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CQ to Add Digital Editions to All Publications
29 September 2011 | by This is something pretty cool. CQ Communications, the publisher of CQ Amateur Radio (CQ magazine), CQ VHF, Popular Communications and WorldRadio Online will begin publishing electornic versions of their magazine starting this coming October.
Richard Ross, K2MGA, made the announcement a couple days ago and Editorial Director Rich Moseson, W2VU, explained how the digital editions would be supplimental and not replace the print versions. He said they would also have added features to the digital versions as well.
“Versions will be available for a variety of online and mobile platforms and will be hosted by Zinio, one of the top names in the e-magazine hosting business. This will assure that our magazines will always be able to take advantage of new technology when it becomes available.”
Cover of CQ Communication's World Radio Magazine
Some of the added features will be links to websites, as well as audio and photo albums as well as video and software. He also added that with the continuation of the print magazines, readers will still have the tactile experience we are all familiar with.
This is a good thing in my opinion. It’s melding the two worlds and laying the ground work for the next generation to discover this magazine. In 20 years, I predict that most publications will be digital, while print slowly fades from the foreground. I’m sure they will still make printed versions, but not as much. It’s also better for the environment.
According to the article over at Southgate’s website, “The digital launch will begin in late October with the November issue of an enhanced, multi-platform, version of WorldRadio Online, which will again become a paid-subscription publication; followed by November CQ, which, appropriately, is the magazine’s first annual Technology Special. The fall issue of CQ VHF and the December issue of Popular Communications will round out the introductions. Digital editions will be available by single copy and by subscription.”
No word though on pricing for digital versions though. I would suspect, it’ll be much cheaper compared with the print version.
73.
Rich also writes a Tech blog and posts stories every Tuesday and Thursday on Q103, Albany’s #1 Rock Station website, as well as Amateur Radio stories every Monday thru Friday on AmiZed Studios and hosts a podcast called The Kim & Rich Show with his fiance’ Kim Dunne.
2 Responses to “CQ to Add Digital Editions to All Publications”
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I’m not sure, Rich. Is the trend out there to make the subscription cheaper when the publication goes digital? Isn’t the digital version supposed to be an improvement — therefore, same price for digital and paper versions?
With the digital version, you’re taking a bite out of production costs. Don’t have to buy paper or ink, and the extras are a good way to get more people to come in, with a minimal amount of investment of adding those extras.
Those subscribers to the print version get the digital already, and the extra content. The digital only subscribers can get all the same great content and extras with out the company having to print more, and the subscriber getting it on their iPad the same day it’s released. Quick and convenient. Plus, no having to recycle the magazine or if you want to keep the issue for whatever reason, you’re not taking any physical space. I know my YL would love that last part. 🙂
What you save in production you can pass along to your readers while still making a decent profit to cover the overhead. The Daily, which is the great experiment for a digital only paper that you can subscribe to will be the model that gets this kind of ball rolling. It’s a whole new digital frontier.