Re: [chat] Re: [SLUG] linmagau - April edition

[Kevin Waterson <kevin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This one time, at band camp, Jeff Waugh <jdub@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
> Not at all, that's why I mentioned your history with SLUG - your criticism
> seemed out of place in full context. (Plus, I believe people are responding
> to the ratio in the email itself.)

That is because they react without knowing. So, here to balance up is a little
mail from me, from this list, when linmagau was beginning.........

<quote>
> On Wed, Jan 01, 2003 at 05:34:42PM -0800, John Knight wrote:
> > We're a group from PLUG, over in WA, who are starting up a Linux
> > Magazine, hopefully for Australia/Australasia. We need the general
> > opinion of the Aussie public to see if it's worth starting up, or
> > not. Would be be able to get as many people as possible to fill in
> > the 1 question poll at the bottom right hand corner of the page?

You are really asking in the wrong place. Here you are only going to
get 'Yeah, that would be great'. You need to do a little homework :)

* What is you vision for the magazine? Is this going to be a cheap 
  glossy with a page 3 guy/girl?

# Who is going to read this? What is your target audience? eg:
  geeks aged 16-25 or sysadmins aged 35-65?

# What have you got to say that has not been splattered about every
  other computer magazine that covers linux?

# How is your magazine going to different from all the others?

# Do you have enough capital to get through the first 6 months of
  wages and costs with little return?

# Do you have a decent editor and distributor and writers?
  Editors and writers are dime a dozen, but a good editor
  and good writers/articles will make or break you.
  You need photos of people places, things, digital photography
  does not cut it in the print media. Film and photographers 
  also have costs. ( I speak from experience on this ;)

# Where will you advertise?
 Cross media advertising is needed, maybe not in its infancy
 but certainly in its adultery.

# Staff.. I imagine you will be starting with some volunteers,
  possibly 10-25

## Money.. You are going to need some starting capital.
  Some stories you will need to pay for. You cannot rely on
  submissions from good willed donators, the novely of this
  wears off quickly and you will be paying more for editorial costs.

  As mentioned earlier, Advertising will be your principle income.
  To get started you will need to approach these companies with an
  issue of the magazine and pitch to them a reasonable case why they
  need to be included. Then you need to have them pledge $$$ do
  allow you to budget for the first few issues. You also need to
  keep advertising down to a reasonable level, too much ad to content
  ratio and you will lose subscriptions, and hence, advertisers.

  Another source of income can be affiliate sales, this has long
  been a good earner for magazines, both in print and online.

Discouraged yet?

I hope not, its hard work, if you are the publisher then dont
expect to be doing any writing, you will not have time.
  
I have tried to layout some common pitfalls and realities and
there are many more, including staffing levels, office space
etc etc.

I have worked with many publications small and large, and have 
seen early ones come and go, all with the best intensions.

I hope to see issue 1 in early June.

Good luck and best wishes
Kevin

</quote>

hope that keeps you all cheery till the next person dare mention
they are not satisfied with something and you can vent your
frustrations on them.

> 
> Ages. I'm not sure why you're asking (or why this point is important).
You mentioned it, I thought you might think it relevent in some way.

Kind regards
Kevin

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Kevin Waterson
Port Macquarie, Australia