[UK-CONTEST] Radcom - controversially

[Richard Newstead]

Reading the September Radcom I turned to the contest page. Tim's bit on  
the left was fine and an interesting read as usual. But the results  
part... Oh dear.

Tiny fonts, irregular columns, and acres of blank paper.

That being said, I tried to think of a better way of laying it out without  
much success. If one had to stick with the font size used, possibly the  
results in appropriate sized boxes could be interspersed with additional  
text but that might not work either.

So, here's the controversial bit. Ditch the listings in Radcom altogether.  
Just have a short summary write-up for each contest as is already done and  
have the listings on the internet. By the time the listings appear,  
everyone with any interest in the matter has already seen them on the web  
anyway. That's the nu-media and is surely the best place for all this  
data? Save valuable column space for Tim to use to get people excited  
about contests. Make the web data so brilliant and functional that no-one  
would ever want dull (and very out-of-date) lists in magazines any more.

The current websites go some way towards this but much more could be done.  
With individual log-on accounts, you could analyse your own performance in  
a customised database presentation. Link it in with personal stuff -  
contest blogs, photos, videos, audio feeds. There is surely much more that  
could be done. Some awards have already gone down this route - with great  
success. Contesters are supposed to be at the cutting edge - aren't they?

...sorry if you are now wiping cornflakes off your computer screen.

73

Richard
G3CWI