Antique publications change hands, blame the public
Written by Michael Vass
Video may have killed the radio, but it seems the internet is taking the legs out from antiques. At least that is one of the key reasons that you may notice big changes in several publications, in American and the U.K., in the next month or 2.
The reason that things will change is that DMG World Media has sold completely AntiqueWeek, AntiqueWest, Auction Exchange, and Antiques Trade Gazette. The entire sale has occurred suddenly and to the shock of the employees responsible for the publications. It seems that no one except the very top of senior management was aware of the publications even being up for sale.
It seems that subscriptions were down recently, a result of the combined efforts of the popularity of the internet, the ‘highly’ specialized nature of the publications, increased costs, and ‘dumbing-down’ of content. Now I may not be a business genius, but if you have a smart publication and then start writing as if your readers are 5th graders, they might get insulted. And the higher costs are something every business is dealing with right now. But to blame it on the internet sounds so much better than, ‘We screwed up.’
The key that readers and antique enthusiasts need to know is who will now own the publications next month, what changes they might be planning to make, and who will be let off staff. The answer to each of those questions is a simple, no one knows.
Talk about scary. There is no employee that apparently knew or currently knows anything that is going on. If you don’t think that will affect how they will discuss the various antiques and industry, then you’ve never lost a job or business. I wish I could say that.
So if you have a favorite writer, or if you hate the new covers, ads, or inevitably the new editors and writers that will come in to replace someone I would suggest that you go with the excuse DMG has provided you. Check the internet.
There are tens of thousands of people that like or love antiques. They are in chat rooms, on blogs just like this one, or other various configurations of websites. Why pay the price of a subscription when you can look on the net and find what you want to know? I mean, essentially, DMG is already blaming you – you might as well do what you are getting blamed for.
As you may notice I don’t like being blamed for something I have not done. But that aside I just wanted to let you know the news.
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