Fair comment Colin BUT my personal MAIN WORRY is That Martyn Chorlton has allready been involved in the demise of one Magazine I Personally dont think this is a very good move at all....Time will tell
Dave
There are lots of reasons for a magazine to cease publication, many outside the editors control. As Colin has said, readers can simply drift away to the web or even away altogether. The publishers may simply decide that a title is no longer sufficiently profitable or fits their portfolio. Advertisers could close down and stop paying for the space on the page.
One less discussed aspect is that it is proving harder and harder to find people willing and able to actually write the articles. As an editor, I spend a lot of my time trying to persuade people to put finger to keyboard, even though they will be paid for their work. There are loads of people who have an idea what they would like to read, but will they write it? No chance. Even though word processors, digital cameras and e-mail make the process easier than it's ever been, it's all too much effort.
Ultimately though, and editor can only publish what they have. Model Railway magazines get around this by employing in-house staff. Model boat magazines don't sell enough to afford this luxury.
Graham did a superb job with Model Boats in his time at the helm. I can't see why Martyn shouldn't carry on his good work, but only if he has the material to work with. If not, the mag will close and with it will go the chance to engage people on the newstand. Forever.
Would this matter? I think it would. You might love Mayhem on the web, but if Martin decided to chuck it in, what would happen to the site? Is there anyone else willing to put as much time and money into it?
Model mags are like model shops. Use them or lose them.