LOST online magazine

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:56 pm

Saw this post in response to someone that asked about the feasibility of a lost magazine:

Quote:

First off you would make no money on it as we are a very small niche. Yes Liberties are fairly common but I doubt that they have enough following to warrant a magazine... Since there are relatively few products available to us, advertising would be hard to find (most newspapers and magazines draw a good amount of funding from advertisements rather then subscriptions). The only way to make big money off of advertising is to have a big circulation. If one were to get it going it would probably be a quarterly deal to cut down on printing and the price would be astronomically high compared to other 4x4 rags leaving you with few if any subscribers. Don't get me wrong...I love the idea but feel it is impractical and unlikely.

Forgot who posted it (sorry to the author) but I feel it sums things up pretty well.

However,
I see no reason why we can't do a lost magazine in .pdf format for many reasons
1. It would give us all something cool to read other than the forums
2. We could save the pdf to an external card/drive/disc/whatever and read it offline
3. We could have many authors across the site link/send thier individual articles/stories/etc to an "editor" who could compile the pdf and post it on the site
4. Expense would be super minimal
5. We have many good writers/tech heads/etc on the site to keep this thing going month to month
6. Anyone that wanted a "hard" copy could print it out on thier own.

Now for content I propose:
1. A tech article a month. We already have a good tech section. We could grab one article a month, have the original author expound on it and use that.
2. Each club (NorthEast, West, etc) be assigned a month and do a write up of that clubs activities for the last year or some such period. Would expose us to a wide variety of regional flavor in a format a little nicer than scattered posts and allow for some nice picture ops.
3. Interviews with significant members, maybe the founders of lost, etc.
4. Ideas on membership drives, charity drives, etc
5. Parts, mods reviews, suggestions
6. How to's other than real tech stuff (see 1 above). Maybe simple, "done in an afternoon" type stuff.
7. Jeep history articles
8. Related sports/hobby articles. (we have among us Geocachers, skydivers, SCUBA divers, car nuts, etc)
9. Good Dealership reviews
10. Restaurants near wheeling spots reviews, etc.
11. Camping articles
12. First aid articles
13. Recovery articles
14. Computer articles (hey, we all got at least one!)
and so on, and so on.......

I see a ton of this great stuff posted in the forums but it gets to be a pain sometimes to hunt through everything for specific information and having to be online to do it. I feel that this would not take away from the forums but would add to the enjoyment of them by exposing people to more thorough details of topics already touched on in the forums. Plus it would give members something more "tangible" to refer to by being able to save the monthly pdfs to refer to. Also printouts could be given to prospective members (and dealerships) to say "check us out". We could even try to wangle some advertising somewhere down the line.

WHO'S GAME?

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:10 pm

To me it's never going to gain traction becuase the information will always be a month or more old. Plus, you lose the instant feature of added commentary/tips/experience the forum provides.

Newsletters are for times before clubs were net enabled.

Just my .02

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:12 pm

Quote:

To me it's never going to gain traction becuase the information will always be a month or more old.

Why would info be a month or more old? Doing it digitally means this thing can be compiled and posted in a minimal amt of time. Also:

Quote:

I see a ton of this great stuff posted in the forums but it gets to be a pain sometimes to hunt through everything for specific information and having to be online to do it. I feel that this would not take away from the forums but would add to the enjoyment of them by exposing people to more thorough details of topics already touched on in the forums. Plus it would give members something more "tangible" to refer to by being able to save the monthly pdfs to refer to. Also printouts could be given to prospective members (and dealerships) to say "check us out". We could even try to wangle some advertising somewhere down the line.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:09 am

So far we're lookin at 10 votes for. Over 100 views on this topic. No one else cares?

And for those that voted "willing to help", email me and maybe we can get something started.

Tokyojoe already designed a possible cover:

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=48949#48949

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:38 am

basiclaly there isnt a reason to have an online 'zine when we all post new information everyday and most 'frequent' users click EVERY link.. but.. on the other hand.. maybe a collection of new info on recalls.. mods.. pics.. something from a week or month.. then new members could catchup on last weeks info or last months.. hmm possibility.. not for me.. but maybe for them.. go for it if you have the time.. (which it seems u do.. lol i still rem your ebay thread)

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:59 pm

I can see where this would be a good idea for the people that don't have a lot of time to read all the postings and the vistors. But for those of us that are on here all the time it probably would not be to helpful. It would be neat to see it and I know that I would probably make a folder for it and store it just because. It also might be a quick reference for tech articals if done right.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:03 pm

I think its a great idea, if not just to give to dealerships and prospective guys. I think you got great topic ideas, but I dont think computers would be a good section to have, unless its in the realm of carputers.

dog_party · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:26 pm

Cacher123 wrote:

And for those that voted "willing to help", email me and maybe we can get something started.

I just sent you an email Catcher123.

SKIDOG · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:39 pm

Great idea...It might start out a little rough but with fine tuning it should do good.Tech articles would have to be for a specific Model or year,or generalized to fit the masses.I'm sure some of the "experts" on the site would have a different, better,faster,cheaper way of doing something to get the job done.Did a quick experiment about the search option that somebody made a comment on,(mainly refering to the newcomers on the site)"why don't they use the search option instead of posting a new thread?Well I tried to find some info on ("EXAMPLE ONLY" )rear axles, only 2972 posts came up.Don't know about you guys but thats ridiculous to look through.If there were some Tech Articles on various subjects to use as a reference would be helpful.IMO

Go for it.The needs of many outweigh the comments or views of a few...

Its like the remote for the TV if you dont like whats on turn the channel.....

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:48 pm

If you guys take the lead on the articles, I'll throw in my professional design skills. I don't think it'll last, but i'm willing to help make it the best it can be.

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:10 pm

cough

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:15 pm

sneeze

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:50 pm

Quote:

To me it's never going to gain traction becuase the information will always be a month or more old. Plus, you lose the instant feature of added commentary/tips/experience the forum provides.

Newsletters are for times before clubs were net enabled.

Quote:

If you guys take the lead on the articles, I'll throw in my professional design skills. I don't think it'll last, but i'm willing to help make it the best it can be.

Hey pix, not to put u down or anything and I appreciate the help offer but I'd rather stick with people that are 100% behind this endeavor.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:32 am

I made the post that inspired this pole. I'll help with writing and event coverage. I think an online version is a decent idea especially if it preserves out history. Many "new" topics are covered in old topics which is annoying and takes up space. If it were an online thing aimed at getting and keeping info up to date-you got my attention and support.

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:47 am

good luck guys.. so when is the first issue?

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:20 pm

Although i can see where the naysayers (not to call names or anything, just a generalization) are coming from, i have to disagree with them. Even though I am on the forums as much as i possibly can be and read every new thread and post, i think a magazine, online or otherwise would be a great idea. As someone mentioned, it would make a great way to preserve the history of the LOST club and if done correctly, would probably end up being nothing short of an encyclopedia full of valuble how-to's and reviews...I would most likely keep a copy on the computer, as well as printing each month's tech section, or even the whole mag, to keep in the truck for reference...The info on the forums won't help you when you're out in the woods and something breaks....You can say "oh man!!! there was an article on this on the forums" all you want, but if you can't read it right then and there then what good is it? Sure, you could just print the whole tech section, but that's full of other people's "oh, ive had that problem too" replies. I really think it would be a great idea and would be an invaluable resource to everyone who chooses to read/print it...you've got my support all the way, and if there's anything i can do to help, let me know.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:18 pm

I think it would be great as a "builder's bible". You see them all the time in Barne's and Noble. They list the problem areas of the vehicle, all the specs, which is the best platform to start with for a build up. Tech including installs of everything and parts suggestions. If we did it online and offered it as a PDF...Be great for the newbies.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:22 pm

Amen to that, i'd need every issue

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:18 pm

The way i see it is we are running over 80% for this with the responses we have. I guess the next step would be to get approval from the lost officers to go ahead with this project.
Also we will need an editiorial staff starting with an editor who would be willing to compile this and host the pdf somewhere it can be downloaded from> Any takers?

Still waitin for an editorial staff to volunteer.......................

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:30 pm

I don't know what I could do but I'm here if needed. Here is the problem: I live in a motorhome traveling around the country. Internet service is iffy at best. But, I'll do whatever I can.

SUGGESTION: Driving tips and tricks. I have very limited experience 4 wheeling. I'm sure there are other newbees out there also.

Terry

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