BoxRec

dalcumly wrote: I personally don't believe that the days of people wanting to read the written word has gone.

The day of the written word will never go, the day of the printed word most certainly will never recover. To deny this and think you can change it is to attempt to push back the tide like King Canute, it is not happening. The demand for immediate reports, results, gossip, stories, news coverage of any event cannot be altered. It is a dwindling sentimental figure that still wants to hold the paper in their hand days after the event. In reality, for the majority, they have already emotionally moved on from that event to something else as we are bombarded with sources of information has caused our attention span and interest in any subject to pass a lot quicker than ever before.

Boxing for example, who really wants to read two or three days later (or even a lot later) a plain boxing report of a fight that was written that night by a reporter when it is totally out of date and offers news that has already been superseded a dozen times and you have watched backstage interviews on IFL TV, the post fight presser, read the the news of the combatants next fight on twitter the following morning or news of a hand injury or that a jaw was confirmed broken etc etc

Eg (and total fictional example) the Boxing News report may say Fury could be lined up to fight Wlad next spring as that was the news on the night. So you read that on Friday when the paper comes out but on Sunday you had seen on Twitter that Fury could be fighting an interim fight, then Tuesday you see an interview with Fury saying he has decided to go the WBC route and Thursday Wlad signs to fight Wilder or Stiverne and so by the time of print, you know Fury gets no shot next as it is all tied up. Thus the BN news report is totally irrelevant

All out of date. This is the reality. How to survive? You won't so need to diversify and find out how to become a different platform to appeal to the new world.

I still enjoy getting a copy, it's a part of my routine and I don't think I'd stop buying it though some of the changes haven't been to my taste. I think I'd rather have an inexperienced editor that loved the sport rather than a generic experienced editor that didn't hold an interest; I grew into the sport with Harry Mullan and Graham Houston, Gilbert Odd, Steve Bunce as amateur reporter and they illuminated the sport and brought fights to life for me in the years before SKY tv and the internet.

Tobyh5 comments are well thought out and to a certain section of the community will undoubtedly be valid. But I've written 3 books about boxers and contests which didn't happen last night but on occasion, 60 years ago and people still want to buy them.
The BN is not solely about reporting on recent fights there is room for comments, interviews , perspectives, a whole host of other ideas.
If you happen to be over, say 45, and that's more than half the population of the UK as I understand it,sitting holding , and reading a newspaper , is still part of the daily routine and so would be the weekly read at the BN.
I also know many people whose Kindles are gathering dust, and the books are back out. But I take the point .

Bob Mee for me or Gareth A Davies.

I should point out that I own a weekly newspaper title in Cornwall and have done for 15 years and in the 90's I worked for the same company as you, Newsquest although it was via Southern Newspapers back then.

tobyh5 wrote:

dalcumly wrote: I personally don't believe that the days of people wanting to read the written word has gone.

The day of the written word will never go, the day of the printed word most certainly will never recover. To deny this and think you can change it is to attempt to push back the tide like King Canute, it is not happening. The demand for immediate reports, results, gossip, stories, news coverage of any event cannot be altered. It is a dwindling sentimental figure that still wants to hold the paper in their hand days after the event. In reality, for the majority, they have already emotionally moved on from that event to something else as we are bombarded with sources of information has caused our attention span and interest in any subject to pass a lot quicker than ever before.

Boxing for example, who really wants to read two or three days later (or even a lot later) a plain boxing report of a fight that was written that night by a reporter when it is totally out of date and offers news that has already been superseded a dozen times and you have watched backstage interviews on IFL TV, the post fight presser, read the the news of the combatants next fight on twitter the following morning or news of a hand injury or that a jaw was confirmed broken etc etc

Eg (and total fictional example) the Boxing News report may say Fury could be lined up to fight Wlad next spring as that was the news on the night. So you read that on Friday when the paper comes out but on Sunday you had seen on Twitter that Fury could be fighting an interim fight, then Tuesday you see an interview with Fury saying he has decided to go the WBC route and Thursday Wlad signs to fight Wilder or Stiverne and so by the time of print, you know Fury gets no shot next as it is all tied up. Thus the BN news report is totally irrelevant

All out of date. This is the reality. How to survive? You won't so need to diversify and find out how to become a different platform to appeal to the new world.

Spot on, could not have said it better myself

dalcumly wrote:I've written 3 books about boxers and contests which didn't happen last night but on occasion, 60 years ago and people still want to buy them.

Enough buys to make a profit (or at least cover your costs) when you factor in everything including your time?

Terry Dooley wrote:, “Don’t flog a dead horse”, and boxing’s version is: “This horse appears to be dead, I’ll flog the c*nt until it wakes up.”

Great post but I am going to unashamedly steal that and hold it somewhere until the time is right to drop it out somewhere

slapbangwhallop wrote:

broomy7s wrote:I thought Danny Flexen would want to step up. He used to be Editor of fighting fit magazine didn't he? and has been doing more and more of late at bn.

If he gets the job then the magazine is fucked.

The only person for the job if filled internal would be Matt.

Matt, I feel, would maintain the sense of history, trade mag, earthy quality required. But I suspect that isn't what they're looking for.

What they're looking for, I suspect, is someone who can build the brand on line, merchandising etc, which Tris has been trying to aim for over 3-4 years, with some success.

"It's a tough racket"

I've literally lost count of the people / publications / websites that burned out over the last decade. And these were individuals that loved boxing too. I couldn't imagine anyone coming along without any knowledge of boxing and taking the helm anywhere - Only a corporation would think that was wise, thinking they could bring someone in who thought about nothing else but figures & profits. If you cannot think like a boxing fan, then you have no clue what to do to attract them to part with their cash.

There is a big difference between timely news and articles of interest - and when it comes to news nowadays, its available from youtube to twitter within 10 mins of it breaking. Unless you are TMZ and paying for the inside scoop, then your just making up the numbers. It's stamina over skill when it comes to the news, grinding out those bite-sized bits of information hard and fast.

No point fluffing up news with long paragraphs - get to the point. The lion's share of boxing fans cannot count to potato - so using fanciful writing is like marinating a fine steak , cooking it to perfection - then chucking it in a dog bowl for fido. Historic or longer non-news articles however, that's where your aficionado's will appreciate the knowledge and style. I suppose you need a mix to keep everyone happy and content. It's not a cake walk to do on a weekly format when there isn't much happening in the sport.

As long as it isn't bought by a promoter.

I have to say, as stated before... Tris did a great job modernising BN whilst still keeping the trade readership.

I don't know what the circulation is; but from an intuitive perspective I see BN in mOre stores than before. Whether this is news quest or increased sales I don't know. But at a time when there is no big global or British star to drive sales, it's interesting.

If there is any chance for BN to survive, I would say Dixon has given it it's best chance.

I don't rate him as a writer, but as an actual Editor he is very good.

Personally I would like to see andy whittle given the job he has a modern outlook to the sport and is so passionate and knowledgable about the sport plus he is a thoroughly nice and genuine bloke and given the chance I know he would do a great job

I am not sure of the figures but like all paid for titles it is falling. I remember seeing it was at about 10,400 in 2012 which was a few per cent down on the previous year and it was then down to 8500 last year which is another 20% drop which is huge.

Now do not quote me as I am being too lazy to dig out some ABC figures to check but do recall that when looking it up earlier this year. Figures are due to be released for 2014 soon however Newsquest are aware of the weakening of their titles and so has opted out of ABS for other weekly titles this year and may have done for Boxing News too

Just sounds like a corporate decision to recruit someone from outside of boxing.

Haven't bought BN for at least 2 years, skim it in WH Smith if Im waiting for a train or flight but it bores me. BM is a must buy though.

Tris always looked angry to me, just had one of those faces. I heard he can be quite rude to people too. Yeah, what does it matter.

Claude Abrams has returned from his travels and set up a Cross Fit gym apparently, Tris is into CF, so maybe they will run a gym together and reminisce over the good times.

Farewell to him.

dbf wrote:Just sounds like a corporate decision to recruit someone from outside of boxing.

Haven't bought BN for at least 2 years, skim it in WH Smith if Im waiting for a train or flight but it bores me. BM is a must buy though.

Tris always looked angry to me, just had one of those faces. I heard he can be quite rude to people too. Yeah, what does it matter.

Claude Abrams has returned from his travels and set up a Cross Fit gym apparently, Tris is into CF, so maybe they will run a gym together and reminisce over the good times.

Farewell to him.

I disagree BN is by far the must buy over BM.

What is cross training? That Tris looks like he's into fitness and is in great shape..... I have no idea what Claude has been doing.....

reggaereggae wrote:
What is cross training?

It's Zumba for males.

G0mez wrote:

reggaereggae wrote:
What is cross training?

It's Zumba for males.

That's sounds exceptionally gay.....no that I'm judging of course

most people involved in writing/journalism/publishing will know - a good editor need not necessarily have to know - in-depth - about the subject matter they are editing. good editors are more than that tbh. you see similar in numerous trade journals/magazines.

I am not sure of the figures but like all paid for titles it is falling. I remember seeing it was at about 10,400 in 2012 which was a few per cent down on the previous year and it was then down to 8500 last year which is another 20% drop which is huge.

Now do not quote me as I am being too lazy to dig out some ABC figures to check but do recall that when looking it up earlier this year. Figures are due to be released for 2014 soon however Newsquest are aware of the weakening of their titles and so has opted out of ABS for other weekly titles this year and may have done for Boxing News too

.......agreed and smart stuff; usually a sure sign of a print publication struggling is when the publisher ducks out of the Audit Bureau of Circulation's ratings.....and the opt-out is done as you don't want to tell advertisers that your readership is declining and that in turn results in them demanding even lower rates or knock you off their budget altogether.

Thankfully, I have not seen a major drop-off in the crucial display advertising in BN this year but I do wonder what the pages are actually being purchased for (advertising buyers do not miss a trick and are ruthless) and there have been some cover price hikes which can't all be put down to rising distribution and paper costs either.

I want the title to flourish and not just survive.....it has been with us since 1909 and remains a top class read....but the new editor is going to really have to deliver not just for the fans, but the publisher as well.

Bodyshot3 wrote:

I am not sure of the figures but like all paid for titles it is falling. I remember seeing it was at about 10,400 in 2012 which was a few per cent down on the previous year and it was then down to 8500 last year which is another 20% drop which is huge.

Now do not quote me as I am being too lazy to dig out some ABC figures to check but do recall that when looking it up earlier this year. Figures are due to be released for 2014 soon however Newsquest are aware of the weakening of their titles and so has opted out of ABS for other weekly titles this year and may have done for Boxing News too

.......agreed and smart stuff; usually a sure sign of a print publication struggling is when the publisher ducks out of the Audit Bureau of Circulation's ratings.....and the opt-out is done as you don't want to tell advertisers that your readership is declining and that in turn results in them demanding even lower rates or knock you off their budget altogether.

Thankfully, I have not seen a major drop-off in the crucial display advertising in BN this year but I do wonder what the pages are actually being purchased for (advertising buyers do not miss a trick and are ruthless) and there have been some cover price hikes which can't all be put down to rising distribution and paper costs either.

I want the title to flourish and not just survive.....it has been with us since 1909 and remains a top class read....but the new editor is going to really have to deliver not just for the fans, but the publisher as well.

BN has modernised - you can download on Tuesday and there was an iPad version that I liked but is now suspended.
The question is - do BN invest more in online? As in have an online global site like Fightnews?

Loads of issues surround this of course.... Costs, integrity, income... But there must be a compromise

merseybox wrote:most people involved in writing/journalism/publishing will know - a good editor need not necessarily have to know - in-depth - about the subject matter they are editing. good editors are more than that tbh. you see similar in numerous trade journals/magazines.

Not sure I agree with that - it's fine for certain publications, but BN is a trade paper with a small staff, read almost exclusively by hardcore fans. An editor going into BN with little or no boxing knowledge would struggle imo.

I buy my son 'Pole Fishing' magazine and also a Jiu Jitsu magazine; I cannot believe that these niche magazines do not have an editor that knows about fishing and jui jitsu. I don't understand why someone with no interest in the sport of boxing would want to be involved with the trade paper

Fvck it, I might apply to be editor of Playboy - I have no experience & know fvck all about girls, but I'll give it a good go

I wonder what the approximate value of Boxing News is, if they decided to put it on the market? Anyone like to venture an educated guess?

Boxerbeetle wrote:Fvck it, I might apply to be editor of Playboy - I have no experience & know fvck all about girls, but I'll give it a good go

I've got an old velvet jacket and a pipe that blows bubbles, you can have them if you like :)