Editor Tom Isitt to leave Motor Boat & Yachting

[DepSol]

By IBI Magazine

Editor Tom Isitt will be leaving Motor Boat & Yachting magazine in the UK to pursue freelance opportunities. The forthcoming May issue will be the last under Tom's editorship.

Tom has been editor of Motor Boat & Yachting for a little over two years, taking the title through some exciting times. Not every editor gets to be at the helm when a magazine celebrates its centenary. In 2004 Tom helped to ensure that MBY did exactly this and in some style.

More recently, Tom oversaw the introduction of significant changes in design and content, resulting in the new-look February issue.

Tom comments: "I've had a fantastic time at Motor Boat & Yachting, and I'll be sad to leave. But there's a whole world of readers out there who I haven't yet offended, so I'll be doing that from the safety of my Freelance Bunker."

Publishing director Paul Cheal adds: "We'd like to thank Tom for helping us to develop MBY and we wish him every luck in his freelance career."

(7 March 2005)

 

[DepSol]

Re: Editor Tom Isitt to leave Motor Boat & Yachting

Good Luck Tom lets hope we still see your Mug around from time to time.

Whos replacing you?

Dom

 

[tcm]

ooh heck. I hope this wasn't "by mutual agreement" which is always a dead giveaway that there's been a massive row

 

[longjohnsilver]

I heard it was more to do with the jobbing columnists he recruited.......................................whetever happened to Mr Matthews, did he also leave by mutual agreement?

 

[Planty]

I've had issues with Tom's stance on the Red Diesel debate before now but have to admit being suprisingly satisfied with this months issue, just arrived. There was at least 3 articles that were of great interest and a lot more of some interest. Shame if he leaves and the mag goes backwards. Wish Tom well in all he does in the future.

 

[EME]

A great shame . Unlike many who have whinged here about Tom's changes/input into MBY, I think it has developed ignificantly as a magazine in the last 2 years under Ton's tutillage. You only have to read some of the nonsense on here to appreciate the varied expectations of the magazine. They are impossible to fill.

Love that quote from the Publishing Director... .. 'blah, blah. we would like to thank blah, blah for HELPING us' what a plonker, Rodney. Precisely what creative genius is brought to the table from the 30th floor of IPC towers? Wonder if the guy ever read the mag?

From me, Many Thanks to Tom and Good Luck. I think he created a great magazine with a strong satirical, lifestyle -ish content ( whatever that is). Writing really was on the wall though after he let that turkey-fella Matthews go. Where else can you you get good instructions for assembling office chairs? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[mjf]

Re: Editor Tom Isitt to leave Motor Boat & Yachting

I agree, good job at the helm.

Shame to leave now - but prehaps we might enjoy some articles from him in the coming months?

All the best Tom!

 

[MedDreamer]

I agree, the magazine is a good read now. The mix of content seems just right. Enough practical stuff, interesting articles and wowee boats that I'll never afford combined with a healthy degree of cynicism and irreverence. I for one believe that MBY's view on the red diesel debate is more realistic than MBM's campaign, I know Tom's editorial on that issue caused a lot of flak and it would have been easy for him to directly pamper to what he undoubtedly knew the majority of his readers views were, but instead he called it as he saw it. (memo to Gludy - no response required on this point your opinion is well known /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Just renewed my subscription without hesitation, unlike MBM which seems to lack substantial content these days - seem to flick through it in no time where MBY is a prolonged read.

I hope whoever takes over keeps it going.

Thanks Tom and the best of luck. Will your freelancing be boaty based or is the open road calling again?

Martyn

 

[Gludy]

Re: Editor Tom Isitt to leave Motor Boat & Yachting

I actually spoke to Tom at the last LBS and congratulated him on a great issue and I took out a subscription. I agree tha the magazine has improved a lot over the last 4/5 months. So despite my disagreement with him on red deisel I am sorry to see him go simply because the mag has become a much better read of late.

 

[duncan]

Re: Editor Tom Isitt to leave Motor Boat & Yachting

I have to agree ( /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif).

Managed to bring a style to the mag too as Learner higlights - a difficult thing to achieve sucessfully.

Hope things go well Tom.

 

[hobiecat]

Re: Editor Tom Isitt to leave Motor Boat & Yachting

I would like to wish him good luck in the future. Hopefully he will remain part of the marine industry.

 

[TomIsitt]

Re: Cynical Hack Moved By Kind Words

Well, peeps, what can I say? Am touched by your kind words. I've had a lot of fun editing MBY, done some fabulous boating, and met some great people.

Ultimately, though, I'm a journalist not an administrator, and for that reason I want to get back to doing the thing I love...writing. Sitting through meetings where people say things like "blue-sky thinking, turn-key solutions and low-hanging-fruit" is not something I really want to do for the rest of my professional life.

I will still be lurking around the boating industry, but I plan on broadening my horizons and doing some stuff in the two and four-wheeled worlds. But first I'm off to Meribel to write a piece for a French magazine on the joys of off-piste snowboarding and to see if I can kill myself on a Ski-Doo.

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement, constructive criticism, and continued interest. It's been a pleasure. I will now be retiring my username and reverting to the old one (you didn't think I was going to go away, did you?)

Tom

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Cynical Hack Moved By Kind Words

Good luck Tom! Thanks for the work you put into the mag, it certainly looks better now.

 

[milltech]

Re: Cynical Hack Moved By Kind Words

What are "Low hanging fruit"? Easily taken profits and deals I guess.

Good luck Tom, I'll have to send my stuff to someone new now!!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: Cynical Hack Moved By Kind Words

Good luck Tom, will be good to have massachio back!