Originally posted by gull80
Maybe this isn't politically correct, but yes, I do want a magazine about competitive swimming. Swimming World primarily addresses the needs and interests of the age group, high school and college level swimmers. I understand that USMS tries to be all-inclusive, but often when you try to please everyone you end up not really satisfying anyone.
I don't think that the issue is based in potical correctness. It is more to do with selling enough magazines to make it worthy or viable. I really don't understand why a very good magazine can't address all issues concerning swimming. It seems that many people who are competitive swimmers really don't want a national magazine. If you want a newsletter, you are not going to be able to sustain it and it will quickly becaoem a list of who's done what. That will be no more interesting to you than would be an article about shallow-water workouts.
Oddly, what struck me the most about the two new magazines was how simular they were to eachother. The only real difference I saw in editorial/content philosophy was that USMS has spent more on the cover stock (I finally did receive my orginal magazaine cover but never the body of the magazine). I can forsee USMS deciding to take the magazine down a more narrow path trying to please a core rmembership. But why?
I wonder how many of the members are actually competitive? Also, how would you truly determine if an article was about competitive swimming? I fear it would be the same as the old saying about art. "I don't know what art is but when I see It I do and that ain't art!" Who would be the arbitator deciding what is and what isn't about competitive swimming? In time, the magazine woudl be thrust into meaninglessness.
I wonder if maybe many people really don't want a magazine that would only satisfy them personnally.
Okay, now attack!
Originally posted by gull80
Maybe this isn't politically correct, but yes, I do want a magazine about competitive swimming. Swimming World primarily addresses the needs and interests of the age group, high school and college level swimmers. I understand that USMS tries to be all-inclusive, but often when you try to please everyone you end up not really satisfying anyone.
I don't think that the issue is based in potical correctness. It is more to do with selling enough magazines to make it worthy or viable. I really don't understand why a very good magazine can't address all issues concerning swimming. It seems that many people who are competitive swimmers really don't want a national magazine. If you want a newsletter, you are not going to be able to sustain it and it will quickly becaoem a list of who's done what. That will be no more interesting to you than would be an article about shallow-water workouts.
Oddly, what struck me the most about the two new magazines was how simular they were to eachother. The only real difference I saw in editorial/content philosophy was that USMS has spent more on the cover stock (I finally did receive my orginal magazaine cover but never the body of the magazine). I can forsee USMS deciding to take the magazine down a more narrow path trying to please a core rmembership. But why?
I wonder how many of the members are actually competitive? Also, how would you truly determine if an article was about competitive swimming? I fear it would be the same as the old saying about art. "I don't know what art is but when I see It I do and that ain't art!" Who would be the arbitator deciding what is and what isn't about competitive swimming? In time, the magazine woudl be thrust into meaninglessness.
I wonder if maybe many people really don't want a magazine that would only satisfy them personnally.
Okay, now attack!
