The Sad Truth About E-Magazines & E-Newsletters
Over recent years an increasing number of organisations I belong to have switched to e-newsletters and e-zines to feature their work and communicate with members, as opposed to the previous paper product that arrived through my regular mailbox.
And the sad truth is that as a result of this I never read them anymore.
Like everyone else, I am bombarded with e-communications every day and focus on the ones that are important in the now. This is rarely an e-newsletter or zine’s role and so they increasingly slip down the email list.
When I received paper publications I seldom read them immediately either, although the whole process of physically going to a mailbox (rather than having material coming in while online doing other things) used to at least encourage a cursory riffling through of materials received. The newsletters and magazines/journals, in particular, I would put aside to read through while having a coffee or over lunch.
But of course with the e-versions I leave the pc and the desk to have that break and focus on reading other things…
In addition, many of the e-newsletters and zines require me to to do more than just read. First of all I have to click on a line of code, or go to a website and remember yet another special member login (of which we all now, by default, have a ker-zillion)—or worse, login to a forum and then access the special link to download what would once have been as simple as opening an envelope and starting reading at my leisure.
With additional complexity also comes additional reluctance to read the correspondence more than once—not like sticking in a marker or dog-earing a page (I know: quelle horreur!) to identify where you can pick up reading on the next coffee break.
So increasingly, I just don’t bother accessing or reading at all.
I used to think this was just Luddite me, until I received one of these many e-zines recently (one where you have to click on a line of code inside the email to access) which came with the following cover note:
“I really think you should read it, even if you’re one of the 100 or so who don’t normally bother…”
Hmm, thought I, so it’s not just me then…
And, of course, the logical next step from there, where connection with the organisation (via communication) becomes increasingly hit and miss, if not completely missing in e-action, is to question why one continues to be a member at all…
Bravo!
Reading printed paper is also easier on the eyes.
Perhaps The Press can give you a guest editorial and print this!
Graeme
Loburn
Hi Graeme, thank you for commenting. I know it’s a cost cutting measure for many organisations, but I do think it’s probably not going to achieve the outcome they may also hope for in terms of increased ‘reach.’ And I agree that printed paper is a lot easier on the eyes!
Well, I guess these days I’m just the opposite. I read more online. Very short weekly newsletters with links to longer pieces are right up my ally. I read ECO’s (http://www.eco.org.nz/) every week. I still like to read magazine–I get them from the library every not and then.
Am glad it’s working for you, Harvey. 🙂