I will keep my print subscription. At 84 years old, technology has passd me by, and I have no intention of trying to catch up. I suspect it’s the younger generation who pushes for “everything Digital” As an example, my Medicare provided mailed me information about a test I need. They said I needed to scan my "smart phone’ over a square with a bunch of lines on it to get what I need. Really? I don’t have a smart phone, I guess my land line is a dumb one, and I’m not going to spend my limited income on a $300 phone and monthly payments. I sent them a letter telling them to “know their customers” and don’t send 80 & 90 year olds info they need to spend money on just to read. Good thing I have a 10 year old great grandson to explain it to me. There! I’v vented. MR & Trains every month until it’s over.
[quote user=“richhotrain”]
AEP528
The new owner has taken a much better approach - he has given video interviews that are posted on YouTube. And posted on accounts that are closely associated with other publications.
Trying to attract new subscribers through written word doesn’t work. Getting their attention through videos does. It took a totally digital publication (MRH) years to come to that realization. And MRH also acknowledges that the active forum posters also represent only a small fraction of their subscribers. That’s why they put best of the forum links in the magazine. They’re trying to drive forum users via the magazine, not magazine subscribers via the forum.
The discussion here is about a letter published by Firecrown in a recent issue of Model Railroader magazine. You don’t need a YouTube video to publish a lettter. And why would you use a video to publish a letter. I would like to read the letter.
Regarding the forum, at least until recently, there were thousands and thousands of views, a heckuva lot more views than posts. That tells me that there are a whole lot of people interested in model railroading who have not read the letter and apparently have no way to read the letter short of going out and buying the magazine.
As for a video, if it wasn’t for the fact that I read on this forum, on this thread, that Firecrown published a letter in MR magazine, how would I know that there would be a video talking about the content of the letter. Given the demographic of model railroaders in general, it is a generational thing. Most of us don’t go surfing the net looking for videos. Firecrown is missing a potential opportunity by not posting the letter on this forum.
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I was taught to read. Funny thing is, I’m younger by decades than most forum users and my reading comprehension (and writing ability) is much better than other users.
Humans are visual learners. You didn’t learn the construction business from books. You learned it by being shown what to do and using written materials when necessary as references.
I’m self taught in a number of subjects as well. Often times written instructions are incomplete, or missing steps, or have errors. And I often get clarifications from . . . videos.
Not all videos are good, but guess what? Not all writing is good either. It’s very, very hard to describe a complex operation in words, and a video will be much clearer.
Let’s see. Firecrown has owned Model Railroader Magazine for how long? Maybe two months?
I am going to give them a few months to figure things out. Personally I think we will see great things.
I do have a marketing suggestion. Once they have the magazine up to their standards, they should send a free copy to all those folks who have stopped subscribing. I’m not sure if that is feasible from a cost perspective, but it might encourage some of them to start subscribing again.
Cheers!!
Dave
Or, perhaps a more economical alternative for Firecrown…
Send out post cards to previous customers with a link to view a complimentary copy of a “new” MR issue online. That might persuade some folks to subscribe again and others to go to their local bookstore to pick up a hard copy.
A lot less expensive than dealing with returned issues because of invalid mailing addresses.
Tom
[quote user=“AEP528”]
richhotrain
AEP528
The new owner has taken a much better approach - he has given video interviews that are posted on YouTube. And posted on accounts that are closely associated with other publications.
Trying to attract new subscribers through written word doesn’t work. Getting their attention through videos does. It took a totally digital publication (MRH) years to come to that realization. And MRH also acknowledges that the active forum posters also represent only a small fraction of their subscribers. That’s why they put best of the forum links in the magazine. They’re trying to drive forum users via the magazine, not magazine subscribers via the forum.
The discussion here is about a letter published by Firecrown in a recent issue of Model Railroader magazine. You don’t need a YouTube video to publish a lettter. And why would you use a video to publish a letter. I would like to read the letter.
Regarding the forum, at least until recently, there were thousands and thousands of views, a heckuva lot more views than posts. That tells me that there are a whole lot of people interested in model railroading who have not read the letter and apparently have no way to read the letter short of going out and buying the magazine.
As for a video, if it wasn’t for the fact that I read on this forum, on this thread, that Firecrown published a letter in MR magazine, how would I know that there would be a video talking about the content of the letter. Given the demographic of model railroaders in general, it is a generational thing. Mo
Seems that the new owner has “published” his comments here:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/firecrown-media-grows-again-with-addition-of-trains-astronomy
I think it just about covers what was in the MR “letter”.
And if you click on the little blue dot below the Astronomy magazine cover, you can hear him speak.
Technical videos are one thing, what I hate is all the “fluff” in most of the crap on youtube.
As someone trained in drafting, electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as architecture, a good set of drawings and/or a few good pictures can bring information alive as well as most any 20 minute video that has 4 minutes of actual information.
Model Railroader was once a publication full of technical information - that’s why I
That was May 1st. The OP started this thread on July 1st when he received the August issue of Model Railroader magazine. I stand by my earlier comment that Firecrown is missing an opportunity by not posting that recent letter here on the forum.
Rich
[quote user=“ATLANTIC CENTRAL”]
AEP528
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Rich, I agree completely.
I can pretty much count on my fingers and toes the useful stuff I have found on youtube, and none of it had to do with model trains.
I find most videos excruciatingly boring…
Maybe because I was taught to read. I am self taught in a number of subjects, books are an amazing tool.
Since I do still get MR, I did read the letter - we will see.
Sheldon
I was taught to read. Funny thing is, I’m younger by decades than most forum users and my reading comprehension (and writing ability) is much better than other users.
Humans are visual learners. You didn’t learn the construction business from books. You learned it by being shown what to do and using written materials when necessary as references.
I’m self taught in a number of subjects as well. Often times written instructions are incomplete, or missing steps, or have errors. And I often get clarifications from . . . videos.
Not all videos are good, but guess what? Not all writing is good either. It’s very, very hard to describe a complex operation in words, and a video will be much clearer.
Technical videos are one thing, what I hate is all the “fluff” in most of the crap on youtube.
As someone trained in drafting, electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as architecture, a good set of dra
Fine. Now it is posted. Can we move on?
It is? Where?
Obviously you didn’t bother reading my post above.
So for the lazy:
I am thrilled that Firecrown is expanding into the railroad and space media sectors by acquiring Kalmbach Media’s Trains and Astronomy media groups. This acquisition opens up exciting new possibilities for our company.
The Kalmbach portfolio is highly synergistic with Firecrown.
Firecrown proudly stands as one of the leading transportation media providers, serving the aviation, boating, and logistics industries with renowned brands such as FLYING, Boating, Yachting, Salt Water Sportsman and FreightWaves.
The acquisition includes Trains, Model Railroader
OK, Dick, now that you have reduced yourself to name calling, a violation of Forum Policy I might add, this so-called lazy person, as you did directly referred to me, did read the link that you posted.
That article was published on May 1st and while I have not read the letter published in the August issue of Model Railroader magazine, I seriously doubt that Craig Fuller simply included the same identical message in the magazine.
I am continually amazed at the inability of some members on this forum to to read someone else’s reply and completely misunderstand it.
Rich
I now get why he did the buyout, it is a scale play and I bet most of his magazine employees will be remote workers with a few people able to do what used to be called paste ups on all the mags and maybe an editor responsable for a bunch of mags each. etc. They will end up owning the space with no one complaining to the feds like happens with big company mergers.
You actually read that he’s retaining legacy employees and opening up a new office in Wisconsin to accommodate them, and then write this?
For the record, I agree that Mr.Fuller (or someone like Renee) should have posted this letter, or something like it, here on the Forums. In written form because traffic on the forums is in writing.
But I see nothing that has changed in a meaningfully negative sense from what was posted on FreightWaves the day and hour the acquisition was announced.
Thanks to the generous efforts of a veteran forum member, I have been able to print below the actual letter from the August, 2024 issue of Model Railroader magazine. Contrary to what some would have you believe, the letter in the magazine is not the same as the May 1st announcement published on freightwaves.com.
Welcome to Firecrown Media
By Craig Fuller
My company, Firecrown Media, has acquired Kalmbach 's esteemed railroad magazines and media properties, including renowned titles such as Model Railroader, Classic Trains, Trains, Garden Railways, and Classic Toy Trains.
As the new custodians of these cherished and respected brands, we are committed to upholding their legacy and nurturing their growth.
Firecrown Media, a rapidly expanding media company, is dedicated to acquiring and stewarding magazine and digital media brands in the transportation sector. Our portfolio includes Flying, Boating, Yachting, and FreightWaves, among 50 other loved brands.
Firecrown Media is young; it has only been around for three years, but it is funded by a billion-dollar family office with a significant focus on media. After acquiring brands, we have invested over $40 million in them.
As Firecrown’s founder, I drive much of the passion and energy behind our media strategy. I started in media in 2017 when I launched FreightWaves, a digital media company often called the “Bloomberg of freight.” In just seven years, it has become the most prominent voice covering the freight industry, with deep news and analysis of the trucking, rail, air, and ocean container markets. FreightWaves is also one of the fastest-growing B2B media companies in the world.
While I am a digital native, I love print magazines. My love for print publications began when I was a boy; Flying was a magazine I grew up reading. So, when I had the oppor
At least three significant additions since May 1st:
-
Commitment to update and upgrade the forums. We had this from Renee and I believed it, but now we have word directly from the top.
-
The coffee-table quality. Frankly if he does this I may well subscribe again. If he can bring back that magic of combined pictures and words that I remember as a kid in the Sixties, I think he’ll get many more ‘equally young’ new readers…
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The contact address. This is a dangerous thing to put on the forums, perhaps as a number of recent posts in this thread may indicate. But it does represent a reasonably direct, positive, and accessible way to make constructive criticism.
BTW it’s really not a “letter”, it’s not like it was mailed to subscribers or something. It’s more like a guest editorial that was published in MR and Trains magazines. As I mentioned before, it’s not a stretch to assume someone using the Model Railroader magazine forums actually reads Model Railroader magazine, so would see it in the magazine. Plus, a lot of stuff that’s published in the magazine doesn’t make it to the forums or the MR website.
I agree that was more like a guest piece, except that the magazine index calls it “A letter from CEO Craig Fuller”, which is probably where the letter business originated.
Thinking about this, I don’t believe that anyone has actually stated why Mr. Fuller is obligated to inform anyone other than subscribers what’s happening.