What would make you read the parachutist again?

[jtval 0]

Seriously--
I know the poll is dumb but I have seen lots of people whine about the content (or lack thereof) in the parachutist.


What type of article are you looking foward to reading?

What type of article would make you hold onto your parachutists for future reference?

For those who already hold onto their mags what would you do to improve it?

For those of you in the know, why aren't you writing more articles? I write stuff about our local boogies but nothing of great info.

For those in the USPA editorial board,
Are you taking note of this thread?

My photos

My Videos

[DSE 5]

I do read it as-is.
I'd like more articles about freeflying, wingsuiting, camera flying technique. I'd like to see a spotlight on new jumpers. I love the historical articles "from back in the day." I enjoy seeing time-capsules from very old articles found in the magazine."
I'd like to see more rigging articles, etc. I loved the two-part series from Laszlo on flash in photography. The new "Camera Corner" articles are useful too.
Articles on "who is doing what" are cool. For example, an interview on how Norman Kent recently shot the skydiving sequences in "Get Smart" or the 100 way CRW record. Maybe a tour of a factory like PD or Rigging Innovations, to show what our tools go through before coming to our home in plastic bags.
How about some stories on skydiving exercises for the off-seasonal months?

That said, I've noticed quite a change in what's happening in the magazine lately, and it seems to be much better in the past few months. Anyone else feel that way?

[peek 21]

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For those in the USPA editorial board...

What is that?

[jtval 0]

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For those in the USPA editorial board...

What is that?

I had no idea what to call it.. but I mean to address those who put the magazine together

My photos

My Videos

[peek 21]

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I had no idea what to call it.. but I mean to address those who put the magazine together

That's a good question. I don't know if any of the Parachutist staff frequents dropzone.com. But all the cool skydivers do so I guess they had better, huh?

[DSE 5]

I can tell you that the editor of the magazine reads in here regularly. He's very much an on-the-ball guy. But I wish he'd publish more of my photos.

[darkwing 5]

I read it all the time anyway. My guess is most of the people who whine about it would have trouble answering your question. Many would say "more boobies."

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[JohnRich 4]

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I know the poll is dumb...

Yeah, the poll options don't even make any sense.

[howardwhite 6]

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.. but I mean to address those who put the magazine together

I know all of them. It's a very small staff for a magazine of its size and content, and they work hard. Occasionally I have either sent them items from dz.com or told them about things going on here; invariably, they have told me "Yes, we know about that."
They welcome constructive criticism; bitching about not reading the magazine doesn't help.
FWIW, they also have a MySpace presence, where they have invited comments.

HW

[kschilk 0]

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For those in the USPA editorial board...

What is that?

I had no idea what to call it.. but I mean to address those who put the magazine together

Keep it geeneral, just use "staph".

"T'was ever thus."

[kelpdiver 2]

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I love the historical articles "from back in the day." I enjoy seeing time-capsules from very old articles found in the magazine."

I think those have been the most interesting over the 4 years I've gotten it.

They should mail D1-100, 101-200, etc every month and see what sort of tales they can get.

It seems like the period of time in the 50-70s was the golden era for emerging sports - diving, jumping, climbing - and very few now a days have that same pioneering sense. I think about the James Bond movies from the era - these are all activities we do now (minus people shooting at us), but at the time was way over the edge of normal.

[SansSuit 1]

More of the basics. Not everyone cares about the latest record or about a boogie in East Bangladesh. However every jumper should know how a pilot chute works or how to load an airplane or the differences between a 7-cell and a 9-cell. Those who know everything already might even learn a thing or two. Call it a refresher.

The USPA is concerned about retaining jumpers. Put in a little more content aimed at those on the fence. The magazine may be the only non-dropzone source of information they have. Experienced jumpers probably have all the resources they need.

Peace,
-Jeff.

Peace,
-Dawson.
http://www.SansSuit.com
The Society for the Advancement of Naked Skydiving

[faulknerwn 38]

I don't like the boogie articles unless its some big event (record, freefall convention etc). I LOVE the old-time articles - those are great.

The new rigging articles are good for beginners. What might be an interesting idea would be to have an article comparing canopies of a similar class - Sabre 2/Pilot Triathalon/Spectre etc by someone who is not working for the manufacturer and has no bias.

[denete 3]

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I read it all the time anyway. My guess is most of the people who whine about it would have trouble answering your question. Many would say "more boobies."

I can just see Parachutist in a plastic wrapper behind the counter at the local Race Track Gas Station.

[popsjumper 2]

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...Sabre 2/Pilot Triathalon/Spectre etc ...

Wendy, Wendy, Wendy...oh, the horror of it!

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[popsjumper 2]

I would like to see...

A "What's Going On in the USPA" section telling us members just what the hell the EC, BOD, and the Commitees are doing and/or considering.

More basic info for the youngsters. Gear, rigging, safety, etc.

More highlight on the accomplishments of the youngsters.

Never EVER again seeing any derogatory comments in ANY article about the youngsters, their status in the skydiving community or their accomplishments. You editors can and SHOULD take those types of comments out of any article submitted.


More past-history articles. Skydiving history...not just old-timer war stories that focus on the stupid shit done.

More techical information on the aircraft we ride. What's good, what's bad and what to watch out for.

A complete ban on publishing anything showing un-safe practices unless its a "what NOT to do" type article. I'm talking about those articles and pictures that brag about "oh what fun!" but in reality promote stupid, unsafe practices.

Elimination of post-boogie coverage. It mostly brags about the party and not the skydiving. Yeah, yeah, yeah, throw in a couple of skydiving pics and call it informative....NOT. You wanna promote skydiving, do it in the mag. You wanna promote drunken debauchery, do it on your DZ web page.

A large, dedicated, "Just Having Fun" section showing pics of skydives naming people and places without all the boogie-related hoopla. Yes, some of that's done already. More of it.

Incident names and places.

A mostly-different listing of EC and BOD members?

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[feuergnom 29]

so there's this extremely boring interview-section with prefabricated questions, with the answers edited down to something like three lines. if this was changed to a real interview, where it didnT matter if it cover three pages, well....

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[davelepka 4]

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I know the poll is dumb but I have seen lots of people whine about the content (or lack thereof) in the parachutist.

Parachutist is limited by the fact that it's the 'official' publication of the USPA. It will never be 'good' because it will always be connected to the USPA, and it's agenda. I don't mean this in a conspiracy theory way, but it is essentailly 'propaganda' in that it's a publication printed by the ruling body.

Skydiving Mag, on the other hand, is a much better publication because they print whatever they want to print. Often times what's interesting is not what the USPA wants printed in their magazine.

At least ten years ago, Skydiving did an interview with Al Frisbee, an old timer from Perris, where he was quoted as saying,'The problem with skydiving today is that we're selling people Disneyland, and delivering Death Valley'. This is something that has stuck with me for all these years, and this is something that Parachutist would never print.

With the limitations of the USPA in place, Parachutist is like Christian rock. It sounds like rock, and feels like rock, but it's not quite all there.

I do want to hear about the stupid things that jumpers are doing, here and abroad. I also want to hear about BASE jumping. I want to read articles that are critical of DZs, manufacturers, and organizations.

I don't want to see 16 identical tiny little pictures of people getting awards for every 50 jumps they make. I don't want to a listing of 100's of names of every license that was given out. I don't need to see a printed list of every GM DZ in the world. Hello, we have the internet for that now.

So if Parachutist could go ahead and remove the above items, it could go back to being what it is, a full-color brochure for the USPA, and what good ole, aw shucks, family-style good time skydiving is.

[jtval 0]

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DSE--I can tell you that the editor of the magazine reads in here regularly. He's very much an on-the-ball guy. But I wish he'd publish more of my photos.

I know what you mean. I guess I should send some more in.

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Darkwing--I read it all the time anyway. My guess is most of the people who whine about it would have trouble answering your question. Many would say "more boobies."

I know what you mean. I guess I should send some more in.

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Howard white--
I know all of them. It's a very small staff for a magazine of its size and content...they welcome constructive criticism; bitching about not reading the magazine doesn't help.
FWIW, they also have a MySpace presence, where they have invited comments.
HW

I wasn't bitching about it. I have also checked out and participated in the Myspace polls.
for the record I do read the magazine when I get the chance I also write articles for it. They are about my local dz which is what I guess those who whine are whining about.

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kschilk
Keep it geeneral, just use"staph".

...like the infection?

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Sansuit--More of the basics. Not everyone cares about the latest record or about a boogie in East Bangladesh. However every jumper should know how a pilot chute works or how to load an airplane or the differences between a 7-cell and a 9-cell. Peace,
-Jeff.

True but that should be taught at the DZ, as well.

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Faulknerwn--I don't like the boogie articles....

The new rigging articles are good for beginners. What might be an interesting idea would be to have an article comparing canopies of a similar class - Sabre 2/Pilot

That would be cool if someone would do it.
I only write what I am qualified to write but someday I would love to be able to give a real gear or safety oriented article. FWIW, there have been alot of traveling jumpers who told me they heard about the DZ from reading one of the articles. Vegas has a bad reputation for skydivers and I've been screaming about how cool Mesquite is for 3+ years, now.

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Pops jumper--I would like to see...

A "What's Going On in the USPA" section...

More basic info for the youngsters. Gear, rigging, safety..

More highlight on the accomplishments of the youngsters...

Never EVER again seeing any derogatory comments in ANY article about the youngsters,..

More past-history articles. Skydiving history...not just old-timer war stories that focus on the stupid shit done...

More techical information on the aircraft we ride. What's good, what's bad and what to watch out for.

A complete ban on publishing anything showing un-safe practices unless its a "what NOT to do" type article.

Elimination of post-boogie coverage. It mostly brags about the party and not the skydiving.

A large, dedicated, "Just Having Fun" section showing pics of skydives naming people and places without all the boogie-related hoopla. Yes, some of that's done already. More of it.

Incident names and places.

A mostly-different listing of EC and BOD members?

All very good suggestions. I think I'm innocent of the POST BOOGIE coverage. I mention it in some article because it is part of the boogie but I try to write about the history of, the event during and the awards after the boogie.

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Feuergnomso there's this extremely boring interview-section with prefabricated questions, with the answers edited down to something like three lines. if this was changed to a real interview, where it didnT matter if it cover three pages, well....

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Davelepka--Parachutist is limited by the fact that it's the 'official' publication of the USPA.
Skydiving Mag, on the other hand, is a much better publication because they print whatever they want to print. Often times what's interesting is not what the USPA wants printed in their magazine.

I do want to hear about the stupid things that jumpers are doing, here and abroad. I also want to hear about BASE jumping. I want to read articles that are critical of DZs, manufacturers, and organizations.

I don't want to see 16 identical tiny little pictures of people getting awards for every 50 jumps they make. I don't want to a listing of 100's of names of every license that was given out. I don't need to see a printed list of every GM DZ in the world. Hello, we have the internet for that now.

So if Parachutist could go ahead and remove the above items, it could go back to being what it is, a full-color brochure for the USPA, and what good ole, aw shucks, family-style good time skydiving is.

I don't know how much they sift through the material that is sent in and I know they have some regular/staff wirters. But I think they are limited to what they are sent.
When I first joined I read every word in the magazine. I actually thought it was cool to see my and my friends names in the new fallers section. Now, not so much.
The thing about highlighting the newbies is that no one is writing anything about them. The new licenses is the only way to get in the issue.

Now the question is:
Do any of you write or know someone who writes?
Can you give them writing credit as you convey your thoughts? do you have any expertise in the areas mentioned above? Is there a Newbie you'd like to write about? If the answer to these questions is NO then are you doing these things at your local dz, at least? I suspect that this crowd I am talking to are all actively giving back but maybe someone who reads this will step up as well.

To the parachutist "Staph"
My bad if you get a thousand articles that you dont wanna print. I don't mean to speak for you I was merely responding to some comments I read recently about the mag.

My photos

My Videos

[NickDG 23]

PABLEMCHUTIST . . .

The magazine is what it is, simply a house-organ and ad-well. It could be so much more.

Over the years they have run "extensive" gear reviews both on canopies and containers, however all the info presented is unfiltered and straight from the manufacturers. They will never print an experienced (jumper or rigger) opinion on rig "X-ray" with warts and all. They will never antagonize a current or potential advertiser, especially when the manufacturer, or someone with close ties to the manufacturer, sits on the board of directors. This is not putting members first . . .

I think most of us are the same. We devour every word in the magazine during the first few years in the sport then, not so much, as it becomes stale and repetitious. And of course you can't opt out of receiving the magazine (as far as I know) because it would deflate circulation and affect advertising rates. USPA will also sell your personal information (name and address) for 15 cents to anyone who can pay for it (order minimum is 500 names.) This is not putting members first . . .

Some will think the articles in the magazine are the "meat" of it, but the articles serve only to separate the adverts. And this is where USPA is really dropping the ball. The fact the magazine is "in house" and not sold on newsstands for public consumption could really work in our favor. The hard truths of this sport could be, and should be, openly discussed in the magazine because it's only "us" who reads it. USPA's argument against this is, "the magazine recruits new jumpers," but in reality very few new jumpers ever see, or even know of, the magazine until they've made a jump. This is not putting members first . . .

"We usually run articles written in third person." This forgoing long held USPA tenant is the bane of all good writing in the magazine. I've been known to pen a decent tale from time to time, and I've been published in SKYDIVING, some Euro skydiving magazines, a good handful of outside the sport periodicals. Yet, all I ever get from USPA is rejection slips. Once I completely re-wrote a piece, in USPA demanded style, and then tore it up. It went from being "Moby Dick" to being "Limp Dick." The point is we are a wonderfully eclectic band of people who could lend the color needed to make the magazine articles come alive. This is not putting members first . . .

Instructional issues are obscured in the magazine. The magazine is the only failsafe conduit to all Instructors but we don’t take advantage of it. Here is where the thirty year AFF Instructors can connect with the six month AFF Instructors. Where are the "Tips & Tricks" of the trade? Where is the mix of old and new that creates the new future? Instead, and overall, we have hundreds of little chiefdoms doing their own thing with varying degrees of results. For real guidance the USPA defers to the SIMS, the big blue sleeping pill. This is not putting members first . . .

I could go on but that's enough for one gulp. In true AFF fashion I will end this critique on a high note. A lot of the time the photographs in the magazine are stunning. I do occasionally read the ads when I'm looking for a new piece of gear. And I get a kick out of seeing my former students getting awards or competing in big time record events. I also get a certain amount of comfort, in this crazy mixed-up world, every time the magazine lands in my mailbox like its done every month for the past thirty years. It's one of the few constants in my life . . .

So overall I'll say, "PARACHUTIST, you're cleared for Level Two!"

Edit: Today, I'm off to Al Frisby's Perris memorial. His picture should have been on this month's cover. He was a ripper of a jumper/rigger and mentor to many. And another voice not heard in the magazine, another wealth of info unknown to Johnny-Jumper on the other coast . . .

USPA would do well to heed Al's dying advice, "Take more chances!"

NickD

[peckerhead 0]

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I read it all the time anyway. My guess is most of the people who whine about it would have trouble answering your question. Many would say "more boobies."

Maybe we could start a new magazine and call it ParaHooters!

ParaHootist?

Something along the lines of easy rider?

[towerrat 0]

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PABLEMCHUTIST . . .

The magazine is what it is, simply a house-organ and ad-well. It could be so much more.


etc............



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

excellent post Nick. I couldn't have said it better myself. ( I guess that's why I didn't)....LOL

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes!

• Quote

[darkwing 5]

Here's a couple of ideas. I wonder if the Editor would consider putting (most) rejected articles on the web? Of course there would still be some editorial standards, but they would be very, very minimal. I'd be very interested in reading the rejections, to form my own opinion of the validity of the rejection. Call it "Parachutist Extra"

Also, perhaps an external advisory board.

Still, as I say above, I'm generally OK with Parachutist, and always have been.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[packerboy 3]

Noone needs the list of GM's.

Maybe A licences and D licences, since those ones are more of an "accomplishment" than B's and C's.

Maybe a featured dropzone every month.

Maybe something interesting about a featured skydiver that is not skydiving related...

Maybe pictures from someone other than Norman Kent and Mike McGowan... (that ones a stretch, but you know what I mean.. make room for others). I do love their photos BTW.

The good thing about it though is that they put 90% of the crap in the back, so you know when you get to a certain point, you can chuck it.

--------------------------------------------------
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

[LouDiamond 1]

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Maybe pictures from someone other than Norman Kent and Mike McGowan... (that ones a stretch, but you know what I mean.. make room for others). I do love their photos BTW.

It is a HUGE stretch and quite frankly,just a terribly worded and ill informed statement. There was a time (years) that McGowan didn't have pictures in Parachutist. Also keep in mind that those 2 have consistently provided exceptionally high quality photos that set the standard within this sport for almost a decade, so they are going to have a good deal of their work in print. It is also why they were both recognized by the USPA for their contributions.

The other thing to not forget in this whole line of discussion is that the Parachutist relies on member submissions of stories AND photos. If (different)people don't submit quality stories and or photos how can they expect the content of the magazine to be better or different every month? I would wager a beer most of the people bitching have never submitted a story and or photo to parachutist. And face it, not everything that gets sent in is going to be printed or printed the exact way it was written ( it's happened to me). I agree, some things need to be changed but overall, we get out of it what the membership puts into it.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING