Propaganda 18 ch08

  MAGAZINES                  +--------+
  MAGAZINES with identity    |Newscopy|
                             +--------+

________________________________________

The magazines have a very central func-
tion in our system. Like we all repres-
ent a duplication of the original soc-
iety, we bring on the same habits and
cultures to the scene.

In the very early days of the Commodore
64, even though quite a big scene, mag-
azines were rare. At the very first
trembling steps, the source of inform-
ation was in ILLEGAL, a magazine edited
by JEFF SMART. ILLEGAL gained immense
popularity, but being on paper, it was

surpassed by technology as AMOK launched
SEX N' CRIME on disk in 1988. The disk-
magazine triggered a much more effective
distribution, covering almost the entire
scene. Though SEX N' CRIME pioneered
on the field, others were quick to
follow. Of various quality, the mag-
azines grew on pile. As a natural step
in society, the magazines looked differ-
ently and covered different observ-
ations. There would be magazines focus-
ing on the demos, the cracking, the
music, the elite, the lame, some cover-
ing it all and some specializing.

      +--------------------------+
      |"..Some prefer Vandalism, |
      |  some Domination, some   |
      |       the Pulse...      "|
      +--------------------------+


Over the years, magazines have come and
gone. What differs today from yesterday
is the taste of the people. If we take
a couple of minutes, and look back 3-4
years, it comes clear that some mag-
azines stood above all. SHOCK, MAMBA,
SCRIPT and CORRUPTION to mention a few.
All of these had a very personal style.

S
Sign of the times
_________________
As the years have passed by, however,
people have come to like and choose
very different magazines. There is no
real number one magazine these days.
Some prefer VANDALISM, some DOMINATION,
some THE PULSE and the story continues.


   +--------------------------------+
   |"     ...if Propaganda was      |
   |    to do it, it would just     |
   | come out as one of the rest..."|
   +--------------------------------+

Something that has come clear to me,
concerning the PROPAGANDA, is that we
do not appeal the wide public. It is
not remarkable, considering that we only
focus on what happens on the boards,
and the groups that appear there. It is
not to offend that we do this, but as
editor, I do indeed feel there are so
many other magazines, focusing on the
entire market, that if PROPAGANDA was to
do it, it would just come out as one
of the rest. It is a choice I have made
way back, and intend to keep.


Our concept is clear and stated. If I
was to take all the text in a magazine
like VANDALISM and put it in DOMINATION,
you would probably never notice the
difference. However, if all the text
in PROPAGANDA was put into DOMINATION,
you would most easily notice what had
taken place.

       +------------------------+
       |"  At the boards, we    |
       | funtcion as THE source |
       |    of information.    "|
       +------------------------+

But then again, I hear people moaning
about this sellection of celebrities
that appear in our magazine. Unfort-
unately, so many misunderstand the
purpose. Not other magazine does what we

at PROPAGANDA do. At the boards, we
function as THE source of information.
For people that circulate up there,
PROPAGANDA comes out as the very
essential one. The others, our compet-
itors may be far better concering the
demos and the mailmarket, and that's
fine with me. The magazines you read
daily, off-scene, all have their aspects
on how to look on politics, economy
and global concerns. Some focus on
business only, some on scandals and some
on mere news. It is simple and evident,
that the same issue concerns the scene.

Therefore I have to admit I find it very
ignorant saying we are sellective in
our editing. You read what concerns you.
And if you, are  NOT one of the people
on the boards, there is a whole lot more

to offer. However, if you are the
curious type, I bet you could hardly
find a more detailed description and
insight in what happens stateside. It
is remarkable that a magazine like SHOCK
gained so much popularity, a magazine
that basically had the same visions as
we do today. SHOCK never, ever covered
one single issue on the mailmarket.

     +-----------------------------+
     |"   I still consider the     |
     | old Pulse being the best..."|
     +-----------------------------+

THE PULSE is fairly interesting at this
point. When THE PULSE was struggling
along with PROPAGANDA some time back,
I was glad. At that point, the scene
went through a phase without any really

decent journalistic productions.

PROPAGANDA had its boardfocus clear,
while THE PULSE had their focus on both
mail and boards. Up to todasay, I still
consider the old PULSE being the best
magazine covering BOTH markets. Un-
fortunately, I was not that impressed
with the comeback, and was hoping for
a bit more. Most probably, the magazine
will have to enter a new phase of growth
and continue from where they once left
off.

And if I was to mention magazines that
have founc their focus, and whose work
I sincerly respect, I could only come
up with a handful. But I wouldn't want
to do that. I'll leave that judgement
up to you, critical reader.


Just keep in mind, to do what you
do best. Nothing else.

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