Dave Belinger, Question about the new Dairy Goat Journal?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Dave,

I couldn't find your e-mail address so i am hoping you see this post. I have a question about the DGJ now that your company has taken it over. will you be changing it to the magazine format like it used to be? I really grumble about the current newspaper form. Don't laugh, i have actually took an iron and ironed the creases out so i could see the doe's udder, has happened more than once too!

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002

Answers

Hi Bernice, I may be wrong but I don't think you could drum up that yuppie with a nucluer bomb. He never answered any e-mail and Steve took a quick hike to put as much distance between himself and him as possible.

Even my wife, who used to love Countryside, says it has gone to the dogs. Look at the covers-who has that kind of homestead except millionaires ?

Well, if that didn't piss him off enough to write something than he is dead ! You can't say I didn't try !

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), April 09, 2002.


Frankly, I will be delighted if it stays the same. If it gets even better I will be outright amazed! I don't think I'm being pessimistic- they complained about the time required to keep up Countryside and this forum, and didn't pay contributers to C-Side. Now you tell me what is going to happen to DGJ. I will wait and see, and hope they'll prove me wrong.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), April 09, 2002.

Joel you have no class whatsoever. To come onto a forum which was started by CS magazine and then bad mouth the editor- nice. I like CS magazine, and the only thing that I can think of that could make it better would be if more people would contribute to it.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), April 09, 2002.

I beleive Joel is right,, CS has taken a turn for the worse the last couple of years. Its starting to turn yuppie like a few other magazines out there. I'll bet it has to do with money. ANd since the forum has NOTHING to do with tht magazine,, Joel can say what he wants,, could have anyways BTW. Im buying up old (good ) CS's, just for the good info,, doesnt seem to have that much anymore

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 09, 2002.

Bernice I got a mail out about it, actually I got two. It said it was going to change from a newpaper to a regular format with more pages. (It's in the P.S.) I like DGJ but I don't like the newspaper format. I think the magazine will be much better. Can't wait to see the first one.

-- sherry in Arkansas (chickadee259@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.


Well, either or is fine with me, but I also am having some concerns about it getting a tad more yuppie. I think it is all that advertisements in there now. There never use to be so many and so the magazine catered to the "real" people. Now I think they probably have to keep the adverstisers happy. I know it pays the bills but, sheesh, it will soon be like Mother Earth with all those ads!

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.

By the way, I have been meaning to ask. I am a subscriber. Why do most people get thier issues WAY before I get mine? Why are they not all sent out at the same time? I am talking a differance of WEEKS! It is very frustrating when people start talking about things in the magazine and we either have no clue what they are talking about or can't put our 2 cents worth in because we don't have it yet. When we do get it the thread is too old to add to cause no one looks at it anymore.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.

Karen...I always get my copy way later than other folks, too. Don't know why!!

I'm looking forward to the new magazine format of DGJ. My newspaper version never seems to make it through the mail without a few rips and tears. Magazines fair much better! As for CS magazine, well I have almost all the issues back to 1977, so I'll have plenty rereading to do if I feel I should cancel the "new" CS!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), April 09, 2002.


Yes, Countryside Publications is the new publisher of both the Dairy Goat Journal and Sheep! magazines.

Dave Thompson, who is staying on as editor during the transition, has done a remarkable job over the past 20+ years by putting together a lot of great information while running what is basically a one-man operation (with evening and weekend help from his patient wife Doris). We don’t plan to change the articles or editorial direction of either magazine.

However, we did make what we hope are improvements to the format. We got rid of the weekly shopper look and turned it into an 8 1/2 x 11 “magazine”. Easier for us to lay out, easier for the mailman to deliver in one piece, and easier for you to find a spot for it on the library shelf.

We’ve also made some customer service improvements in order tracking and delivery, but don’t expect any of this to radically change what the Dairy Goat Journal (or Sheep!) is all about. The price and frequency also remain unchanged at $21 per year for 6 issues.

-- Dave Belanger (Dave@Countrysidemag.com), April 09, 2002.


I love it when a plan comes together. However that is not how homesteaders talk to each other. We laugh, cry, scream, moan, and throw shovels at passing airplanes.

Now I know what old speech writers of retired presidents do in their old age--they write Dave's press releases for him. Come on Dave--tell us about your homestead. Make it real, and explain to us how you justify selling us out. I would really like to hear why free speech is not allowed in a forum you had nothing to do with ?

At any rate I suggest you hear the people's voices above ! Your losing your friends and I suggest you make some major changes and a few apologies !

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), April 09, 2002.



Dave, glad to here it will be staying pretty much the same and in a magazine format too! I also hated the newspaper style. May I offer a suggestion- DGJ could use more reader participation, though I would not want to see it go all reader written. A 'question of the month' ala Countryside, would really spice it up. The main reason I subscribe is Harvey Considine's judging classses, so I hope he will be sticking around.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), April 09, 2002.

Dave , I think you showed good grace and manners not being baited by Joel.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), April 09, 2002.

Oy Vey!

Sorry Ardie, it just seemed like a good time to say it. Best wishes.

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.


It is possible to make suggestions and/or complaints without being rude.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), April 09, 2002.

put a sock on it

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.


Personally, I am glad the magazine format is coming back. We subscribed to DGJ for years.( May '85 Saanen issue has some of our foundation stock pictured and one of our letters printed.) We also subscribed to Caprine News and Countryside's Dairy Goat Guide. Times got tight and we stayed only with Caprine. When we finally got back to DGJ I was suprised by the newspaper appearance. The articles were still fine but I save all our informative magazines and the paper type are a pain to file and just don't hold up as well. Just put me down as a vote in favor of a return to the magazine format.

-- Scotsirish (notreal@anywhere.net), April 09, 2002.

Dave,

Thank you so very much for taking the time to reply to my post, i really appreciated that considering how busy you are. I am very excited about the changes in DGJ and I also have to agree with Rebekah, it would be nice to see more reader written articles. Thanks so much. One more question, you there contine to be the fantastic coverage of nationals?

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.


Looks like I will maybe have to start subscribing again. I really didn't like the "shopper's guide" format at all and finally just dropped my subscription.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ