peter@usenix.UUCP (Peter Salus) (09/05/87)
I am posting this on behalf of UNIX REVIEW -- Peter H. Salus ---- I have noted the concern expressed by several potential subscribers to UNIX REVIEW over the publication's circulation practices. UNIX REVIEW, like most reputable controlled-circulation business publications, submits its circulation to the independent Business Publications Audit of Circulation (BPA) to verify both personal request for subscriptions as well as qualifications of each subscriber. The purpose of this audit is obviously to assure advertisers of the quality and validity of circulation claims. The only way we can provide the magazine free of charge is through the support of our advertisers. At shows such as USENIX and UniForum, 80 to 95 percent of attendees are qualified to receive UNIX REVIEW at no charge. The audit bureau's rules preclude us from telling a potential subscriber what qualifies him for a free subscription. To do so would invalidate the objectivity of information provided to us. Therefore, there are from each show several requests that cannot be served at no charge. There are occasions in which the reason for rejection is such a simple thing as failure of the potential subscriber to sign the request card. Let me assure one and all that in future show subscription promotions as well as direct mail promotions we will more clearly state that filling out a subscription request form is tantamount to applying for a subscription and that such applications can be turned down by the circulation department. Our goal is to circulate the magazine as widely as is economically feasible within the UNIX community. We must, though--like all other reputable business publications--carry out our business by standard, controlled-circulation, publishing practices. Incidentally, among the exchange on the net I was pleased to read several readers' positive comments on the editorial product. We aim to please.
domo@riddle.UUCP (Dominic Dunlop) (09/08/87)
In article <705@lll-winken.ARPA> carlson@lll-winken.UUCP (Joe Carlson) writes: > > There has been a lot of comment about how bad certain mags are in this >newsgroup... anybody care to recommend what they think are good ones? Well, I think UNIX Review is sufficiently good that I pay $$$ to have a copy airmailed to my home, in addition to the copy which gets circulated round the company. I find the editorial notably objective, pleasantly free of the sound of axes being ground, and pitched at a technical level which assumes some intelligence on the part of the readership. (Pity about that sales piece from Apollo recently, though). We aliens don't qualify for the controlled circulation, anyway... Dominic Dunlop domo@riddle.uucp domo@sphinx.co.uk