Status of Ripper Notes?

[Garry Wroe]

The fact is, it's ego pure and simple and the perception that something printed on paper has more value than something on the internet

Agreed, Ally. But that is a perception which will surely change over the coming decade. Here in the UK, music downloads far exceed over the counter sales. Eventually, the vast majority of book and magazine publishers will either get the message and evolve or sink without a trace. Simple as that.

Regards.

Garry Wroe.

[Ally]

The fact is, it's ego pure and simple and the perception that something printed on paper has more value than something on the internet.

In most reputable journals that might be true, but when you have a field as small as ripperology, and magazines going out electronically monthly they'll stuff it with any old dreck just to get the page counts up. And that goes for paper mags as well. The last couple of Ripper Notes were stuffed with the most ridiculous articles imaginable, just to have something to print.

But regardless, the perception is still that paper printing by virtue of the fact that it costs something is worth more.

And of course you have to wonder just where is the money paid to Ripperologist going? The editing staff doesn't get paid, the authors and contributors don't get paid so someone is sitting on a fat bank. There are no costs involved in producing it or sending it out, so what precisely are you paying for?

[KatBradshaw]

Well I know it may sound silly but to me it seem like anyone can post on the internet, I am doing it now!, but having something published which you can keep seems more tangible.

[Chris]

The difference being?

Books, Periodicals, online, what difference?

Well, an obvious difference is that far fewer people are going to have access to the material if it's published in a magazine that has to be paid for (whether paper or electronic).

There must be some other considerations that counterbalance that disadvantage, and cause some authors to prefer publishing in magazines. I just can't see what they are, and I was hoping someone could enlighten me.

[KatBradshaw]

And I like to read in the bath! Can't take my laptop in there!!

[John Bennett]

I'd be interested to see someone make the case for publishing in a Ripper periodical rather than simply presenting the results of research online.

Specifically, what's in it for the author - apart from the sheer vanity value of seeing his or her name in print?

Some people actually prefer having something to hold and read - personally speaking, I often find great reams of stuff on a screen not always easy to stick with. But perhaps some people are a bit old fashioned. Like me.

[Monty]

I'd be interested to see someone make the case for publishing in a Ripper periodical rather than simply presenting the results of research online.

Specifically, what's in it for the author - apart from the sheer vanity value of seeing his or her name in print?

The difference being?

Books, Periodicals, online, what difference?

Monty

[Ally]

Maybe there should be a Casebook Gazette.

[Chris]

I'd be interested to see someone make the case for publishing in a Ripper periodical rather than simply presenting the results of research online.

Specifically, what's in it for the author - apart from the sheer vanity value of seeing his or her name in print?

[KatBradshaw]

Depends on what the magazine would focus on. I like to see things which contextualise the killings. I was interested John in your Podacst on the Jack the Ripper Exhibition. I was not able to attend but I think that there is room for something which offers more than just info on the murders. If that was the case then it may be useful not to have a 'Ripper' mag name like Ripper Notes, Ripperana etc. More like the WS1888 have.

[John Bennett]

Ally makes a good point. I wonder what you could call it?

[KatBradshaw]

I agree with Ally, if you want to do a mag do your own.
If you do decide to do it I have a short story I would send to you to use if you wanted to.

[Ally]

My opinion would be, if you really want to do a magazine, start from scratch. Considering that there are many people out there who are owed 3-4 copies of the magazine, anyone willing to take it over at this point would have to go into it knowing that they are not going to be getting any capital out of it until they fulfill the back orders of subscriptions that have already been paid for...and you probably won't be getting any of that money to put into restarting the magazine.

So unless you have enough to fully fund 3-4 issues of the magazine before you need to see some return with re-subscriptions, it might be better at this time to just start your own magazine.

There are people out there who have talent and are not currently attached to any other Ripper Magazine for various reasons that would be able to help with the editing and everything and a brand new venture might be just the ticket.

[Robert]

I'm sure you'd do a very good job on it, Scott.

[Scott Nelson]

I'd like to consider taking this on. Anyone like encouraging?