RonE
Member
While reading the December 2008 issue of "American Rifleman" I came across
what I thought was an article on page 38 titled: "Guns & Gold: Security in
Times of Uncertainty". The article turned out to be nothing more than a
paid advertisement. The reason I thought it was an article was because of
the page layout. On closer inspection it was called an 'Advertorial'. The
page layout was the same as all of the articles listed in the table of
contents at the beginning of the magazine but the 'Advertorial' was not
listed. Also not listed were the authors of the advertisement/article on
page 90 with the rest of the authors of "American Rifleman" articles.
I am disappointed because I feel that the magazine has prostituted itself
and sold its members (subscribers) down the river. I have always held to
the belief that "American Rifleman" was a cut above almost all other
gun/shooting magazines, that their reporting and articles were the least
biased in the industry and that the editorial staff of the magazine worked
hard to publish the straight dope! I was wrong, in spite of plenty of pages
of advertising, the editors want more, to the extent that they try to hide
it or sneak it in.
I wrote to the editorial director of NRA Publications, Mr. John Zent and
expressed my displeasure. The reply I got from Mr. Zent was nothing short
of a polite kiss off, (Don't you know that the magazines revenue comes from
advertising?). I encourage you to look at page 38 in the December 2008
issue of "American Rifleman" and if you feel that because of the page
layout, the advertisement is misleading or underhanded on the part of the
editors, to drop Mr. Zent a line at: [email protected] and ask him to stop
this (in my opinion) underhanded and deceptive practice.
what I thought was an article on page 38 titled: "Guns & Gold: Security in
Times of Uncertainty". The article turned out to be nothing more than a
paid advertisement. The reason I thought it was an article was because of
the page layout. On closer inspection it was called an 'Advertorial'. The
page layout was the same as all of the articles listed in the table of
contents at the beginning of the magazine but the 'Advertorial' was not
listed. Also not listed were the authors of the advertisement/article on
page 90 with the rest of the authors of "American Rifleman" articles.
I am disappointed because I feel that the magazine has prostituted itself
and sold its members (subscribers) down the river. I have always held to
the belief that "American Rifleman" was a cut above almost all other
gun/shooting magazines, that their reporting and articles were the least
biased in the industry and that the editorial staff of the magazine worked
hard to publish the straight dope! I was wrong, in spite of plenty of pages
of advertising, the editors want more, to the extent that they try to hide
it or sneak it in.
I wrote to the editorial director of NRA Publications, Mr. John Zent and
expressed my displeasure. The reply I got from Mr. Zent was nothing short
of a polite kiss off, (Don't you know that the magazines revenue comes from
advertising?). I encourage you to look at page 38 in the December 2008
issue of "American Rifleman" and if you feel that because of the page
layout, the advertisement is misleading or underhanded on the part of the
editors, to drop Mr. Zent a line at: [email protected] and ask him to stop
this (in my opinion) underhanded and deceptive practice.
