Re: [Paddlewise] Confessions of a Granola Paddler

Dave,
I find all the paddling magazines, Paddler included, do a good to excellent
job at balancing content with respect to the often multifaceted readerships,
not to mention maintaining a good "noise-to-signal" ratio with advertising
allotment. The magazines that have a more down-home flavour often portray
cheaper production values while conversely, those with strong core
advertisers tend to allow a magazine to go glossier, thicker, and provide
writers with better payola.

I also think that the current range of paddling magazines fulfill their
individual mandates remarkably well, given that some appeal to strictly sea
kayakers, some canoeists, some WW paddlers and touring amongst the mixture,
and others a bit of everything. It certainly is useless to try and compare
each magazine with a particular competitors. They all fill a needed niche
respectively. These magazines, along with available on-line internet 'zines
and club newsletters offer paddlers of every stripe accessibility to
information, what's new, what's safe, and  what's effective -- along with
local or regional information and news of events or heads-up on
environmental concerns.

If I did a lot of WW paddling, I'd be the first one to line up for Paddler
magazine in terms of a subscription. As it stands, I average more than a few
issues every year from them (they often have some very
off-the-beaten-journalist-path offerings that make the issue of special
interest), from the newsstands (I like to support them too). Given the
better deals, a subscription would probably be a better economy for me, as
the per-issue price comes down. I realize magazines are a commercial
interest, and as such, the staff will often be motivated to expand its
readership and perhaps gain a foothold amongst readers - even of a
competitors magazine. At least that's what the game is usually about -- and
it is a game.

Having said that, I do find paddling magazines more altruistic that some of
the other specialist magazines out there: most staff I've come across in the
outdoor paddling genre love the water, love paddling, love the oneness and
conceitedness with nature. I pay very, very close attention to what the
editorial content of the magazines I read. Magazines cost us paddlers money
and time. Money to purchase, and time to invest to read through the pages.
Most of us want something for that output. Most of us who can read between
the lines have a good feeling for what each magazine is all about
(subjective dislikes and likes aside).

I'm not sure what connection you have with Paddler magazine, but they should
be let known that they are doing a great job, in my opinion anyway  - and I
do feel I'm a long time paddler in this region with some objective ability.

BTW, Dave and Dave, I was at a recent grand-scale paddle sale event at a
well know retail outlet with a long history of offering fine gear and
equipment at affordable sale prices a few times a year. I left with my chin
to the floor, downcast: I didn't need anything. Have everything now. Well,
maybe a GPS sometime. I'll have to check out the next Paddler magazine and
see what's new for the techno-weenie! Take care all, and good armchair
reading and even better arm-waving paddling.

Doug Lloyd (who has a great idea for front page art for Paddler magazine: A
sea kayaker rushing over the edge of a waterfall-like abyss, only instead of
a river its a big wide ocean shot, obligatory sunset in the background, with
the caption 'Extreme sea Kayaker').

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"Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said
clearly should not be said at all."
Ludwig Wittgenstein
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Jenkins" <davej_at_acanet.org>
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Confessions of a Granola Paddler


> On Behalf of Paddler Magazine:
>
> I believe Paddler does a great job of balancing content to provide
something
> for all paddlers.  Criticism of the advertising is a bit unfair, since the
> glossy ads are the product of the companies who make our boats,
lifejackets,
> paddles, paddling jackets etc.  I would hope that these companies know how
> to successfully market their products to hardcore paddlers.  Otherwise
they
> probably would not be in business.  It is not reasonable to expect that
> Paddler can dictate ad content (beyond basic safety and decency issues).
>
>snip

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