[neochanger]

Hello BHPians!

This idea just popped up in my head today on my way to office which is an hour long drive. Of late, I am back again to reading magazines and it feels very satisfying to hold a printed magazine full of topics that interest you and read calmly on your sofa or bed during free time. The very smell, texture and feel of paper gives satisfaction to many of us readers. And since most of us are already addicted to grazing through Team-BHP posts, the screen time might be taking a heavy toll on our eyes and overall health. As the idea passed through me, I was pretty sure there would have been some detailed discussion on this issue but to my surprise when I searched the forum, the most relevant thread on first page of search result was this Team-BHP Magazine thread discussed and closed way back in 2006 with following comments from our esteemed member GTO.

Having an online source of information is just so much more valuable than the paper kind because:

1. Updates : It is real time information.

2. Cost : It is free of cost to one and all.

3. Accessibility : Team-BHP has the easiest accessibility. Our new servers also have phenomenal reliability and uptime.

4. Search : And relevant information is just a click away.

5. Interactive content : Something the magazines can only dream about

6. Archive : Similar to the search, the extensive archive is only a click away.

Lastly, None of the support team members have the inclination or the time for a paper publication. All of us are either studying or working full time. And we are extremely happy with promoting Team-BHP as an online knowledge base only.

This thread is closed.

Now, many of us would agree on most of the points put above for most of the time. But these points more or less seem to be in context of replacing the forum with a magazine which is definitely not the idea that popped up to me. I am suggesting for creating a monthly magazine by picking up great reviews, interesting articles form DIY/Modifications threads, some well researched auto gyan and interesting takes from Shifting Gears thread along with notable contributions otherwise and making a printable reading thing for us to check it out in our free time.

I further thought over how the magazine should be made and here's what came to my mind:

• A team of editors should be selected.
• The editors should select what content to be selected for the magazine. It will also be an appreciation for the good content.
• Next, another team of designers should be tasked with placing the filtered content in the magazine.
• Finally, the draft should be floated for proofreading and further improvement.
• The final publication version should be made available in various formats for printing and reading and be published on the Team-BHP website.
• On prepaid subscription basis, the magazine should be printed and shipped to members of Team-BHP. (This is optional but as a member I would love to receive printed magazine at my doorstep every month.)

There are many good reasons why a printed magazine will fulfill the needs of both this great phenomenon called Team-BHP and some of us members. It is just a great imagination to me having a physical Team-BHP magazine placed on my living room table or my study desk along with other good magazines like The Caravan, The Economist and so on. I, and many likeminded members of this forum, would surely agree that Team-BHP does something in content creation that is unique and stylish. I came to know the reason when I applied for its membership and was asked with questions that not only amazed me with happiness but also brought admiration for its founders, leaders and members.

Next, the printed physical magazine is something which is finding its niche despite being heavily under pressure from online content. Not all of us like to read on our phones or iPads all the time and wish for having a physical magazine with curated content to enrich ourselves with pure satisfaction of reading. Further, just having even a few printed physical magazines in the homes of Team-BHP members would definitely add to the value that it provides and the values it stands for.

Finally, I am a student of history and this imagination thrills me that after a few thousand years when some archeologists would be digging through our stratum of civilization, they would find a box full of Team-BHP magazines carefully preserved by a passionate member for generations to wonder how great automotive content was produced in ancient times.

Leaving this idea here once again for members to ponder upon, discuss or dismiss again.

[NPV]

Printed magazines for automobiles are almost dead, those that survive do so because of advertisements and advertorials, the latter makes them biased. These are against the principles and ethics that Team BHP has been following which is testament to its huge popularity and respect it commands today. We are a sizeable forum of enthusiasts who share honest first hand experiences and we should remain that way.

[senlog]

Originally Posted by neochanger

I am suggesting for creating a monthly magazine by picking up great reviews, interesting articles form DIY/Modifications threads, some well researched auto gyan and interesting takes from Shifting Gears thread along with notable contributions otherwise and making a printable reading thing for us to check it out in our free time.

Yes, it would be really nice holding and reading a physical copy of a team-bhp magazine. As monthly magazine may not be viable option, just thinking loud, how about releasing an annual copy? May be once every February, celebrating team-bhp’s anniversary?

[FlankerFury]

I like the idea of a magazine.

Originally Posted by neochanger

...it feels very satisfying to hold a printed magazine full of topics that interest you and read calmly on your sofa or bed during free time. The very smell, texture and feel of paper gives satisfaction to many of us readers.

Absolutely, your words paint a relaxing and satisfying picture.

But I think all the points against the magazine still stands.

I am suggesting for creating a monthly magazine by picking up great reviews, interesting articles form DIY/Modifications threads, some well researched auto gyan and interesting takes from Shifting Gears thread along with notable contributions otherwise and making a printable reading thing for us to check it out in our free time.

I mean, what would be the difference between the magazine and the forum then? One exists in the physical realm while the other in digital?
Sounds like too much effort for too little difference.

I find the Hot Threads and Homepage section to be useful for looking up interesting threads and latest reviews.

To make the magazine lucrative there must be some magazine exclusive content, because I don't think many people would pay to read something that can be accessed for free on an open website.

Moreover, as pointed by a member here already, it's the ads and sponsored content that bring in revenue for print magazines.
I don't think T-BHP will be going down that path anytime soon.

The final publication version should be made available in various formats for printing and reading and be published on the Team-BHP website.

The existing Newsletter does that well I believe (minus the printing bit).
Attaching the link to subscribe to it,
Team-BHP | Newsletter (Subscribe to Team-BHP's Daily Newsletter!)

[neochanger]

Originally Posted by NPV

Printed magazines for automobiles are almost dead, those that survive do so because of advertisements and advertorials, the latter makes them biased.

I am not suggesting for marketable printed magazine to make profits or survive the publication. It is just for selecting best of the content and compiling it in the printable formats for ease of reading, collection and everything else that can be done with a physical copy of a good magazine.

Originally Posted by FlankerFury

I mean, what would be the difference between the magazine and the forum then? One exists in the physical realm while the other in digital?
Sounds like too much effort for too little difference.

The forum is an ocean and the magazine would be, well, sort of a good glass of water taken out carefully to serve as a sample.

[thomahawk]

I would rather have a Team-BHP ownership guide which has content from all the popular threads in here. From our detailed checklist to washing and detailing tips, all in a nice pocketbook format - would be an awesome gift to a new owner. Something to keep in your dash at all times along with the manual. Ebook can be yours for free, anyone who needs a print can order one for a fee which covers the cost.

I guess one can even get it personalized with picture of their car as cover.

[neochanger]

Originally Posted by thomahawk

Ebook can be yours for free, anyone who needs a print can order one for a fee which covers the cost.

Same is what I am suggesting. We need to put effort for making a good magazine having curated content from this vast forum and publish the printable formats for free on the website with guidelines for proper and accurate printing, binding or stapling on different types and sizes of paper. And for those who are willing to pay the cost of a standard, authentic and official print version with all the shipping cost, give them something to cherish and collect.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by neochanger

I am not suggesting for marketable printed magazine to make profits or survive the publication. It is just for selecting best of the content and compiling it in the printable formats for ease of reading, collection and everything else that can be done with a physical copy of a good magazine.


The forum is an ocean and the magazine would be, well, sort of a good glass of water taken out carefully to serve as a sample.

While the idea is nice. It is not practical. There will be significant cost in setting up and running a print business. Without automobile related advertising to absorb a lot of the cost, it would end up being one very expensive magazine that no one would buy. Only thing that can remotely have a chance is some sort of a yearly special collectors edition.

[neochanger]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Only thing that can remotely have a chance is some sort of a yearly special collectors edition.

Maybe it can be done that way for now and other possibilities may be explored further based on the response.

As for the cost of setting up publication, I guess if those willing to take at least annual subscription (of a costly magazine) is well below a threshold number, the idea of an official, authentic print version may be dropped and it should only be published online for users to be printed by themselves. If the willingness exceeds the estimation or expectation then publication may be sub-contracted to some offset publisher for printing at scale. Anyone engaged in the printing business may enlighten us if it’s feasible or not.

[V.Narayan]

Thank you for the suggestion and certainly we should always be open to new thoughts even if it is a new thought of an old idea.

Team BHP is a electronic media platform with all the very significant advantages of that technology --

- zero distribution costs,
- instant distribution to lakhs every day {not weekly or monthly}
- free content creation each day
- owner and user driven content creation - zero vested agenda at the content creators end
- all this leading to credibility, .....That is Team BHPs Unique Selling Pont - Credibility, above all else

A magazine involves a significant production and distribution challenge which a digital, volunteer based organization like Team BHP cannot address and should not address. I am a fan of some professional subject magazines that I subscribe to via hard copy So I know the joy of reading a well crafted and put together mag. But IMO Team BHP trying to run a magazine will be like pushing a Formula One team to also on the side train and run race horses.

The fact that Team BHP is largely a volunteer driven organization is core to our character & our values. Print magazines or even e-magazines require a humongous effort - who is going to sit and pull it together - can't be volunteers I think. Once we move to a employee heavy organization our very soul will change. we have a few employees right now but that doesn't change the main character of us being a well coordinated volunteer

Team BHP, thanks to the vision of its founders and the, cannot praise it enough, effort of the Moderators & Team Support members is in a unique place. Let us not dilute it.

If Team BHP has to move into something to increase viewership I'd suggest considering making our official car reviews in video format also, with a similar level of detail.

[GTO]

Many thanks for the suggestions & ideas, team. But as of date (and never before), we have no plans for a Team-BHP Magazine. What we would like to do, instead, is spend that effort & resources on new website sections, videos, social media presence etc. Example: In the last 12 months or so, we have consciously increased our coverage of motorcycle / scooter reviews.

Closing thread.