14-07-2019, 01:31 PM
Also as an editor for a niche magazine that relies on contributions for the content, all I can say is, it can and is hard going.
Not only to get material in the first place but also trying to get it to conform to a style appropriate to the magazine format.
The two things going against paper magazines these days are timeliness of the information (it is usually way out of date by the time it is published) and trying to have the right mix of content to give every reader something of interest, particularly now (as mentioned above) with the almost instant availability of this information on the internet.
Both AR magazine and the ARRL's magazine QST, to me, have the same shortcomings, not a lot of anything that I would call "interesting".
Society news (ie the WIA's news) is usually just a repeat in many cases of what has been posted on the WIA website.
Club news is an area that falls well short. Out of the many clubs Australia wide, very very few submit anything for publication - what, nothing interesting happening in your club?
And don't get me started on club websites, a flame proof suit wouldn't provide any where near enough protection.
Overseas news, well, there hardly is any most times (yes, some may have no interest in what is going on in overseas societies and the hobby in general, but amateur radio is a global hobby, not something restricted to ones own backyard).
Technical information/articles, or lack of, an easily fixed situation where articles from overseas journals could be reprinted (long standing agreements make this a relatively simple and easy task).
Contests, although not one of my interests, seems to be the one area that is more than adequately covered, maybe even to the point of detracting from other content.
Of course comes the biggest problems of all, the lack of volunteers to do something about all of the above and the old boys networks that can't see past the end of their collective noses.
It doesn't matter what club/organisation/body of any hobby/sport/community organisation etc you belong to, it is ALWAYS the same few people that do all work while the rest sit back and watch and twiddle their thumbs while moaning about how much better things could be if only.......
As for getting new entrants into amateur radio, there are (to my mind) only two areas where a foothold could be established.
Firstly and most importantly is the younger generation - those still at school.
There are "some" clubs that do very well in this area in terms of "taking it to the kids". But more need to get out there and do this sort of promotion.
Despite the perceived image of modern kids, there are still many that like the "nerdy" stuff, you just need to spark the interest of a few and it will have a snowball affect (I met a young lad of 11/12 the other day that got his Foundation license 12 months ago and his younger brother is now showing an interest).
Second group are those about to be or are newly retired. A lot of people in this group have been too busy during their working lives to take up a hobby and are now looking for something to fill their time.
I don't see any point in making a major point of targeting those in between these two groups, in this modern world, they don't have the time nor the money to pursue a long term hobby.
Unfortunately, we now have the situation that will more than likely kill any meaningful increase in the amateur population, the absurdly expensive cost of getting a license and a ridiculously convoluted system of getting one for those that persevere.
Flameproof suit? Nah, can't be bothered.
Not only to get material in the first place but also trying to get it to conform to a style appropriate to the magazine format.
The two things going against paper magazines these days are timeliness of the information (it is usually way out of date by the time it is published) and trying to have the right mix of content to give every reader something of interest, particularly now (as mentioned above) with the almost instant availability of this information on the internet.
Both AR magazine and the ARRL's magazine QST, to me, have the same shortcomings, not a lot of anything that I would call "interesting".
Society news (ie the WIA's news) is usually just a repeat in many cases of what has been posted on the WIA website.
Club news is an area that falls well short. Out of the many clubs Australia wide, very very few submit anything for publication - what, nothing interesting happening in your club?
And don't get me started on club websites, a flame proof suit wouldn't provide any where near enough protection.
Overseas news, well, there hardly is any most times (yes, some may have no interest in what is going on in overseas societies and the hobby in general, but amateur radio is a global hobby, not something restricted to ones own backyard).
Technical information/articles, or lack of, an easily fixed situation where articles from overseas journals could be reprinted (long standing agreements make this a relatively simple and easy task).
Contests, although not one of my interests, seems to be the one area that is more than adequately covered, maybe even to the point of detracting from other content.
Of course comes the biggest problems of all, the lack of volunteers to do something about all of the above and the old boys networks that can't see past the end of their collective noses.
It doesn't matter what club/organisation/body of any hobby/sport/community organisation etc you belong to, it is ALWAYS the same few people that do all work while the rest sit back and watch and twiddle their thumbs while moaning about how much better things could be if only.......
As for getting new entrants into amateur radio, there are (to my mind) only two areas where a foothold could be established.
Firstly and most importantly is the younger generation - those still at school.
There are "some" clubs that do very well in this area in terms of "taking it to the kids". But more need to get out there and do this sort of promotion.
Despite the perceived image of modern kids, there are still many that like the "nerdy" stuff, you just need to spark the interest of a few and it will have a snowball affect (I met a young lad of 11/12 the other day that got his Foundation license 12 months ago and his younger brother is now showing an interest).
Second group are those about to be or are newly retired. A lot of people in this group have been too busy during their working lives to take up a hobby and are now looking for something to fill their time.
I don't see any point in making a major point of targeting those in between these two groups, in this modern world, they don't have the time nor the money to pursue a long term hobby.
Unfortunately, we now have the situation that will more than likely kill any meaningful increase in the amateur population, the absurdly expensive cost of getting a license and a ridiculously convoluted system of getting one for those that persevere.
Flameproof suit? Nah, can't be bothered.