Editors and publishers are wrestling with how to convert their magazines from print to electronic or Internet media. It is a major issue for the publishing industry. A majority of the publishing companies are of the opinion that “print” is “going away” and will be replaced by online information.
We’re not smarter than everyone else but we don’t think this is going to happen anytime soon, at least not in the immediate future. We do think that print needs to adjust to better serve your needs, our readers. We will be making changes to affect this outcome.
Some of the things we will be doing are shortening the product introductions, reducing them in print so that you can decide if you want more information. We will give you an Internet link to our posting online as well as direct link to the manufacturer or provider of the product. By doing this we will be able to provide you more products to review easily and quickly.
We will continue to provide industry news on both a national level and regional level but encourage you to visit www.site-kconstructionzone.com (or www.site-k.net) Digging For Dirt daily industry related news and information. We’ll try to post immediate and short timeframe news online and other not-so-immediate news in the magazines. Watch for an app for this news function as well as one for our industry calendar that is currently being rebuilt to include industry activities on a national and local level as well as major international events.
The structure and presentation of articles, both national and local will also be getting adjusted. We will be adding web link information on related topics to facilitate you finding additional material on the information covered in the article or the equipment and products being used. The objective is to provide you with more information and resources. We do appreciate the fact that you are busy and don’t have a lot of time to spend searching the Internet.
We know, from personal experience, that there’s nothing more frustrating than looking for something, doing a search and getting 896,223 items with the first 10 or 20 being listed because they paid for the listing position, not because they are the most important. We hope that providing you with the information online and related links it will save you search time and make your online time more valuable.
Hang on because we’re not done yet. Look for a listing of all 13 ACP magazines and the articles and important news items appearing in each one with the appropriate link to the article. There are things going on around the country that can help or inform you and this is a good way to do it without spending a lot of time searching.
Now here are a couple of things that we’d like you to do. We want to know what you’re doing and what you’re thinking. As for what you’re doing, show and tell us. It doesn’t have to be a big job but it will demonstrate to everyone that you are working.
What do we need? A picture of a job demonstrating the work being done; a few words describing the job; the location; your company name and your name. Keep the write-ups short because we’d like to run all the jobs that we get. We’re going to call this ACP WorkZone USA. Send your job information to: Greg Sitek at workzone@acppubs.com
ACP WorkZone USA is YOUR section. It’s all about you and “your work zone,”what you’re doing. Big job, little job, it doesn’t matter, even if it’s your neighbor’s sewerline we want to know about it.
As for your thoughts, in every issue we will run a section, which we’ve named ACP OpinioNation. We’ll give you a couple topics and we’d like you to give us your opinion, an old fashion man-in-the-street type of survey. When you respond, please include a picture – mug shot type would be fine – your name and location. Let’s start with these two topics:
Would a new multiyear Highway Trust Fund bill be beneficial to the industry, your local economy and the nation’s economy?
What kind of projects would be beneficial to the construction industry and local economy in your geographic area?
Feel free to respond to one or both. Don’t worry, if you don’t want us to include your name and/or photo we won’t but we would like to include your initials like, JR, Dallas, TX. Go ahead and stuff my mailbox and send your comments to: Greg Sitek at OpinioNation@acppubs.com
Guess, what? We’re not done. We’re considering sending out an e-newsletter but don’t want to jam your e-mailbox. If you’d be interested in getting one that would include current industry-related news and information, subscribe at: www.ACPnews.com
Enough. I’m looking forward to visiting you at ACP WorkZone USA and finding out what you think in ACP OpinioNation.