Steel Chickens Publication

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:35 pm

Wouldn't it be way cool if we had a publication called Steel Chickens that was for our sport alone. I would subscribe.

Kevin

NewAZShooter · Post by **NewAZShooter** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:52 pm

Kevin,

Yeah, that would be cool. I'd subscribe too, but based on the total number of silhouette shooters in the U.S. estimated in that other thread, I would guess that even if every silhouette shooter in the country subscribed it still would be too small of a circulation for it to be anything more than a few page quarterly or monthly newsletter type of "publication." And what could be included in the magazine that we don't already have access to on the website?

I hate to be a naysayer, but I don't think a total circulation of maybe a few thousand subscribers at the outside would bring the interest of the larger companies to pay to advertise in it and thus to generate enough funding in addition to subscriptions to generate much of a publication. I mean, those nicer magazines pay editors, assistants, writers both on staff and freelance, photographers, graphics departments with crews working on final layout, advertising departments, etc.

It's a nice idea, but unless someone wants to operate it for fun and possibly at a loss, it could never be a nice slick magazine with many lengthy articles in each issue, reviews, adverts, professional quality layout, with nice photos, etc. like we're used to getting in the mags that come with our NRA subscriptions. I was an English major in college and even with the enthusiasm of over a dozen young college students and staff supervision we could barely keep up with a small magazine that came out twice a year.

That said, if anyone is interested in putting together a newsletter, I would be willing to help periodically with stuff like editing for grammatical errors, (not errors in content because I am so new to the sport and don't have the requisite knowledge base), and maybe even the occasional small bit of text about our local matches or whatever. A several page black and white quarterly or monthly newsletter type of publication really only requires a few dedicated individuals and the regular help of some enthusiasts willing to pitch in. The question is, is there anyone here with that kind of time on your hands, and would the result be worth the effort?

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:13 pm

I understand all that and yes it would be a labor of love. I agree it would be a quarterly publication at best. It would be great to have it though to showcase the bigger matches with articles results and pictures. Wouldnt it be nice if we could read and in depth article on Winnie, PeEll and the Nationals. The shooting sports magazine is pathetic. Our own publication with 4 editions per year would be a great start. I also believe it would help recruiting new shooters. Whenever I have looked at a new sport I request a publication so I can get a flavor for the sport.

Kevin

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:47 pm

Anyone else feel Kevin has just volunteered to write some articles for the Steelchicken's Competition pages?

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:20 pm

Back the bus up. What have I done? LOL I promise you doesnt wants me to bu dong ani rytin. yus wonts be aibel ta sees whats i striyn ta says.

mordecai · Post by **mordecai** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:28 pm

You're in luck, I have a Hick-to-English translator I can run your articles through - we'll post both so the guys in Arkansas can still read them.

(heh heh heh)

Bob259 · Post by **Bob259** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 6:50 pm

mordecai wrote:You're in luck, I have a Hick-to-English translator I can run your articles through - we'll post both so the guys in Arkansas can still read them. (heh heh heh)

Oh no.... I sense this may stir and awaken the Kitty

BlauBear · Post by **BlauBear** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:41 pm

Bob259 wrote:
mordecai wrote:You're in luck, I have a Hick-to-English translator I can run your articles through - we'll post both so the guys in Arkansas can still read them. (heh heh heh)

Oh no.... I sense this may stir and awaken the Kitty

Not to worry - with so many of y'all moving here we're pretty much bilingual.

jneihouse · Post by **jneihouse** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:16 am

You can say all you want about us guys from Arkansas being a little slow, but please remember that the rest of the country elected our very own Billy Bob Clinton as president TWICE, then took Hillary off our hands and made her a Senator in New York and now are pimping her for President....Kinda makes you wonder who the special needs folks are, huh???

Kitty

Bob259 · Post by **Bob259** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 4:56 am

jneihouse wrote:You can say all you want about us guys from Arkansas being a little slow, but please remember that the rest of the country elected our very own Billy Bob Clinton as president TWICE, then took Hillary off our hands and made her a Senator in New York and now are pimping her for President....Kinda makes you wonder who the special needs folks are, huh???

Kitty

Whoo Whoo... don't get us into to this mess. The only reason they both ended up in NY is the fact, if you remember correctly, they we're broke and after all when your broke where do you go???? Answer to one of the highest walfare states in the US... NY

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:58 am

Forget the article you guys should all do standup.

BlauBear · Post by **BlauBear** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:48 am

jneihouse wrote:You can say all you want about us guys from Arkansas being a little slow, but please remember that the rest of the country elected our very own Billy Bob Clinton as president TWICE, then took Hillary off our hands and made her a Senator in New York and now are pimping her for President....Kinda makes you wonder who the special needs folks are, huh???

Kitty

And just to balance things out, Huckabee's still in there swinging! That boy is long on game...

ajj · Post by **ajj** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:46 am

I guess mordecai is entitled to hijack threads. But, as youse were saying...
Anybody else remember the "National Silhouette Report?" That was a valiant effort and a labor of love but it didn't work out. As mentioned, the readership is just too limited. In numbers.
The internet is killing special interest magazines for a reason. It's a better way to exchange information.
Those who have both the ability and inclination to write about the sport should do it here. This site has terrific potential to be much more useful to the silhouette community and articles of all kinds, match reports included, would be a good way to start. JMHO.

jneihouse · Post by **jneihouse** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:52 am

Agree with ajj on the internet being a much better way to exchange info...One of the problems with the monthly magazines is that by publication time the news is history.....One particular problem with the NRA publications is that they often publish event coverage months after the event...

Downside of writing and shooting pics of an event is that it takes time and a commitment of resources.....Cuts into the relaxation of attending and shooting an event.....And, of course, publishing on the internet doesn't return a paycheck as submission to the periodicals do....If we're really serious about bringing a professional style of journalism to steelchickens along with professional photography, maybe the directors of the larger matches would like to designate an individual to cover the event and waive entry fees for that person for that match in exchange for the coverage....I'm not applying for the job, just adding to the thread. There are several among us who are talented wordsmiths and photographers.

Kitty

ppkny · Post by **ppkny** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:29 am

Kitty is right about covering the matches. It does take time away from shooting and a big commitment on the writer. I remember his effort at the last Nationals in Ridgway tediously getting everyone together for the group pictures out on the silhouette field. I know he offered CD's to everyone also, which again must have taken a lot of time. Thanks for the effort Kittty.
The NRA does request for people interested in assignments to cover the big matches, write articles and submit pictures. I've done this in the past for a few matches. At the Nationals in Ridgway there was also a volunteer writer (about 40,black hair glasses) that I talked with. He was a non-shooter and could devote all his time to covering the event.This is the type of person who would make the best reporter. Granted the NRA publications are old before they are printed. I'm still waiting for them to publish a article they requested and I submitted for a M1 match in October 07.
I publish two newsletters presently, not related to shooting, and would like Kitty volunteer for editing and picture submissions.
ppkny