One Year Review as Editor

Dynasty · #1 08-20-2007, 06:03 PM

Mason Malmuth, as the Publisher, is who I report to each month when publishing a new issue of the Two Plus Two Internet Magazine. However, both of us are mostly intrested in readers' opinions about the quality of the Magazine. Now that I have published a year's worth of issues, it seems a good time to get a job review.

The Two Plus Two Internet Magazine started in January of 2005. Since then, there have been three editors.

Mason Malmuth: January, 2005 to June, 2005 & August, 2006 (7 issues)
Ed Miller: July, 2005 to July, 2006 (13 issues)
Bryan Clark: September, 2006 to present (12 issues)

I've been in the position of editor long enough so that now I should get the credit for what's good about the Magazine and the blame for what's bad about it.

Those who were reading the Magazine regularly a year ago should recognize that there has been a fair amount of change including our staff of regular writers and the general emphasis of the content.

So, I've created this thread hoping readers will let loose with all their opinions of the Magazine, what's been done right and wrong over the past year, and what readers want to see going forward. You're the boss. What do you say?

1p0kerboy · #2 08-20-2007, 09:18 PM

Honestly?

Does every article have to be a serious article about poker strategy?

If you look at the mainstream poker (paper) magazines they are full of articles about a wide assortment of things, such as trip reports and whatnot.

Even the strategy articles in the 2+2 mag are predominantly covering unpopular games.

I think the whole direction of the magazine should be reconsidered.

Howard Burroughs · #3 08-21-2007, 06:48 AM

I think you are doing a great job.

Off the top of my head, I'd like to see more .......

a) Limit Hold'em

b) Ray Zee

c) Sklansky (new)

d) Nolan Dalla

e) Stoxtrader

All in all, I really like the 2+2 mag.

Best Wishes

Howard

1p0kerboy · #4 08-21-2007, 08:51 AM

Let me add that I think your efforts and dedication appear to be impeccable.

But let's call a spade a spade here. You're simply not going to attract that many readers when there are a bunch of topics that nobody is really interested in, such as strategy articles on Badugi or Chinese Poker or the other unpopular games.

In my experience magazines are meant to entertain.

I think strategy articles are important, especially considering this is a 2+2 product, but at the same time I think this should only be one part of the formula.

I can think of a lot of interesting articles that don't really appear anywhere else right now, such as following some of the results of the high-stakes online cash games (there is a site that tracks these and the guy posts here as well) and following the legal landscape of online poker amongst other things.

HiatusOver · #5 08-21-2007, 12:04 PM

Wow I love the magazine. We have so much info on the "popular games", and u guys still include articles on those too I dont understand the complaint. I think the fact that u run articles on these other games sets you apart from anything else going on in the poker world media.

I only read the draw/badugi/chinese articles right now, but they are all good and I am a poker information junkie and see myself attacking the archives on a rainy day.

Your Mom · #6 08-21-2007, 12:33 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Let me add that I think your efforts and dedication appear to be impeccable.

But let's call a spade a spade here. You're simply not going to attract that many readers when there are a bunch of topics that nobody is really interested in, such as strategy articles on Badugi or Chinese Poker or the other unpopular games.

In my experience magazines are meant to entertain.

I think strategy articles are important, especially considering this is a 2+2 product, but at the same time I think this should only be one part of the formula.

I can think of a lot of interesting articles that don't really appear anywhere else right now, such as following some of the results of the high-stakes online cash games (there is a site that tracks these and the guy posts here as well) and following the legal landscape of online poker amongst other things.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's all kinds of good info on the popular games. I appreciate reading about the less popular games even though I rarely play them. It helps you think about poker in a different way. There's still enough in the mag about hold em. Plus, I really like anything Yao writes on sports betting.

PopeInRome · #7 08-21-2007, 01:15 PM

You had two press passes to the WSOP. Why no articles? You wasted a great opportunity. Also, two of the most memorable pieces from the past year were written by you.(Stud & Stardust articles) You should write more.

tobbilla78 · #8 08-22-2007, 02:34 AM

I think you are doing great job just keep it up.

MarkGritter · #9 08-22-2007, 06:49 PM

There are a couple of issues here.

What should the magazine contain? Is Dynasty doing a good job finding authors who write the articles that 2+2 readers want?

If I wanted a magazine that was about personalities, tournament reports, and NLHE, I'd just read Card Player. I think there is a need for a solid strategy-oriented publication. I hope that's what 2+2 Publishing wanted to produce!

I like reading articles about a variety of games, because I play a variety. I can understand why NLHE-focused players don't find much of interest. But I think that top players are still going to benefit from learning a variety of games. I like the current mix a lot better than the stories and such we saw more of a year ago, even if there are particular strategy articles I thought were weak or uninformative.

(I'm surprised to see complaints about Chinese in this thread because AFAIK no article on Chinese Poker has yet appeared!)

Dynasty has said he'd like to see more LHE submissions. I know from personal experience Dynasty is willing to go out and aggressively recruit articles. Maybe more creative solutions are required to get those articles, but I admit I don't have any brilliant ideas.

How has Dynasty performed his editorial duties? Are the articles of high quality and well-presented?

My #1 complaint, as an author, is that it hasn't been clear to me whether an article was accepted or not, until it shows up.

There have been some formatting issues (font changes within an article on some browsers, etc.) which I think have now been fixed.

I think there have been several articles (including my own) that could benefit from some revision/editing. I don't expect a formal peer-review (this is not an academic publication, after all) but I think Dynasty could do more to ensure that articles are well-written, accurate, and readable.

GeniusToad · #10 08-22-2007, 10:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]

If I wanted a magazine that was about personalities, tournament reports, and NLHE, I'd just read Card Player. I think there is a need for a solid strategy-oriented publication. I hope that's what 2+2 Publishing wanted to produce!

[/ QUOTE ]

exactly.

[ QUOTE ]
I like reading articles about a variety of games, because I play a variety. I can understand why NLHE-focused players don't find much of interest. But I think that top players are still going to benefit from learning a variety of games. I like the current mix a lot better than the stories and such we saw more of a year ago, even if there are particular strategy articles I thought were weak or uninformative.

[/ QUOTE ]

typically i enjoy the content very much. diversity of subject matter is good. i may not play badugi, for instance, but i'm aware of it and also aware of it's growing popularity. it seems to me that writing strategy articles for such a game is progressive and cutting edge, and not at all a waste of space.

keep up the good work, Dynasty.

oh, and more STT stuff please!