Tuesday, January 22, 2008

BoSacks Readers Speak Out: On MPA: Mags Must Adapt Or Die


BoSacks Readers Speak Out: On MPA: Mags Must Adapt Or Die

Re: MPA: Mags Must Adapt Or Die

Bo- I agree this is infuriating. I have been associated with the magazine business since 1985 when PIB reports came in binders. The MPA and PIB seem to have conspired to present information that has as much believability of cold war soviet era crop reports. I remember listening to soviet reports of ever increased production of crops, shoes, autos all of which were to point to vitality while the nation crumbled from the inside. How is this different?
Submitted by a Publisher)

Re: Wrong Again: The MPA and Readers
Bo: Perhaps the MPA misunderstands their mission? Bob, you use the word entrepreneurial a lot when you speak and sometimes when you write, I was wondering if there are any people at a management level of the MPA that understands what you are talking about. Is there a single entrepreneur in their ranks? If not, WHY not?

Re: Wrong Again: The MPA and Readers

Bob, The MPA is so clueless. users? 24/7? No wonder they are losing circulation. They don't know what they are doing!
(Submitted by an Industry Supplier)

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: I Love Printing
I think I watched it like 6 times already. That is the best!!
Submitted by a Senior paper Buyer)
This video can still be found at www.bosacks.com - look for Bo's Videos on the right side of the web page

Re: BoSacks Speaks Out: I Love Printing
Bo, that was terrific. This guy is my new hero. All our CSR's are still laughing/crying.
Another cool moment in time. The BoSacks brilliance, where you never know what Bo will find and send out to the troups. Bravo.
(Submitted by a Senior Plant Manager)
This video can still be found at www.bosacks.com - look for Bo's Videos on the right side of the web page

Re: NewPage Announces Integration Restructuring Plans
and the beat goes on. Hope the paper buyers are reading this news. No more two year guarantees will be available, let alone one year protection. More customers who have purchased their own paper will now ask the printers to get the deals because the large printers will have more purchasing power. All the rules are going to change because the candy store for paper is finally closed. Amen.
(Submitted by a Senior paper Person)

Re: NewPage Announces Integration Restructuring Plans
God I hope people read this all the way through. For those who didn't please note: "we are merging the operations in a manner that will actually increase our 2008 North American production by 3-8% compared to the combined production in 2007."
(Submitted by a Senior Paper Manager)

Re: Shelter Magazine Publishers Adjust to Changing Housing Market
I didn't read U.S. House and Garden, but it was my wife's favorite magazine, by far. Dominique Browning's editorial put H&G far ahead of the competitors. Even Conde Nasty makes mistakes, and this one was huge. Their PR hype says that while circulation and customer loyalty were strong, somehow the media types didn't think the advertisers were interested. Hmmmmm...loyal, affluent subscribers...will pay anything that circulation will charge for their subscriptions...but some idiot in the CN marketing department thinks the title is old. Well, it's gone, and nothing to be done about that. Just make sure somebody shoots the idiot. My wife called and demanded a refund of her unfulfilled subscription, and was told that she was "not the first one" to do so. If she wanted Architectural Digest, offered as a substitute, she would have ordered it. Instead, she's resigned to enjoying the UK version of House and Gardens, for which she happily pays US$130 per year...for a monthly!
(Submitted by a Senior Director of MFG and Dst)

Re: The Passion of Steve Jobs
We are Mac people, because publishing is overwhelmingly a Mac environment, and I still think Macs are less irritating than other computers. But I am very tired of hearing about Steve Jobs. I first signed a contract with a publisher over 20 years ago, and compiled an 1800-page reference book on a little Kaypro pc because it cost a fraction of what Jobs was demanding for an Apple machine. He was trying to sell hardware instead of capturing the industry with his unique operating system and its features, and he might as well have been selling washing machines. If he was as smart as he thinks he is, we never would have heard of Bill Gates.
(Submitted by a Semi-retired writer)

Re: The Passion of Steve Jobs
Steve will not make a reader but watch the iPhone to become the mobile reader and the air to become the reader for college kids. Kids love Apple and they are the future consumers who want to but all Apple products. Kids today buy a new iPod each year.
(Submitted by a Vice President of Manufacturing Operations)

Re: The Passion of Steve Jobs
But are the 40% who don't read the one's advertisers and marketers want to reach? I highly doubt it.
(Submitted by a Publisher)

Re: The Passion of Steve Jobs
I suppose I'm getting old, but I find myself wondering how bad a Depression we would have to have to put all the #$*% video games and 'reality' TV out of business. How do we know that an electronic reading platform wouldn't make some inroads? I think book design is in a bad way; I work in a big-box bookstore and I don't see that many books that make me want to pick them up and look at them . . . but I'm probably just full of hot air . . .
(Submitted by an Unknown)

Re: Reaction Intense to Magazine Cover
Dave Seanor made this error in judgment because he is from the publishing side of the industry. He thought he was supposed to provide his customers with all the noose that was fit to print. No printer would have made a similar error because we know that, when dealing with customers, no noose is good noose.
(Submitted by a Senior Printer)