Start your own car mag....?? Why not....??
Discussion
Having read the following thread the other day:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... - The thrill of money
One quote from j123 really got me thinking. He said:
"And if you say there is nothing else to buy they tell you then start your own. Unfortunately that philosophy doesn't work so well in this economic era/generation."
It's something that has been ticking over in my mind ever since... Why not start your own car mag??
Years ago I used to buy the Used Motorcycle Guide (don't know if anyone remembers it, or even if it's still going?), which was a pocket sized booklet which had short reviews on hundreds of motorcycles which ran down the inside of each page (either side of the spine) and the rest of the pages were filled with anecdotes by the readers on different motorcycles they'd owned and adventures they'd had.
It was rough (black and white pictures and poor quality paper) and the copy was a bit truncated so they could fit everything into what was a really small magazine, but I used to whizz through it from cover to cover, because it was a really enjoyable read - just normal people, writing about their own experiences on (mostly)attainable machinery, with real enthusiasm and knowledge.
And I say, why can't the car world have that...??
The forums are something similar I suppose, but there isn't really the space to convey everything you want too. What if you could put a proper story out there, that can be arranged into an article and produced with pictures, captions, headlines and everything else that goes with it?
I don't expect to make any money out of it, but think it could be really interesting. Would anybody like to get involved with contributing? Or does everybody think it's a s
t idea??
Anybody who wants to give it a go, email me on reallifemotorhacks.editorial@post.com and I can email you some info on how it's going to work... once I've worked it out for myself that is (only got around to registering an email address upto now)!
I dunno, it could work, and if it doesn't then I've not lost anything upto now.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... - The thrill of money
One quote from j123 really got me thinking. He said:
"And if you say there is nothing else to buy they tell you then start your own. Unfortunately that philosophy doesn't work so well in this economic era/generation."
It's something that has been ticking over in my mind ever since... Why not start your own car mag??
Years ago I used to buy the Used Motorcycle Guide (don't know if anyone remembers it, or even if it's still going?), which was a pocket sized booklet which had short reviews on hundreds of motorcycles which ran down the inside of each page (either side of the spine) and the rest of the pages were filled with anecdotes by the readers on different motorcycles they'd owned and adventures they'd had.
It was rough (black and white pictures and poor quality paper) and the copy was a bit truncated so they could fit everything into what was a really small magazine, but I used to whizz through it from cover to cover, because it was a really enjoyable read - just normal people, writing about their own experiences on (mostly)attainable machinery, with real enthusiasm and knowledge.
And I say, why can't the car world have that...??
The forums are something similar I suppose, but there isn't really the space to convey everything you want too. What if you could put a proper story out there, that can be arranged into an article and produced with pictures, captions, headlines and everything else that goes with it?
I don't expect to make any money out of it, but think it could be really interesting. Would anybody like to get involved with contributing? Or does everybody think it's a s
t idea??Anybody who wants to give it a go, email me on reallifemotorhacks.editorial@post.com and I can email you some info on how it's going to work... once I've worked it out for myself that is (only got around to registering an email address upto now)!
I dunno, it could work, and if it doesn't then I've not lost anything upto now.
Bracken said:
Years ago I used to buy the Used Motorcycle Guide (don't know if anyone remembers it, or even if it's still going?), which was a pocket sized booklet which had short reviews on hundreds of motorcycles which ran down the inside of each page (either side of the spine) and the rest of the pages were filled with anecdotes by the readers on different motorcycles they'd owned and adventures they'd had.
Yes. The original UMG was awesome, stories of shed's mostlty and some very useful info on all models in the back. That format in these current times would work very well. I don't think this would work in the Internet age - what you describe is PH in many ways, surely?
ETA op not meaning to get you down I buy probably 10 mags a month, mainly to read on trains, quick pint in the pub etc and I like the "our cars" section.
ETA op not meaning to get you down I buy probably 10 mags a month, mainly to read on trains, quick pint in the pub etc and I like the "our cars" section.
Edited by 0a on Wednesday 28th September 16:57
Yeah, Auto Journals does something similar, and so does PH to an extent, but I'm talking about having something in print.
Call me old fashioned ([chorus]"You're old fashioned"[end/chorus]), but I'don't like taking my mobile phone or laptop in the loo with me. And the original thread was about a paper magazine after all.
Like a lot of people I've got a lot of old magazines from years ago, and keep most of the new magazines that I buy and re-read them quite often.
When somethings on-line, I scan through it and then go onto the next thing. It doesn't last very long at all.
Call me old fashioned ([chorus]"You're old fashioned"[end/chorus]), but I'don't like taking my mobile phone or laptop in the loo with me. And the original thread was about a paper magazine after all.
Like a lot of people I've got a lot of old magazines from years ago, and keep most of the new magazines that I buy and re-read them quite often.
When somethings on-line, I scan through it and then go onto the next thing. It doesn't last very long at all.
Car magazines are shrinking and dying. Redline which did actually turn into a very good and un chav tuning mag at the end closed last week for example.
Printed media is dying all round really....
Lots of reasons... but guess the internet being the main one.
Printed media is dying all round really....
Lots of reasons... but guess the internet being the main one.
Edited by Porkie on Wednesday 28th September 17:20
would it not be the same as a paper merchant starting business.
The market is mature, and sales are falling.
Wouldn't something that encompassed the social generation, An app, widget, emag, that could provide tailored contents, but also offer services that no other magizine offers. Such as you take a photo of a car you are interested in and it gives you the low down, points to be aware and maybe stats?
I used to buy 3-4 car magizine a month regular, now I buy maybe 4 a year.
The market is mature, and sales are falling.
Wouldn't something that encompassed the social generation, An app, widget, emag, that could provide tailored contents, but also offer services that no other magizine offers. Such as you take a photo of a car you are interested in and it gives you the low down, points to be aware and maybe stats?
I used to buy 3-4 car magizine a month regular, now I buy maybe 4 a year.
The Crack Fox said:
Finding contributors will be easy. Finding investors will be impossible. It is hugely expensive producing anything in print and I doubt anyone is making any real money at it.
Good luck
This. Good luck
You'd have to be a nutcase to invest in a startup car magazine. Or not care at all about money. Either way you'll have to publish it yourself.
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