Jim,

I have an idea for the auto magazines and the other enthusiast magazines who
are falling over themselves to be marketing glossies for manufacturers. Why
don't they offer to sell themselves to an industry consortium, say the big
automakers for the car magazines, the airplane makers for the aviation mags,
etc?

That way there would be none of this charade about "separation" between
advertising and editorial, and readers would know clearly who is standing
behind the message that they are reading. This way there would be no need
for advertising. The editorial content would be advertising enough (not that
it isn't already). Plus they would probably give away subscriptions to
anyone who wants them, because the point is not to make money but to market
their products.

I think this would be a much more sensible and honest solution. And what
would be the difference? At least one person here has said he is okay with
the fact that advertisers call the shots and effectively muzzle this
so-called "press" from reporting anything negative --such as dangerous
safety issues with products. Since they pay the bills they have a right to
get only positive press, even if their product will kill or maim you.

So at least with the magazines being owned outright by industry, there would
be an element of honesty that is not present now, where readers in fact
think that the "press" is free and independent and don't realize that it is
de facto "owned" by the advertisers.

And if this trend continues we could see the mainstream national media going
in this direction. Before long that news magazine that you trusted to inform
you honestly and truthfully about about important matters of politics, life
and death, covering up information that is negative to their advertisers. So
what if that consumer product can kill you or your baby? You will never hear
about it because the news magazine editor is saying "yes, boss" to the
advertiser that makes the product.

That's why people care about such a stupid thing as a free press -- which
doesn't mean just free of government control, but free of any outside
control, especially from powerful groups with lots of money. The role of the
fourth estate in any civilized society is an important one, but I guess some
people think that you should still be able to own the free and independent
press as long as you write the checks.

Regards,

Gordon.




"Jim Carriere" wrote in message
...
Gordon, I'm gonna have to take out an AOL account because this is a "met
too" post

Right there with you about auto magazines. Fun to read, but they are
primarily marketing (Motor Trend is the worst, some of their picks for Car
of the Year turned out to be the worst lemons- Chevy Vega, Renault
Alliance...). I enjoy the same authors you do- Garrison, Collins, Deakin-
for the same reason- substance. The same reason I sift through the
entertainment, flame wars, and occasional troll on this group, because
there's real substance to be found.