ErrolC wrote:
The re-work is all about presenting the magazine-type content in a modern way that they control (including subscriptions). They included a forum with minimal functionality, because they don't want to rely on anybody else's forum software. They say they will develop the forum functionality.
This has of course destroyed engagement in the forums (which took a significant hit from the apparent panic changes about a year ago). They done a couple of quick fixes (like a search function that actually searches the forum, a layout that is rational on both monitors and phone screens), there may be a couple more fairly quick additions (actually useful formatting options? in-post display of uploaded photos?), further functions like private messaging I assume will take longer.
They clearly think that the forums (or at least the community prior to the change) are of minimal use to them. Good luck building a useful community from that.
Aah......I see, this is about the first moves in the gradual move in replacing the printed mags bought in a shop, with a subs based online mag instead, and you get a forum of sorts as a spin-off from that.
Commercially that makes more sense as to why they are driving it the way they have, but as you say, good luck with that in terms of fostering a web based historic 'community' that they had before, which they clearly don't understand.
This is what happens when accountants make the business decisions, as they know the cost of everything without understanding the value of anything. I wonder how many pissed off forumites will now also stop buying the printed Key publications as well?