[Ansteorra] When did this change????

[j_smallw at titan.sfasu.edu]

So we went from 2 free pages per event to 2 free pages for a single event.  I
can understand how that could easily change Blackstar revenue.

Then we went to 3 free pages for a single event (an improvement over just 2).
I can see how this could affect smaller group events that have smaller budgets
if they do more than one event per year.  The second event has an advertising
expense of $100 (for 2 months of single page ads) right off the bat.
Admittedly, they would have the same problem with the previous policy (2 pages
for a single event per year).

I've heard that the suggestion has been made to change it to 3 free pages per
year to be used as the group sees fit (2 for 1 event, and 1 page for a second
event, for example, making their ad expense for the second event $50 rather
than the above $100).  I've also heard that this suggestion was shot down due
to the impression that it would create too much additional record keeping.

I'd also like to point out that the late fees for the Black Star have recently
changed from a graduated schedule to a flat $50 even if the ad is a single day
late.  Since the Black Star is apparently running in the black now, I can only
figure that it's just increased incouragement to get groups to get their ads in
on time, rather than trying to get even more money for the Black Star.

I would be interested to find out what impact these various policy changes have
had on advertising practices at the group level.  Are more groups using the 3
pages for their events (1/2)?  Are they buying three pages for a second or
third event or are they going with the absolute minimum to reduce cost?
Likewise, has this policy affected smaller (poorer) groups?  Are they only
putting on one event a year rather than occasionally putting on a second event
because they might operate at a loss on the second event due to the cost of
advertising?

Ansgar


Quoting Michael Tucker <michaelt at neosoft.com>:
> Actually, that isn't quite correct. The policy is: up to 3 free pages
> FOR ONE EVENT. Those pages may be spread out among more than one issue
> of the Black Star. This has been the policy for over of a year.
>
> Per the June, 2001 Black Star: "Each hosting group is entitled to two
> free pages of event advertisement in the Black Star PER YEAR (not per
> event, as it has been in the past)." Lord Stefan amended this policy,
> upping it to three free pages but limiting it to one event.
>
> Most folks seem to be using this as one page two months before the
> event, and two pages (with a map and directions to site) the month
> before the event.
>
> This has made the size of each month's Black Star much more
> consistent.
> Where we were getting killed (before enacting this policy) was when
> the
> Black Star would go over 2 ounces. The stipend basically pays for
> printing and mailing a 2 ounce newsletter. Even a single sheet of
> paper
> more was costing us several hundred dollars a month in excess postage.
> By getting this under control, and having groups pay for any
> additional
> pages, the Black Star is paying for itself. Between this and the fund
> raisers that were done for a few months last year, the Black Star was
> able to repay its several thousand dollar debt to the Kingdom. It
> appears to be operating at sometimes a slight profit ("normal" sized
> issues), sometimes a slight loss (fat issues) - basically break-even,
> as
> it should.
>
> Michael Silverhands
> deputy to the Kingdom Chronicler
>
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