Aside from being bitterly disappointed at the announcement that Computer Video Editing is to cease publication, I was also somewhat perturbed having literally just sent off my subscription renewal for another year.
Two phone calls to "Melanie" at Highbury's subscription department - 01353 654430 - produced a curious response:
"...the magazine is NOT going out of publication - we are aware of the FALSE message posted on this forum - it apparantly was NOT posted by Bob - we will still be deducting the subscription amount from your credit card as the magazine will still be published..."
Any thoughts, Bob... or anyone...?
???!
Probably a miscommunication, but I'd like to hear someone getting to the bottom of this one...
I have just rung Melanie & she is uanaware of a decision to stop CVE.
She is going to check & ring me back.
I have conveyed to her that CVE is a world class magazine & should be reprieved.
I also said that WHS should get themselves sorted & display & price CVE correctly,
Okay, let me clear this up.
Melanie almost certainly was left out of the loop.
A lot of things have to be thought about when a company shuts a mag down and my assumption (in part because most of our mags don't have a strong subs base) is that this was something that the powers that be didn't get round to communicating.
Also, of course, I was very quick in putting up a posting about my mag's bad news, and - in a company context - this was rather unhelpful, because all the lose ends, such as what happens with subscriptions, hadn't been tied up.
It is the case, of course, that subscribers who want refunds on the balances of their subs are entitled to them.
However, there are plans afoot - about which I don't yet have details (but hopefully will have early next week) - to offer suscribers an alternative (and this offer will go out with Feb subs copies).
In essence, this will be to shift their subscription to Cam User mag, which will have a greatly increased pagination, so as to be able to include much of the stuff that CVE did/does. The name of that mag may also change, but that is as I understand it very much up in the air.
I hope to be able to post here (and in other threads) the exact wording of that subs offer very soon, and also give full details of what the alternative will offer - and there is rather more to what it will be offering than I have said here, I think.
Hope that helps.
Bob C
This sounds very positive Bob. In some ways I preferred Camcorder User magazine in certain areas, integrating parts of CV will make Camcorder User even more appealing, as long as you are firmly on board writing that is.
On the face of it, that sounds like a good idea to me. Integrating the two magazines would be a good combination of shooters and editors, and might help to keep 'both magazines' afloat. I'd be happy to have what's left of my subscription moved over to Camcorder User... might even keep the subscription going! (do you hear that, Highbury?)
Right on Chris, as an independent video producer and filmmaker, I would almost go so far as to say that I would subscribe to Camcorder User if it had a large helping of Computer video thrown in, and generally revamped to have that quality glossy feel that CV had too.
That would make the magazine the best of both worlds wouldn't it, as Chris pointed out, shooters and low budget filmmakers could enjoy the magazine and so could editors and motion graphics guys, what a combo!
How would Bob fit into this though, Camcorder User has an editor already?
Maybe the magazine could be kind of split into two sections within the same mag with two editors taking care of their own specialist subjects, but under the same umbrella?
chanGe the name and call it:
i videography!!
Originally posted by Flashback:
This sounds very positive Bob. In some ways I preferred Camcorder User magazine in certain areas, integrating parts of CV will make Camcorder User even more appealing, as long as you are firmly on board writing that is.
Contrary to what some people might expect me to say, I do genuinely have a huge regard for much of the new stuff Rob has introduced into Cam User, particularly in terms of features.
Indeed, I have regularly cursed myself for not thinking to do those things before him!
I think that you and I and other regular readers of Cam User have better appreciated the thought that Rob has brought to the mag than our previous management did or than our current management will do - because they look at things with an accountant's eye, not with an eye properly able to appreciates the suitability or appropriateness of editorial articles.
Like all of our mags, Cam User has been held back to a considerable degree by the lack of publicity and promotion it has received.
However, I cannot truthfully say that I know what level of promotional support would be most cost effective in maintaining and growing Cam User (or my own mag) or any other of Highbury Entertainment's titles - I simply believe that we as a company need to do more of it.
As for me being on board with Cam User - no, I don't think that's likely to happen.
The sums don't stack up, because of the size of my salary and the fact that there is unlikely to be any increase available to fund additional staff members, never mind an expensive-to-feed bugger like me.
However, Rob will undoubtely have an increased editorial budget, enabling him to buy in from freelancers, and I only hope that this increase does enable him to buy in sufficient good copy from good freelancers to enable him to make a good fist of the, for want of a better term, "CV" part of the mag.
Bob C
Just checked my bank account: My subscription renewal cheque was cashed 8th Dec. - the day before Bob's announcement! I think I'll wait and see what is offered in terms of subscriptions to an alternative magazine, before asking for my money back.
Looking forward to the warts-and-all review of LE6...
I have just received through the post today, a 'last chance to win £2500 and save 39% on your subscription' letter from Highbury, as I am an active subscriber to Computer Video Editing.
What on earth are they playing at? Obviously, one would assume that these were sent out ages ago by 5th class post or something, but it really begs a few questions, such as, was the decision to cancel CVE taken at the very last minute after the powers that be tottered back to the office after a liquid lunch? Plus, where is the fabled £2500 coming from?
Needless to say, I shan't be renewing my subscription!
Silly silly Highbury!
...however if Camcorder User is any good, I might renew my subscription to that.
Hi
While I`m more than a bit upset(insert Your favourite swearword) about Computer Video Editings demise, having been buying it from the start, including it as a supplement, I must confess to buying camcorder user occassionally for years.
So a combination would , to Me at least be a good compromise.
Peter........