A request for those who run the MA magazine
01-29-2011, 11:28 AM
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A request for those who run the MA magazine
Having read the Model Aircraft magazine for about 4 years now, I have a request. I would really like it if someone at the AMA actually would manage the content contained in the magazine. At least twice per issue, I read a column only to find that 25-50% of the column's space is dedicated to something completely unrelated to the topic of the column. For example, in the latest issue the "Radio Control Giants" column spends half its space on the construction of two .40 size trainers. While it was good thing that the contributors did to help the CAP boys, that story does no good for those interested in giant scale planes. How many stories actually related to the topic at hand were cut in order to make space for this personal anecdote? This is but one of many examples I could cite where the authors have a topic to cover and instead waste their space on a tangent (don't even get me started about the regional columns). I finished a master's degree a few years ago, during which I produced a couple thousand pages of academic writing. If I had used half of my space on an off topic ramble, I would have failed on any of those papers. If I, as student, was able to cover my topic, then why can't professional writers do it while producing columns for a nationally distributed magazine? It would be really great if someone would actually run the magazine so that the information contained within would be organized and logical.
01-29-2011, 01:08 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
well, if we are listing suggestions for MA content-
While we all enjoy a good ARF ad or anecdote,
for the infrequent issues that contain AMA position Candidate Statements
could we maybe sacrifice an arf ad or two to grant upto 8 pages for each candidate?
It just irks me to hear candidates say how they have limited space in ourad catalog mandatory member publication. If MA should do anything to serve the members, it should grant a whole lotta space to our elections / informing the voters
While we all enjoy a good ARF ad or anecdote,
for the infrequent issues that contain AMA position Candidate Statements
could we maybe sacrifice an arf ad or two to grant upto 8 pages for each candidate?
It just irks me to hear candidates say how they have limited space in our
01-29-2011, 01:20 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Limited space and/or time is a old time political ploy to keep from having to say anything, give out any information, or get ask something that you might have to answer honestly.
01-29-2011, 03:30 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
I am speaking of the candidates that use that excuse for not putting more about themselves in the mag. AMA and Govt.
01-29-2011, 03:56 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
ORIGINAL: vicman
Oh, I get it...everyone has thier own agenda.
Oh, I get it...everyone has thier own agenda.
What in Gods name are you talking about to me? I was directing my answer to KE's post above, about the candidates. Why are you telling me to write an article an then talking about everybodys agenda?
01-29-2011, 07:09 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
ORIGINAL: jester_s1
Having read the Model Aircraft magazine for about 4 years now, I have a request. I would really like it if someone at the AMA actually would manage the content contained in the magazine. At least twice per issue, I read a column only to find that 25-50% of the column's space is dedicated to something completely unrelated to the topic of the column. For example, in the latest issue the ''Radio Control Giants'' column spends half its space on the construction of two .40 size trainers. While it was good thing that the contributors did to help the CAP boys, that story does no good for those interested in giant scale planes. How many stories actually related to the topic at hand were cut in order to make space for this personal anecdote? This is but one of many examples I could cite where the authors have a topic to cover and instead waste their space on a tangent (don't even get me started about the regional columns). I finished a master's degree a few years ago, during which I produced a couple thousand pages of academic writing. If I had used half of my space on an off topic ramble, I would have failed on any of those papers. If I, as student, was able to cover my topic, then why can't professional writers do it while producing columns for a nationally distributed magazine? It would be really great if someone would actually run the magazine so that the information contained within would be organized and logical.
Having read the Model Aircraft magazine for about 4 years now, I have a request. I would really like it if someone at the AMA actually would manage the content contained in the magazine. At least twice per issue, I read a column only to find that 25-50% of the column's space is dedicated to something completely unrelated to the topic of the column. For example, in the latest issue the ''Radio Control Giants'' column spends half its space on the construction of two .40 size trainers. While it was good thing that the contributors did to help the CAP boys, that story does no good for those interested in giant scale planes. How many stories actually related to the topic at hand were cut in order to make space for this personal anecdote? This is but one of many examples I could cite where the authors have a topic to cover and instead waste their space on a tangent (don't even get me started about the regional columns). I finished a master's degree a few years ago, during which I produced a couple thousand pages of academic writing. If I had used half of my space on an off topic ramble, I would have failed on any of those papers. If I, as student, was able to cover my topic, then why can't professional writers do it while producing columns for a nationally distributed magazine? It would be really great if someone would actually run the magazine so that the information contained within would be organized and logical.
I too wrote my obligatory thousands of pages in support of my masters. Though it was in engineering, the humanities side did get through enough to have me approach most things with an open mind.
01-29-2011, 08:38 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Actually, my preference is for a more relaxed magazine rather than a rigidly controlled magazine. Spending a few column inches on a modeler human interest story that is a little outside of the column's normal subject does not bother me a bit.
I do not view the columns as mere funnels of tightly focused technical information and single model genre related topics. The folks writing the colmns are human and not robots. A little humanity in the writing is more than welcome.
I do not view the columns as mere funnels of tightly focused technical information and single model genre related topics. The folks writing the colmns are human and not robots. A little humanity in the writing is more than welcome.
01-29-2011, 10:49 PM
#12
RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
ORIGINAL: The Toolman
I am speaking of the candidates that use that excuse for not putting more about themselves in the mag. AMA and Govt.
I am speaking of the candidates that use that excuse for not putting more about themselves in the mag. AMA and Govt.
The District Vice Presidents only get about half as much as a national officer. That is definitely not enough to adequately inform the membership why/how one would be a good choice for an AMA officer.
Of course with the results of that election, I wonder if anyone reads any of it. Will this year be any different?
01-30-2011, 07:01 AM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Hoss, I guess you can see where I have been burnt by politicians, so that carries over. If what you say is right, then that all goes back to what I said earlier.
There are things they don't want people to know up there.
All big orgs eventually end up the same way. I believe the united way was one of'em that got caught. Not to forget Acorn also
There are things they don't want people to know up there.
All big orgs eventually end up the same way. I believe the united way was one of'em that got caught. Not to forget Acorn also
01-30-2011, 07:57 AM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
As far as I'm concerned, the magazine issue that contains the candidates write-ups should devote as much space to the candidates as necessary for them to declare what they intend to do or not do. To limit someone to 3800 characters is simply asinine! But, if you limit what someone can state, then it's very easy to obfuscate facts that the "unwashed masses" don't need to know about.
01-30-2011, 03:27 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
I do understand that the columnists have other jobs that pay the bills beyond writing for MA. But they are getting paid, so I still don't think it's too much to ask for some professionalism. Besides, the editor does work for the magazine professionally. Where is he when a column blows half of its space on an off-topic ramble?
For what it's worth, I don't mind a little personality either but when content is sacrificed because a writer wants to go on about himself, it's unacceptable. When a column only runs 6 times a year and is as broad as helicopters or scale modeling, there is no way any author involved in those activities can't fill the space with something on topic. Even moreso for the DVP's, who have huge areas with events to cover and use their space to talk about a model they lost once or a wedding they attended.
For what it's worth, I don't mind a little personality either but when content is sacrificed because a writer wants to go on about himself, it's unacceptable. When a column only runs 6 times a year and is as broad as helicopters or scale modeling, there is no way any author involved in those activities can't fill the space with something on topic. Even moreso for the DVP's, who have huge areas with events to cover and use their space to talk about a model they lost once or a wedding they attended.
01-30-2011, 03:53 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
ORIGINAL: jester_s1
I do understand that the columnists have other jobs that pay the bills beyond writing for MA. But they are getting paid, so I still don't think it's too much to ask for some professionalism. Besides, the editor does work for the magazine professionally. Where is he when a column blows half of its space on an off-topic ramble?
For what it's worth, I don't mind a little personality either but when content is sacrificed because a writer wants to go on about himself, it's unacceptable. When a column only runs 6 times a year and is as broad as helicopters or scale modeling, there is no way any author involved in those activities can't fill the space with something on topic. Even moreso for the DVP's, who have huge areas with events to cover and use their space to talk about a model they lost once or a wedding they attended.
I do understand that the columnists have other jobs that pay the bills beyond writing for MA. But they are getting paid, so I still don't think it's too much to ask for some professionalism. Besides, the editor does work for the magazine professionally. Where is he when a column blows half of its space on an off-topic ramble?
For what it's worth, I don't mind a little personality either but when content is sacrificed because a writer wants to go on about himself, it's unacceptable. When a column only runs 6 times a year and is as broad as helicopters or scale modeling, there is no way any author involved in those activities can't fill the space with something on topic. Even moreso for the DVP's, who have huge areas with events to cover and use their space to talk about a model they lost once or a wedding they attended.
Along with power comes greatness (sp?) of one's self and usually a bunch of self centered bs.
edit-I forgot, they hafta devote a lot of space to us bottom feeders also....hehe
01-30-2011, 08:52 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Bottom feeders? I don't get the reference.
Don't get me wrong guys. I don't mean to bash the whole magazine. I actually look forward to every issue and read all of it. It just needs a little tweak of organization to be a professional publication. Two hours of editing from the guy who's getting paid to edit every issue would do a world of good, as would clearly defining the limits of each column and making the authors stick with it. And if they can't, there are plenty of knowledgeable writers who can.
Don't get me wrong guys. I don't mean to bash the whole magazine. I actually look forward to every issue and read all of it. It just needs a little tweak of organization to be a professional publication. Two hours of editing from the guy who's getting paid to edit every issue would do a world of good, as would clearly defining the limits of each column and making the authors stick with it. And if they can't, there are plenty of knowledgeable writers who can.
01-30-2011, 09:40 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Bottom feeders? I don't get the reference.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_72...tm.htm#7294912
the discussion of AMA staff stooping to name calling in our magazine
Two hours of editing from the guy who's getting paid to edit every issue
and count how many of them work in Publications and the magazine
01-31-2011, 06:44 AM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
There are quite a few. Five different people who have the title of "editor." And none of them can read through the magazine before it goes to print and make sure the writers are on topic? They must worry a lot about their feelings, what with the well known writer's fragile ego.
01-31-2011, 09:23 AM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
ORIGINAL: KidEpoxy
take a look at the AMA employee index on the AMAs website,
and count how many of them work in Publications and the magazine
take a look at the AMA employee index on the AMAs website,
and count how many of them work in Publications and the magazine
01-31-2011, 10:48 AM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Here's the names of everyone who works in the publication department at Muncie - more employees than ANY other department in AMA.
Rob Kurek-Director of Publications
Liz Helms-Editorial staff
Frank Granelli-Editor
Bob Hunt-Editor Emeritus
Sarah Shaw-Graphic Designer
Carla Kunz-Director of Design/Production
Chad Budreau-Multimedia
Mark Lanterman-Advertising Representative
Jennifer Orebaugh-Production Associate
Michael Ramsey-Editor
Jay Smith- Editor
Ashley Rauen-Communication Specialist
Shelia Ames Webb-Managing Editor
Your dues are paying the wages of these people. Since they are, in effect, working for us, I'd say we ought to have a very large voice in what goes into said magazine, or if we even WANT a magazine as part of our membership.
Rob Kurek-Director of Publications
Liz Helms-Editorial staff
Frank Granelli-Editor
Bob Hunt-Editor Emeritus
Sarah Shaw-Graphic Designer
Carla Kunz-Director of Design/Production
Chad Budreau-Multimedia
Mark Lanterman-Advertising Representative
Jennifer Orebaugh-Production Associate
Michael Ramsey-Editor
Jay Smith- Editor
Ashley Rauen-Communication Specialist
Shelia Ames Webb-Managing Editor
Your dues are paying the wages of these people. Since they are, in effect, working for us, I'd say we ought to have a very large voice in what goes into said magazine, or if we even WANT a magazine as part of our membership.
01-31-2011, 02:26 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Well, I just took several bag fulls of Model Aviation to the recycle bin. I carefully sorted out my Flying Models magazines which were in the pile, and will file them in my library out in the shop. I am not into RC and have no interest in ARF's, so I find Flying Models to suit me much better, even though it has good coverage of RC and ARF's as well. Flying Models is a for profit private operation. The last two editors of MA have come over from Flying Models and not done as good a job, in my estimation, as they did at Flying Models. There is a job open at Flying Models, by the way.
01-31-2011, 05:13 PM
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RE: A request for those who run the MA magazine
Ashley Rauen-Communication Specialist
I also seem to recall when Mark smith was running for EVP
he told us AMA hired a person to be the PPM editor