Cap Magazine

[RiverAux]

The old CAP News stunk to high heaven.  It rarely had anything like a feature article and basically consisted of reprints of squadron or wing press releases and articles by various national staff members that nobody ever read.  I about beat my head against the wall wondering why in the world somebody thought
an article about an SLS class held by Snuff Smith Composite Squadron was worth publisizing to all of CAP.

 

[Stonewall]

As usual, you're all full of joy.  If you don't like it, it's absolutely the worst idea/product/school/uniform/etc ever.

[JayT]

The old CAP News stunk to high heaven.  It rarely had anything like a feature article and basically consisted of reprints of squadron or wing press releases and articles by various national staff members that nobody ever read.  I about beat my head against the wall wondering why in the world somebody thought
an article about an SLS class held by Snuff Smith Composite Squadron was worth publisizing to all of CAP.

The reason, is because it gave you a sense of attachment to the Program, and to the paper. I'm sure that the Cadets' and SM's of Snuffy Smith Squadron were proud that there SLS was publised.

'Course, we need to get back to more important things, like not discussing how to determine if someone's service in CAP is worth of a pension or not.

[RiverAux]

The reason, is because it gave you a sense of attachment to the Program, and to the paper. I'm sure that the Cadets' and SM's of Snuffy Smith Squadron were proud that there SLS was publised.

Its all about a sense of scale.  A national-level magazine should publish articles that could potentially be of interest to be read by the entire membership.  An article about an SLS would be great for squadron, group, or wing newsletters, but no one from across the country is going to read beyond "Snuffy Smith Squadron held an SLS...."  They certainly are not going to read the several paragraphs containing the names of those who attended.  So, for 99.9% of the members, that space was a total waste. 

 

[Pumbaa]

RiverAux you are correct.  The idea of the magazine is to appeal to a broad range of the country, both in and out of CAP.  The magazine is a "House Organ" and nothing more.  It has it's purpose.  And that is to put CAP out there in the best light and hopefully impress and recruit a little... The old Cap Newspaper was more like the local/ hometown newspaper with all it's pimples and blemishes.

For the most part the magazine *is* well done.  Other than the photo shopping on the cover.. ugh.. don't get me started... It represents CAP in a very good way.  I was thinking that Officer was kind of cute....  She's my type... ooops I digress....

The online version of CAP news was intended to take the place of the newspaper.  Rather than have it as a list feed, I would have rather see it as an online newspaper such as what Gannet has been doing with all their newspapers.  However, that would be a lot of work just to maintain it.  that is more money that CAP has to dish out and resources shifted from more important things.  Would we benefit from having something in a different online format vs the RSS?  Here's a question how many of you actually read the RSS feed from national?

I pull the RSS feed from national onto our Group and Squadron websites.  This is automatic so there is no additional work involved.  I am trying to figure how I can make it into more of a news layout vs RSS list.

Now the big issue... getting good photos and better stories is a MAJOR  issue.  I published a newspaper for a radio network for 13 years before they switched to a magazine format.  I had a heck of a time getting images and stories, as I am sure CAP is having the same issue.

Until CAP place more emphasis on getting PAO;s who are willing to participate and trained we will always have these issues.

The national PAO academy is a good start but there needs to be more regional.  Then again we tried to have a regional academy in NY last month, yet we could only get 8 people who would come to Syracuse!  Most were coming from Long Island!!!  We could only get one person from the Syracuse area code to come.. how sad is that!?!?!

[Outlandish]

Also, I think it's bull that only Spaatz cadets get their names listed in the back.

I remember back in the day when I got my Mitchell, I couldn't wait for my copy of CAPNews to show up so that I could find my name in the back.

National posts the awards on the National webpage every month. Also the obits.

Also the Eaker cadets.