After finding out Swimmer takes 30% of our budget,I was thinking how to make it better.I think it is perhaps fine as it is now for what it does now,but if it is to help us grow...
What do you think?
Rodale had a magazine called "Fitness Swimmer' a few years ago and I thought it was excellent and I think implied that such a mag could be(almost) profitable.The current 4 in one format of "Swimming World" now seems excellent.Perhaps Swimmer should have sections:Competitive Swimmer,fitness swimmer,tri,noodlers(to be totally inclusive.)This might help with the problem of technique articles in Swimmer.The articles seem aimed for the middle and are too simple for elite swimmers and too advanced for beginners.
If you want to sell issues how about more pictures of good looking Masters swimmers in swim suits(it worked for Sports Illustrated.)
I don't find the "new product"section very helpful as it just gives what the company says.How about product testing? I expect a company would be glad to say"our goggles were the top rated by USMS-publicity for us.)If you really want to sell how about product testing on LZR vsTracer Rise,vs Nero Comp.I bet most swimmers,coaches,and parents would be interested in that.
Follow-up
The editor responded quickly and with thanks for the many ideas and different viewpoints expressed by members; some of those ideas and perspectives will likely be reflected in the next member survey, scheduled for 2009. The magazine is reviewed annually.
A couple of the larger issues raised in this thread, namely, is the magazine within the core mission of USMS, and is this the best use of funds to promote the core mission, were also addressed by an administrator. As a means of promoting adult fitness and health, Swimmer lies well within the core mission. As a big-ticket item in the annual budget, it receives laser scrutiny (my words). Discussions concerning its function and fate are ongoing.
Please contact the editor, Bill Volckening, at: editor@usms.org, if you have story ideas, and especially if you have journalistic tendencies and would like to pursue a story. (That's from me, LOL!)
For those who thought their club newsletter had good articles that would be appropriate for inclusion in Swimmer, why not send the article to Bill?
I'll continue to perform my scribal function and compile ideas and comments as they are posted here.
:)
(Quicksilver, your cat has been nominated for the first centerfold.)
VB
(Note: Quicksilver, aztimm, and mjtyson, your recs and wishes are now in the master list in post 3.)
Follow-up
The editor responded quickly and with thanks for the many ideas and different viewpoints expressed by members; some of those ideas and perspectives will likely be reflected in the next member survey, scheduled for 2009. The magazine is reviewed annually.
A couple of the larger issues raised in this thread, namely, is the magazine within the core mission of USMS, and is this the best use of funds to promote the core mission, were also addressed by an administrator. As a means of promoting adult fitness and health, Swimmer lies well within the core mission. As a big-ticket item in the annual budget, it receives laser scrutiny (my words). Discussions concerning its function and fate are ongoing.
Please contact the editor, Bill Volckening, at: editor@usms.org, if you have story ideas, and especially if you have journalistic tendencies and would like to pursue a story. (That's from me, LOL!)
For those who thought their club newsletter had good articles that would be appropriate for inclusion in Swimmer, why not send the article to Bill?
I'll continue to perform my scribal function and compile ideas and comments as they are posted here.
:)
(Quicksilver, your cat has been nominated for the first centerfold.)
VB
(Note: Quicksilver, aztimm, and mjtyson, your recs and wishes are now in the master list in post 3.)
