[UK-CONTEST] Late results

[Bob Henderson]

The argument put forward for delaying publication of results via the web
until they have been published in Radcom is entirely unconvincing.  We live
in a world where electronic communication has been available to and embraced
by the masses, for some considerable time. And for good reason.

The Radcom Editor and the RSGB General Manager, as the representative of the
publisher, are charged with filling Radcom with the material they believe
will best address the interests of the RSGB membership at large.  We should
expect them to serve this objective to the best of their ability.  Members
of the HFCC have complained about inadequate representation in Radcom for
decades, that I am sure.  Perhaps it's time to get over it and move on.
Let's face it, publishing leadtimes for magazines such as Radcom are very
long.  The health of contesting is not well served through unecessarily
embracing such delays.

Across the water where CQWW, the biggest contest in the annual calender is
run, a frequent complaint from participants concerns the excrutiating delay
in publication of results.  I understand that those who run the contest
would dearly love to be able to publish results to the web more quickly but
are prevented from doing so by the publisher of CQ Magazine who sets
timescales based upon what he believes best underwrites magazine sales.

So here we have an interesting situation.  Our American cousins dream about
freeing themselves from the limitations imposed upon them by their sponsor,
yet in the UK we have been handed freedom from such limitation by our own
sponsor and we are responding to it by shunning that freedom.  It's a funny
old world.  Sometimes we need to lift our heads and look to the future.

I don't believe that pages of contest listings in a magazine, already out of
date by the time it is delivered, do anything to promote contesting.
Everyone recognises the increase in average age of contesters, just as they
also recognise the hobby is set to lose more than it will gain in new blood
over the next several years.  There is a laudable desire to encourage
greater take-up among the young.  Every young person I know has access to
the internet and is adept in its use.  They take for granted the immediate
access to information it provides.  I feel convinced that fully embracing
the technology ourselves will better facilitate engaging the interest of the
young.

Within the RSGB the HFCC has the freedom to blaze a trail in rapid
information provision via the internet.  This is an opportunity other
organisations can only dream about.  I have no doubt this opportunity should
be grasped before it is spirited away.

Lay down your Luddite tendencies, embrace the technology and the
opportunities it provides.

Bob, 5B4AGN