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Jon Excell
Editor
The Engineer
An important announcement about the future of The Engineer
Many of you may have heard rumblings over the past few days relating to the future of the print version of The Engineer. I’d like to use this opportunity to address these rumours.
The pressures on print publishing are well known. Increasing distribution and production costs, and the impact of an ongoing economic crisis on advertising revenues, have conspired to create a challenging environment for magazine publishers. At the same time, the rise of the internet — with its global reach, low production costs and unfulfilled commercial potential — presents some truly exciting opportunities.
Against this backdrop, the owner of The Engineer, Centaur Media, is proposing to close to the print version of the publication and focus all of The Engineer’s editorial and commercial resources on growing the website and other digital products. It is proposed that the 16 July issue will be the last in print.
It’s hard to know what our Victorian forbears would make of the proposal to close the magazine. Some would certainly be horrified. Others might well be astonished to know that a publication launched more than a century and half ago is still in existence. But none would have anticipated the rise of the internet — a technological development every bit as disruptive as the invention of the automobile or the aircraft.
Since the relaunch of its website at the end of 2009, The Engineer has undergone perhaps the most striking evolution in its long history. We have been able to extend our reach far beyond that of the magazine, seed daily debate on the key issues, bring our subject matter to life with video and break and analyse news in a way that’s simply not possible within the constraints of a fortnightly magazine.
Clearly this will be unwelcome news for many — If not all — of our print readers. Indeed, given the hard work we’ve put into the magazine, we’d be disappointed if its proposed closure were met with indifference.
But The Engineer will live on and, we believe, continue to grow. We have big plans for the website, including making more of our vast and fascinating historical archive, building on our news and in-depth coverage and expanding our video content. And for those who like their content with a cover and a contents page, we’re launching a monthly digital version of The Engineer that can be read on a host of mobile devices.
Finally, I’d like to reassure all of our readers that the editorial team of The Engineer remains dedicated to maintaining the high journalistic standards and spirit of enquiry that have been at the heart of this important publication since its launch in 1856.
Watch this space for more details on our future strategy.
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Readers' comments (223)
brian m | 10 Jul 2012 1:09 pm
Always sad to see the end of an era, especially one that links back to our great engineering history.
The big advantage paper had over 'e' magazines was that you could read them anywhere. Now with low cost tablets that is no longer the case.
I'm sure the Engineer will remain a cause of delay for the rest of the family in getting into the smallest room in the house :)
Here's to your next century and half!
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Berenice Baker | 10 Jul 2012 1:11 pm
As a former reporter for The Engineer, I am saddened to hear of the demise of the print magazine and proud to have seen my name in ink on its pages. I hope The Engineer will look to the future by practising what it preaches about pioneering innovations by fully embracing interactive e-zine techniques to best explain the potentially world-changing technologies it has written about for the past 156 years.
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Andy Bevis | 10 Jul 2012 1:11 pm
Inevitable as it unfortunately is in this age, I too regret the passing of the printed word in this format as it does provide that convenient access in what might be termed "moments of quiet contemplation" we get away from the electronic device. The electronic format provides the information when we want it and easily stored whereas the printed format is the more comfortable indepth read. Its the best of both worlds we have become accustomed to I suppose. Still a sad passing, thank you for the many years of the printed form.
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Anonymous | 10 Jul 2012 1:11 pm
Move with the times guys, this is the way of the future and it's most welcome, personally I will enjoy reading it on my iPad. By the way, I am a young 63.
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Kate | 10 Jul 2012 1:12 pm
I shall be sorry to see the print version go. I, like many others, find it easier to read the print version than the electronic due to restriction on computer use at work and the fact that I have stupidly slow "broadband" speeds at home.
I've been reading the magazine since I was studying for A-levels: my Dad's boss would give me his copies and I read them cover to cover on the bus. I finally threw these 1980s magazines away about 6 months ago!
If you haven't already chosen a platform, the best I've seen in the one used by Diesel and Gas Turbine International.
BTW: I often read the job ads in the print version, but never check out your on-line listings. Jus' sayin'
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Matt | 10 Jul 2012 1:12 pm
What a ridiculus decision!!! People are spending too much time staring at screens and not moving away for a breaks as it is. Printed media is the stuff of life and you don't need the latest upgrade to read it.
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stephen mosley | 10 Jul 2012 1:12 pm
I much prefer a magazine as I can very quickly flick through and find things that are relevent, with the bonus of spotting articles where the title does not catch the eye but a picture or text box does. This expands the pieces of interest compared to targeting through headlines and is I think what I shall miss most. I suspect therefore that it will, to a degree, frustrate the increase of my more widespread engineering knowledge. It may be the fashion of the moment, or indeed seen as financially preferable - but I'm not convinced that its the long term way forward.
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Alex Morris | 10 Jul 2012 1:16 pm
A foolish decision, no doubt driven more by inflated distribution (postal) costs than printing costs.
Healthwise, we all spend far to much time staring at computer screens. That's why the opportunity to relax and read printed magazines and newspapers at lunchtime and while commuting is such a blessing.
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David | 10 Jul 2012 1:17 pm
I read the print copy front to back
Going only digital devalues your brand
I wo'nt be reading it on screen so you have lost a reader in me & there will no longer be a copy in our reception
Very short sighted in my opinion
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Danny | 10 Jul 2012 1:18 pm
If John thinks an iPad will save the planet's resources he needs to get a life. A printed magazine has far more versatility and can be recycled after use.
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