Take contests out of QST? Why do you think CQ puts a big gun on the
cover of every issue? Contesters obviously sell ham mags like boobs sell
Cosmo.
Instead of putting VE3EJ and his magnificent shack on the June cover,
I suppose the CQ folks could have used a picture of the guy who wrote
the article on page 30 entitled "Low-Cost Mobile Antenna Accessories from
Plumbing Parts."
BTW, it's interesting to note that unlike CQ, QST almost never puts HF
contest or DX stations on its cover nowadays. QST has a penchant for
satellites, VHF rover contest stations, and parabolic antennas. But then,
until recently, the League didn't have to compete at the newsstand level.
Jeff K0OD jfsinger@delphi.com
>From ng0x@ix.netcom.com (David Curtis) Wed May 24 06:36:38 1995
From: ng0x@ix.netcom.com (David Curtis) (David Curtis)
Subject: Ads in the NCJ
Message-ID: <199505240536.WAA18817@ix4.ix.netcom.com>
de N6TR:
[deletions]
>It would appear that without these ads, the NCJ would not break even and
>henceforth would probably not be continued by the ARRL.
[deletions]
>While I would rather see only contest orientated products in the magazine,
>I would stil rather see a magazine.
Pretty much every publication faces the same economic realities. Count
square inches of editorial material and advert material. Any periodical
running less than 50%-60% advertising is already among the walking dead. If
you want to see more editorial matieral, wish for a magazine thick with ads.
It's that simple.
I am constantly puzzled as to why NCJ does not attract more advertising.
Contesters spend money faster, on more gizmos, on the latest technology, and
are early adopters and opinion leaders more than any other identifiable group
of hams. NCJ targets the market segment to perfection. The ad space per
square in has to be cheap, so I am inclined to believe it is very cost
effective. So why aren't there more pages of ads in NCJ? The fault is ours.
We, as contesters, don't give economic support to NCJ. That can be
changed. Simply tell suppliers that you are calling/buying because you saw
their ad in NCJ. Or better yet, go up to their competitor at a show, and say
'golly, and here I bought the other guy's product because I saw it advertised
in NCJ'. This will cause more ads, which will cause more editorial space,
which will make us all happy.
73, Dave NG0X - VHF rover(classic), and a happy capitalist
|