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    RC’s Reefkeeping Sheds Magazine Format, Gives Blogging a Try

    What was once one of the top online aquarium magazines is no more, at least in format. Yes, as we enter the maturation of web 2.0, Reef Central’s Reefkeeping.com website is shedding its online monthly publication format in favor of the more up-to-date blog. RC Admin, Jason Nugent has said they are not currently doing [...]

    reefkeeping blog

    What was once one of the top online aquarium magazines is no more, at least in format. Yes, as we enter the maturation of web 2.0, Reef Central’s Reefkeeping.com website is shedding its online monthly publication format in favor of the more up-to-date blog. RC Admin, Jason Nugent has said they are not currently doing formal issues, but will be experimenting with a “blog-style format” with more frequent articles.

    Over the past few years it seems RC has realized that its greatest strength is in the members and community. That and they wrangled their members into writing for free or for much less money than the “industry pros”. I mean that in the most light-hearted way, but it’s true and it’s not a bad thing. If you’re writing about marine aquariums you should do it because you love it, not for the money… although this is not always the case.

    For Reef Central / Reefkeeping a community driven ‘blog’ is much more fitting for the online discussion giant. Why face the expense of paid professional writers for a sister-website whose traffic pales in comparison to their dominating forums. I cannot speak for everyone, but I believe most aquarists currently visit Reef Central for their discussion board not for Reefkeeping magazine. Additionally, RC no longer needs the formal discussion catalyst. The knowledge sharing aspect of a professional online magazine is and will be missed, but if it’s written or published elsewhere odds are it will make its way to RC.

    Welcome to the reef blogosphere RK. We’ll be watching, but keep us reading… and  don’t stop with the TOTM. We like those.

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    Meta

    • http://www.nanoreefblog.com Curvball

      I’ve noticed this move to the blog too… honestly I don’t think it’s a good idea. For one the monthly RC mag was always worth a read, but the blog currently is lacking… and the disabled comments doesn’t really make it a blog either. Right now it just comes across as bit half arsed, as if they don’t particularly care. (if they cared that much about their users/readers surely it would have been great to see some form of proper announcement… perhaps I missed it?) Just my take on it.

      Someone will come along and fill the gap now left by reefkeeping magazine – whether it will be of any real value is another thing.

      With regards to the writing side of things – if a professional writer is to write an article, one should pay them accordingly. I understand that writing about this hobby is a hobby in it’s self for most of us, but for people who pay the bills with their words it is really not on to ask them to write for free.

    • Mark Poletti

      Well said Eric. The world is not perfect and there are many people that would complain about the little things rather than accept that times have changed. The selection of forums is greater than ever and in combination with informational blogs like GBD, the reefing community has more resources than ever; and this is some I am grateful for.

      Unlike many who would rather knock sites for where they fall short, I use them for their benefits and to share and expand my reefing rolodex.

      I look for forward to what the new decade will bring us all :)

    • http://www.calacademy.org Matt

      “With regards to the writing side of things – if a professional writer is to write an article, one should pay them accordingly. I understand that writing about this hobby is a hobby in it’s self for most of us, but for people who pay the bills with their words it is really not on to ask them to write for free.”

      Very well said, and I’d add that even for people who DON’T pay the bills with their words, it still takes a substantial amount of time and effort to produce the content in a good article. You get what you pay for!

    • http://glassbox-design.com eric michael

      @Curvball and Matt, I agree whole heartedly. At the very least it is a token of appreciation for one’s time–regardless if you it is your full time profession or not.

      My point was not to suggest publishers stop paying writers, rather RC is unique in that members are willing to write for free.

    • Jeremy Maneyapanda

      +1

    • http://blog.captive-aquatics.com/ Mike Maddox

      RC's “magazine” hasn't been worth reading in ~6 years…I doubt their blog will be any better. They've never really cared about anything but $$$…

      Advanced Aquarist is where it's at in terms of free and online. Nothing else comes close. They also pay better than anyone else, including the big print mags such as TFH. TFH begs me to write for them, but AA always gets first pick, firstly because it's a superior publication, and secondly because, as you said, they pay.

    • http://blog.captive-aquatics.com/ Mike Maddox

      RC’s “magazine” hasn’t been worth reading in ~6 years…I doubt their blog will be any better. They’ve never really cared about anything but $$$…

      Advanced Aquarist is where it’s at in terms of free and online. Nothing else comes close. They also pay better than anyone else, including the big print mags such as TFH. TFH begs me to write for them, but AA always gets first pick, firstly because it’s a superior publication, and secondly because, as you said, they pay.

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