More on PBO and Magazine Mayhem

[Guest]

I thought I'd post some more thoughts regarding points I've made elswhere to try to bring them together and see what response they elicit. They are:

1. Magazines are becoming literally indistinguishable runnig similar or the same articles in the same month.
2. The over emphasize and dramatise - to the point of frightening rather then enlightening.

In PBO this month, Sarah Norbury, (whom I have praised elswhere - note) devotes no less than 3 columns to this matter. "We get the occasional comment that our experience stories are all doom and gloom and frighten people away from boating...if we wanted safe and warm..we'd spend winter week-ends in the potting shed...test our skill and courage...my most vivid memories (are) when we are knocked down...spinnaker pinning us down..great breaking waves coming over us etc etc"

By "occasional comment", could she mean me? I have written to her (and Paul Gelder) on this subject with the suggestions for an article but got short (albeit very courteous in the case of PG) shrift. Also it should be noted that both PBO and YM have asked for these type of articles. But, if they do get in there they certainly don't get the same emphasis or prominence.

Judging from the reponse to my posts there is some level of agreement with me. One poster actually mentioned frightening his Wife - my own experience.

Judging from the comments Sarah makes about her own experience - whilst she does get scared, she clearly enjoys it. BUT it does seem that this has engendered a very blinkered view. Pictures like that in "Learning from experience and the highlighted text "In one heart-stopping moment, Prime Time took off from the crest of a wave at electrifying speed before dropping several feet" just scare the crap out of a lot of people.

Why is it that Sarah and her colleagues refuse to see this angle. Some of us actually don't like being scared - surprise surpise. This attitude could be losing them a lot of readers, advertising and money?

Sorry for the lengthy nature but wanted to make the point.

Geoff

 

[tcm]

I haven't seen the actual pics to which you refer.

But i can see that an editor would be very resistant which stoppedhim/her using the most exciting pics available. The limits of concern would be drawn before pic of impaled humans. But as far as I'm concerned, almost any pic of huge waves with/with a boat on it in any stage of sinking, is ok. Beeb1 shows same on film. My ten yearold saw titantic loads of times. Might also encourage more care about saftey? Boating is a bit dangerous, sometimes very, and anyone who is too-frightened aboutthe mag pics should be at sea? You could change the postal address so they send the mag to work, so scared missus doesn't freak out?

 

[rhinorhino]

I have commented in another thread about sameness and made the odd suggestion for improvements.
As to "scare stories" IMHO many of these show poor seamanship as normal, they not only scare but they are a very bad example. Many concern poorly prepared boats, errors of judgement and over-ambious passages which should be critisised not written up as if this was normal. By all means write these up but put it in the correct context.

 

[Guest]

You mis-understand

Or I've not made myself clear (more likely). Yes, we need articles which deal with the difficulties - no question. The sea can be dangerous and we need to be cogniscant of the fact.

It's their portrayal I have a problem with.

SWMBO is definitely up for anything (as am I) but the "spin" causes un-necessary consternation.

I just want some balance by having specific articles that promote the fun, beauty, relaxation etc with eye catching pictures/illustrations.

Geoff

 

[Guest]

Yes Yes Yes

It's a question of emphasis and understanding on the part of the editors.

Geoff

 

[Peppermint]

Could it be

that these mags are no longer aimed at experience yotties?

 

[Guest]

If they aren\'t

Then they've got it even more wronger than what I thought.

I think it's like everything else these days - hence the soap opera analogy - everything becomes the same in an attempt to make sure that everyone captures 100% of the same market - instead of ploughing their own furrow.

Geoff

 

[kgi]

I sometimes get the impression that they have forgotten what the PRACTICAL in pbo stands for, most of us go out and just potter on the sea, our boats are maintained on a shoestring budget, we don't have a crew of 4-6-8 persons onboard, and how many actually fly a spinnaker,? the idea is not to scare the pants off anyone, its about enjoying your boat, if you want to live fast then buy yachts&yachting and get a skiff......i have to say i now only buy PBO once a year, as one of the mails on the other thread said, for the advertisersand the classifieds, they (pbo) mags have become stuck in a rut IMHO, if you buy a years worth then all the "guts " of the magazine will be the same the following year, with very little of interest to the regular subscriber..........i could go on but i won't......just my own thoughts and views on the subject.........keith

 

[bedouin]

Re: Could it be

I think you're right there.

But of course if they were aimed at experienced yotties they would be described as "elitist" - and it would be difficult to attract new readers.

 

[Guest]

Hope you read that Sarah

Thanks Keith

 

[Twister_Ken]

\'old \'ard, matey

Current PBO has a very 'worthwhile' article on making your own sprayhood. Now that should appeal to at least half-a-dozen readers.

 

[Peppermint]

I think that..

..the finest yachting mag of recent times was "The Boatman". It had good production values, in depth articles and superb photo's. It went the way of these things, I think its part of Classic Boat now, maybe there's no demand.

 

[Seal_surfer]

Re: \'old \'ard, matey

'old fust thar,
Wern't that in "Sailing Today"? Oi'm sure oi saw dis wun oi wus sneaking a luke ov nuseasients shulves lust weakend.

Sea, dem mags ahr ool aloike now.

Seal surfer

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Hi all before i loged on tonight I read the latest PBo and said to the wife, that I would not buy another copy . It is just as bad as sailing today imho
cheers bob t

Bob T

 

[jonjo]

Re: There are two variables

It is just as likely you have out grown the magazines.

It is a common thread with all special interest magazines, when you start a new hobby their printed words are treated as gospel truth but 10 / 20 years later you have been there and done that.

 

[Peppermint]

True

I guess you don't need to change as often as a mag publisher, trying to keep current, does.

Sailing has changed with the increase in disposable income. Instead of being the province of the nobs with their paid crews and the self taught, do it yourselfer, up gasworks creek. It's become a lifestyle option fot everyman. I sail with charterers who may only sail once a year, on the same basis they go skiing for example.

As a reflection of this change yachting journalism and indeed journalists have changed. Hayman, Beavis & JDS suited the times they prospered in, they were sailors first but they could write. Modern yottie journalists are writers who can sail and who understand the economics of publishing and who, broadly speaking, are industry commentators.

 

[Guest]

The Big Issue

In my view both mags have gone way up market and need to come down to earth again.

As a forgotten fifty something in Blaire's Britain I would be willing to sell them at marina barriers with my mongrel on a string.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: The Big Issue

Changes on way. Jake spoke at our club AGM yesterday. He's moving from editing MBM to PBO in days.

 

[nicho]

Re: The Big Issue

But surely, Sarah Norbury has only just gone to PBO, or am I getting confused?

 

[BrendanS]

Re: The Big Issue

Well, only repeating what he said. Maybe he's not going to be editing it, just moving to it /forums/images/icons/smile.gif He gave a talk on what is required to edit a boaty magazine, and did mention that there were quite a lot of vacancies at the moment if anyone fancied a career change.

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it, but he gave the information quite freely and didn't ask us to refrain from repeating it