about making tooling and model engines and soon lost interest in it and the cost. The digital version is expensive and all the advertising is still there. I have since gone to 3 US based magazines 2 of which are digital. The print version is Home Shop Machinist which I find useful and a good read the 2 digitals are MEB which is/was $20 for the year (4 issues) and full of good stuff ...well to me at least...and printable if I want an article for the shed or plans. Their back issues are being digitised and are $6.00 per issue and the other a model railroad mag that is monthly that has a heap of good info and costs me $3.50 a month through kindle to my tablet. The problem with the Aussie mag is it seems to be mostly steam loco and related stuff and as pointed out above heaps of pages dedicated to ads and club news but I'm not interested in that side of things.
Pete

Ouch,

I will be waiting at least another 8 weeks before I see #208 (just got #205 last week) so will then read his editorial, but it is disappointing to think we'd be dismissed simply as uninformed complainers.

As mentioned in my earlier response to this thread, I've had issues with articles being submitted - and recently had some success/feedback after resending previously submitted ones. I will continue to write and submit for now - mostly to try and keep the information/ skills alive and accessible. I started writing the articles to try and address the complaints about article quality. I'll have to see how this all goes now - no good writing for posterity if the magazine circles the drain because readership is down, or offended to the point they drop away.

Des

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Just received issue #208 and David has responded to our complaints in his editorial.

Basically he is saying that as subscriptions are still going up the complaints from us colonials "downunder" are totally unjustified. Apart from that they were only voiced on a "woodworking forum", implication being "what the hell would they know anyway".

Oh well, "there are none so blind...................."

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Just received issue #208 and David has responded to our complaints in his editorial.

Basically he is saying that as subscriptions are still going up the complaints from us colonials "downunder" are totally unjustified. Apart from that they were only voiced on a "woodworking forum", implication being "what the hell would they know anyway".

Oh well, "there are none so blind...................."

Oh how condescending, the brash ''brush off''.It is after all that most of us come from English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish and European heritage.Only thing different is that our forebears ''saw the light and cleared off'' to better places.
I have a few British friends and aquaintances who have a upper view of us ''colonials''.some re educated now.I am sad that Mr Clark takes this line of thought of us.
he has been reminded by me that we are and can be a stand alone nation in both peace and war time.we have some of the finest engineers ,technologists in the world.
The Brits have this close living conditioning and some cannot even visualise the vastness of this country and the size of our sheds.Most of the readers in U K have a workspace the size of our laundries here.Myford mentality prevails.
In my opinion Mr Clark's MEW is in a tail spin and it appears he cares nowt about us or our reactions to inject some salvation to his flagging subscribers.time for me too to have a think about my subscription. My 2 bucks worth cheers John.

John A,

Funny about that attitude of superiority. DIL's granny is a pom "blueblood" who hated her SIL because he was a commoner. Started to look down her nose at our family until she was educated about our ancestors on both sides of the channel. She now goes out of her way to be friendly. Guess where we have been invited for Xmas lunch?

Luckily in this country we have mostly overcome this silly snobbery nonsense.

And as far as having machinery and chips in the kitchen. It's only for the mixer, kettle and toaster etc as well as chips of the potato variety.

Ken