Esses Magazine Moving to Digital Only ;-/

[NorthernThrux]

I subscribe to 000 precisely because it is a high quality paper magazine. And it is pricey. If people don't think an ESR membership is worth the money, they certainly are not going to be spending their bitcoin to buy 000.

I would prefer a high quality paper magazine for ESSES, but would still subscribe and read it on my iPad. It's not a newsletter to hit delete on and in that sense it's different than a lot of the digital clutter I get in my inbox. It's still a magazine. Although not one I can store in my basement library.

I am a paying member here, and have been for the decade or more that I have been here learning. But it seems that many are not. People want everything for free. And they want it yesterday. That's why journalism and traditional newsprint is decaying away.

I'll subscribe no matter print or digital, because I find value in the community and the publication. I have a preference for print, but as the Stones sang, "You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometime you'll find, You get what you need"

Ravi

[haul]

being very close to daily journalism I do support the paywall and still have my daily printed local newspaper in my box.
journalism is not for free, writers work is not for free and prompting search machines all chat robots are learning by “stolen literature” neglecting and ignoring international copyright. this has to be urgently regulated.

As all the fellows already mentioned it:
print is not for free and as long we can afford, print should be there.
I would offer a two step possibility:
1 - only digital 50usd
2 - print analog 100 usd

Please do have a re calculation of these possibilities and please report about the break even -> how many full payable members are needed for the printed version to be realized.

[Gumby]

Will the cost saving be passed on to membership ?

[lbpa18]

Well explained Chuck. I suspect many of us understand completely. I support the paid members only access here. That would help I think. Have you dont the math, how much extra would it cost to produce a printed version for the membership size of today?
Lew

[frederik]

Since joining the ESR I've always been delighted that the magazine is so good so this is very sad news. Chuck, you mention that it has been hard to get articles for ESSES. Why would that become any better now? I've so far written one article and contributed to another and was very happy to get a few paper copies documenting this and my cars. Contributing to a digital magazine feels far less substantial for me and perhaps others so it might not be worth the time and effort.

Maybe it would be worthwhile to look into why the 356 Registry is getting more members? I can think of a few possible reasons but this thread is maybe not the place. Hoping this decision can be reverted.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Since joining the ESR I've always been delighted that the magazine is so good so this is very sad news. Chuck, you mention that it has been hard to get articles for ESSES. Why would that become any better now? I've so far written one article and contributed to another and was very happy to get a few paper copies documenting this and my cars. Contributing to a digital magazine feels far less substantial for me and perhaps others so it might not be worth the time and effort.

Maybe it would be worthwhile to look into why the 356 Registry is getting more members? I can think of a few possible reasons but this thread is maybe not the place. Hoping this decision can be reverted.

The 356 Registry has more members but is not gaining more members, they are shedding members at a high rate too. Literally dying off. It's a shame ESSES will no longer be a publication in the traditional sense. There are some profound difference between the two clubs that might explain the size differences. One, the 356 Registry has been around for 50 years, that's a lot of loyalty from people. Second, the 356 Registry has always made it a cornerstone to organize holidays and get togethers to build the club internally, I don't think S Registry does this. Third, the 356 Registry has an elected board which means a rotating governance that is tied to the members, meaning you can meet or already know the club officers. I'm sure there are a number of other differences but these are the most striking ones.
I think what ESSES stands to lose is legitimacy in the publishing world. I've had my 356 Registry articles quoted in books, the magazine is seen as a legitimate publication worthy of historical significance. I've never seen a book quote from an online publication or a website.

---Adam

[Simonjjb]

One question I wonder if others have an answer to - What is the click into and read rate for a digital magazine vs a hardcopy? I bet it's less than 1/2 of those that read a hard copy. I know that I rarely read the various digital magazines that I get. This leads to a question of is it at all worthwhile to publish a digital edition going forward?

[Simonjjb]

The 356 Registry has more members but is not gaining more members, they are shedding members at a high rate too. Literally dying off. It's a shame ESSES will no longer be a publication in the traditional sense. There are some profound difference between the two clubs that might explain the size differences. One, the 356 Registry has been around for 50 years, that's a lot of loyalty from people. Second, the 356 Registry has always made it a cornerstone to organize holidays and get togethers to build the club internally, I don't think S Registry does this. Third, the 356 Registry has an elected board which means a rotating governance that is tied to the members, meaning you can meet or already know the club officers. I'm sure there are a number of other differences but these are the most striking ones.
I think what ESSES stands to lose is legitimacy in the publishing world. I've had my 356 Registry articles quoted in books, the magazine is seen as a legitimate publication worthy of historical significance. I've never seen a book quote from an online publication or a website.

---Adam

Thats interesting Adam. Having belonged to various Clubs with similar attributes, I can see why the 356 club has greater size and engagement. As some of us recall from a debate a few years ago, the Early911s registry is not a club in any true sense. Size indeed matters when looking at the cost of a physical vs digital magazine.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Thats interesting Adam. Having belonged to various Clubs with similar attributes, I can see why the 356 club has greater size and engagement. As some of us recall from a debate a few years ago, the Early911s registry is not a club in any true sense. Size indeed matters when looking at the cost of a physical vs digital magazine.

I think the S Registry made a decision to keep control of the club private, which is their right. But what we're seeing now is the cost of that. More participation from the members would probably have grown the club much larger.

---Adam

[StephenAcworth]

I didn’t receive an email … yet I am a paid up Member …