 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Presidential Comments Morris Tobias president@melbpc.org.au |
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PC Update has this newsletter format because the new producer Australian Provincial Newspapers (APN) will not be able to effect the changeover until the November issue and our production contract with Peter Smith's company ended with the August issue. As a result, these two issues will have this Spartan appearance and only essential, Group-related material will be presented. Features and Reviews will return in November.
As there are a few unfounded rumours abroad, I can assure the following:
- The main change to PC Update will be a new, single production company instead of two as before.
- PC Update will contain material supplied by our members. If we do not supply enough material, APN will supply fillers to maintain the 64-page count.
- PC Update will be supplied to you 12 times a year, not 11 as before.
- APN will provide a Managing Editor who will manage the collection and production of the material. Melb PC will provide a volunteer Editor (Ash Nallawalla) to represent our members' interests.
- APN will cover all costs generated by the production of PC Update.
- Support staff will be the same publishing experts that work on PC Magazine Australia and PC Week Australia.
- They will provide an art director to redesign covers and editorial pages.
- They will sell advertising and provide a sales contact for vendors interested in advertising.
- They will print the publication, liaise with the printer and manage the entire process.
- They will mail the publication to all members
- A free copy of PC Magazine Australia will be sent to every member with PC Update, either bundled or bound with PCM. We asked for the latter option.
- We will get free space at the Comdex Show to be held in Sydney in November (value $4000)
- They will provide online links from ZDNet Australia to our Web site (and we can use ZDNet to assist in any online promotions)
- They will offer free rental of ZD APN mailing lists (up to four times a year). Our membership data will be used entirely as before: only those members who ticked the "junk mail"option on their application form will receive such mail.
The above will cost the group less than it did under the previous arrangement. Incidentally, the "Ziff Davis" brand was bought by the Japan-based Softbank company, which, in turn, licenses it to various companies around the world.
Finally, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the contribution made by Carol Daniels. Carol has been editor of the magazine for the last 3 years, and I'm sure no one would disagree that she has made a startling difference to PC Update. On behalf of all members (including those of us who have been known to treat deadlines with a little scepticism), thank you for a job well done!
Reprinted from the September 1999 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
