Jolly Jeeper

Point 1. I was away on holiday until May 8 and this matter was mentioned to me on the phone as soon as I returned. That same day I emailed John Norris and, as part of the email correspondence, I asked him for your email address. Point 2. The feature as a complete thing was supplied by the freelance - words and captions by him, title by the editorial team. Here's the beginning of his email, "Hello John, I've finished the revision of the M3. Let me know what you think and I'll send over the pix. All the best..." And my reply, "Yes, that's more concise. Please send the photos and captions as a word doc and it should make a very nice story for the mag. Thanks, JC" I have no reason not to be truthful. Point 3. They did ask me to respond to you and, as point 1, I asked the freelance for your email address and haven't had it yet. Point 4. You have a point about customer service and I am trying to deal with it - admittedly later than it should be - but if you don't send me your email address it is difficult to do so. I am 100% happy to mail you the completed feature as submitted with original title. I am not blaming the management in any way - had your concerns been raised by email from the office, I would have your email but it was raised on the phone immediately as I caught up after being away. I thought that, as I was having some email correspondence with the feature's author, that he'd pass on your email address. With hindsight I can see that I should have gone back to the office to get it to avoid this situation. Unfortunately I didn't and this matter has remained unresolved until today. I would suggest that as I have made more posts in this thread in the last couple of hours than anything else for months - and sent you a PM - shows that I am trying to resolve it. JC

That made me laugh - so true - thanks!

It is sad that it had to be posted on here, I don't like washing dirty laundry in public. To answer your point in this recent post; I wasn't sent your email address I am afraid, although I don't doubt that people at Key had your address but - unfortunately - I hadn't. That is why I asked 'the freelancer' for it in response to his email to me. Further up, you say that he supplied 'notes' and that I compiled the feature, this is also not true, he supplied a complete feature, I asked for some amendments and he supplied a second version of a complete feature and captions. As for putting his name on it, 'so he takes the blame', err no... Message me your email and I will send you his whole feature. As I said in a post above, I can only apologise for the upset this innocent headline has caused completely accidentally. John Carroll

"Had a go at the freelancer?" Here's my email of 08.05.17 to him "Afternoon, Today, I have been told that you are not happy about the heading for the feature on the White Scout Car in the May ’17 issue of CMV. I am surprised that you felt it necessary to telephone the Commercial Director to discuss it. I can only apologise for any upset this innocent headline has inadvertently caused, but remain mystified why a simple play on words, about the fact that it is a Scout Car using the title of Baden Powell’s famous 110 year old, scouting handbook, should have any negative connotations. Such plays on words are common in magazine headlines such as the ‘four wheels on my ‘wagen’ line on the cover. Yours sincerely, John Carroll"

Thanks for such a balanced view. JC

I would be interested to know which issue this was in so that I can respond more fully. JC

I asked John Norris for your email address and he, as yet, hasn't seen fit to reply to my email. The title was nothing more than a play on the title of Baden Powell's book. JC

Are we talking about traders' ads or small ads and what kind of repetition? Traders pay for their space and readers want to sell their stuff. Ads are about 20% of the whole magazine. Let me know what you're thinking and I'll come back to you - being an 'editorial' guy I think about 'ed' rather than 'ad' pages. Ta, JC

News for The War & Peace Revival: Kent has been the home of the War & Peace Revival for more than 30 years. It is with great pleasure that the organisers can announce the show’s long term presence will remain in Kent! Returning to the Hop Farm Showground. The War & Peace Revival 2017 To be held at; Hop Farm Show Ground Paddock Wood Tonbridge Kent TN12 6PY Show dates: 25th to 29th July 2017 The organisers say, “We look forward to seeing you at the Hop Farm Show Ground for the World’s Largest Military Festival!” 2017 Show dates; 25th to 29th July 2018 Show dates; 24th to 28th July 2019 Show dates; 23rd to 27th July 2020 Show dates; 28th July to 1st August

Thanks for the further positive comments folks, I'm genuinely flattered. I have had a few emails - all positive except two - as well. One chap offered some positive suggestions (which I'll be taking up) and two were a bit troll-y. There are still things to do and improve as the spring comes on and, of course, suggestions, letters/emails etc from members of this forum are welcome. Thanks all. JC

Individual issues can be purchased online here; http://www.cmvmag.co.uk/view_issue.asp

Thanks very much folks - it's a start and things will continue to evolve as the months roll on. To be honest, if it hadn't been thrust on me, I wouldn't have chosen January for a new start but I had no choice in the timing. Input from people on here is always welcome whether that's suggestions, contributions or corrections and if someone can identify the truck axle in the centrespread, from the distinctive spring mount brackets or the diff, I'd love to hear what it is. JC

The new broom is already in use on Issue 189!

Thank you. I am genuinely flattered by such comments.

There's a lot of points here - perhaps too many to go into really so a few notes will have to suffice. No one is looking over my shoulder closely as they weren't over my predecessor's so content and quality are down to the ed. Small circulation hobby mags are marginal so don't employ anyone. Some editors work harder than others and some are interested in the scenes their magazines reflect. There is no sign of contributions to CMV drying up - the contributors to CMV have all agreed to carry on working for the mag and are, I think it's fair to say, signed up to new standards and ideas because they too like the magazine and I am glad to have them on board. There is a fundamental difference between club and commercial mags - I relied on what came in from members for Windscreen for three years (and put with naive accusations of a wartime and Jeep bias when all I did was use what people sent in topped up with a few things I wrote). Commercial mags offer more freedom to commission what is required to maintain a balance and steer away from endless - for example - show reports. CMV and other specialist magazines' budgets are tiny so we have to do a lot with a little. Museums and copyright of photos is a minefield - many museums try and charge copyright fees for pics they own copies of but not the copyright to and for copyright free images because they have a copy of the picture that needs to be scanned for an author such as old Ministry of Information pics. I am not going to write pages about this other than to say a bit of imagination goes a long way in getting B&W archive images free or cheaply for magazines. I have been a magazine professional since 1989 and made a career in 'enthusiast' mags where we have to, as mentioned above, do a lot with a little - guerrilla publishing is how I describe it - and imagination is the key. CMV will be no exception in a line that includes 4x4 Driver, BSH, LRW, 4x4, CLR... People can join us for the ride or they can stay at home. Thanks for commenting. JC

Thanks Bob. There's no articles on buying Land Rovers or Jeeps (and no Mahindras) in CMV 189!

Otterburn 2004.

The feature, I notice, says 'Auschwitz and Belsen' but it's interesting that the feature in question's author is being lauded in another thread here on similar topics about CMV...

Robin. This is the M201 - first in this group - that I regret selling

Thanks Robin - I still like old Land Rovers and have enough leafers to drive a different one every day of the week but I like other stuff a lot - sold my Hotchkiss M201 at a tough time but wish I hadn't... - and here's a Jeep picture from our epic trip to Egypt and the LRDG's stomping ground

Continuing the fecal analogy, you can also just flush it away and start again...

Practical Classics? Yes, I have read this on and off since it started. I still have Issue 1 somewhere... Readers' Restos? Happy to feature them - 100% As a bloke who has to do jobs outside, I have a lot of sympathy for others in the same boat so again 100% Vehicle Rallies? It is of no consequence who writes a report to me. We're all in this together so readers' reports are equally as valid as 'reporters'' but you may find that many of the 'reporters' are readers who have typed something up and submitted it. That said, I am going to do away with many of the shallow, page-filling, event reports with captions that say things like 'there was plenty to buy from the stalls'... Thanks Artists Rifles

That could be said about any business - Jeep restorer, military collectables shop, fast food emporium or magazine but all businesses should aim for happy customers who will come back again... Let's look forwards

Baz48 and Gas44, sorry if a few positive and optimistic comments have bothered you. I was quite flattered but your concerns deserve a reply too. I think there is hope and you should perhaps believe there is too for one reason in particular. You both comment that you like Windscreen, well it looks like it does now because I redesigned it with a good designer, changed its layout, proofread it and so on for the three years of my MVT contract. In that time it won two awards - Most Improved Club magazine in 2013 and Club Magazine of the year in 2015 - judged and presented by the Classic and Sports Car magazine editorial team at the NEC Classic Car Show. Windscreen is still essentially the same magazine now although it will no doubt continue evolve as its new editor gets to grips with it. So with CMV, give it a chance eh?

I have the reader survey information. Two things that may interest you; 1. unsurprisingly you weren't the only one to criticise the current CMV (this forum is also evidence of that). 2. I will be taking into account much of what was said in the reader survey as we change the magazine for the better.