Internal Reaction to Monthly Awake (page 4)

inquirer

---stillajwexelder---

It does not matter what the organization says or does - the brothers will always put positive spin on it

---inquirer---

Yeah, that's right. I never really liked the Awake! that much anyway... honestly. I only liked the Watchtower, because that's more well-rounded. Some info, some spiritual, a bit of yearly reports and so on.

inquirer

---minimus---

Supreme One
"It's amazing how the Slave knows just what we DON'T need!"

___

---inquiry---

I like that one! :D ha ha ha

inquirer

---ezekiel3---

FINANCIAL!

Agreed. You should see the 2005 Examining the Scriptures Daily. Remember that little daily missive, with a basic staple bound soft cover?

Not anymore. It is glue bound and printed on newspaper grade. When you open it, it cracks. There is no way this thing would last a year's use. (That's why I refrain from reading the day's text.)

With a captive market who needs quality?

___

---inquiry---

I"ve never been one into "good binding," I dont' give a toss about it... Well, at least with JW stuff. I don't think it's necessary. I've always thought it was a good idea.

But they must have had heaps more money in the 1980's compared with now! They used to bring out all kinds of stuff then!~

GermanXJW

Great analysis, _Atlas!

Gretchen956

Another sister proclaims, "Isn't it just amazing how the Slave knows just what we need."

When I saw this the first thing I thought of was all those magazines that kept piling up and up and up because we could never place them all. But, that wouldn't be the reason, I agree with...

FINANCIAL

The reason? Anyone checked into the price of paper lately? My guess is the cost is skyrocketing as we deplete natural resources and recycled costs MUCH more! Anyway, its probably a combination of all the financial reasons listed, but whenEVER the WTS is involved the serious enquirer wants to know --Where does the buck stop???

Sherry

Neo

That's what I said in another post:

A huge decision like the monthly Awake was certainly made by taking into consideration a variety of reasons, like brain drain in Bethel, loss of creativity, lack of managing skills (it's a formidable task to print over 20 million copies per issue), lack of interest and the difficulty of keeping different teams of translators all over the world. But the chief reason is money. They are not selling like they used to - and they understand it's probably time for the Awake to go, but it can't be dumped in a single swoop, so they are setting the stage now for further change if the trend continues.

Neo

doinmypart

I don't have any reactions to the monthly Awake, just a few thoughts as to why the WTS is taking this action.

The WTS is a publishing company. The WTS Company is dealing with higher production and distribution costs.

On the production side there are higher costs for paper. They're also lacking on human resources - they don't have the talent to continue to write articles that people want to read (not in this Internet/PDA/Cable TV era). Even with the new presses each issue takes time to prep & print. It also costs the WTS to store ink, paper, boxes, etc.

On the distribution side - The WTS ended subscriptions after postal rates increased a few years ago. The WTS now distributes magazines to the congregation in bulk via post office or UPS (a carrier in the U.S.). UPS rates increased in January 2005, and postal rates are expected to increase in 2006.

It is harder for the WTS to financially justify publishing rubbish that few want. Probably half the magazines sit in the R&F's house unplaced. I've talked to a few Congregation Secretaries and found that in several congregations (mine included) when the monthly field service report is calculated the number of magazines placed does not come close to the number of magazines the congregation receives. The WTS knows how many mags are shipped and how many are reported placed, and even those placement numbers are suspect.

Other publishing companies have advertisers that provide revenue. The WTS doesn't, instead they rely on the R&F. The R&F is wising up/tiring out/spending their money elsewhere. With the waters drying up and lawsuits on the horizon the WTS making changes. There are other places the WTS can spend "it's" money besides publications past their prime - real estate, loaning money for KH builds out on interest then having the local cong hand the deed to the building over to them.

dmp

xjw_b12

It does not matter what the organization says or does - the brothers will always put positive spin on it

I wonder what those same JWs would have said if they learned that the the Awake magazine was going to a weekly publishing? Why did they make such fanfare about the new printing presses and their printing capacity?

A brother, "I wonder what they will do with all the new presses. You know the last time they improved the presses, the Berlin Wall came down, maybe this will be the same thing."

Yes. Now that the announcement has been made, some earth shattering world event is bound to happen. Like the Pope dying

metatron

Good analysis, doinmypart.

Some time ago, a Bethel overseer I knew said that they canceled subscriptions with the hope that publishers

would have to attend meetings to pick up their magazines. I'd say that hope was dashed.

I've also heard about congregations in which the total of magazines placed doesn't match the number shipped in.

If so many of their placements are bogus, how many of their publishers are fake also?

I certainly hope that they cancel the Awake entirely - as this would put great pressure on their "ministry"

and would likely intensify the death spiral they seem to be sinking into.

metatron

GermanXJW

If they cancelled the Awake! entirely, JW would still have in their closets at home magazines to be placed for years. :-)

Internal Reaction to Monthly Awake

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