posted by Joe Polk at 12:35 AM /
This past weekend, I opened my mailbox, and thought we had received the newest mtl-Mt. Lebanon Magazine. Imagine my surprise when I looked and saw that it was't "mtl" but rather a new magazine called "IN Mt. Lebanon" published by a company called IN Community Magazines.
I wasn't the only person confused about this new publication. mtl-Mt. Lebanon Magazine made sure to promptly put out a press release stating the differences between their magazine and this new one we all received. They stated that they had received numerous phone calls and emails asking about this new magazine and wanted to set the record straight.
Their publisher, Wayne Dollard, made a point of stating that their magazine was completely advertiser supported with no burden to taxpayers -- yet mtl-Mt. Lebanon magazine says basically the same thing -- "...it is published at no cost to taxpayers, so long as we meet our advertising goal for the year."
So what do you think about "IN Mt. Lebanon" magazine?
I wasn't the only person confused about this new publication. mtl-Mt. Lebanon Magazine made sure to promptly put out a press release stating the differences between their magazine and this new one we all received. They stated that they had received numerous phone calls and emails asking about this new magazine and wanted to set the record straight.
Their publisher, Wayne Dollard, made a point of stating that their magazine was completely advertiser supported with no burden to taxpayers -- yet mtl-Mt. Lebanon magazine says basically the same thing -- "...it is published at no cost to taxpayers, so long as we meet our advertising goal for the year."
So what do you think about "IN Mt. Lebanon" magazine?
4 Comments:
I wasn't confused. I wasn't impressed by IN Mt. Lebanon, but I wasn't confused.
I can understand the confusion of others, however, especially given the statement by mtl-Mt. Lebanon Magazine that "it is published at no cost to taxpayers, so long as we meet our advertising goal for the year." That statement is incomplete, if not outright misleading.
According to the 2010 Manager's Recommended Budget (available at the Mt. Lebanon website), the cost of mtl magazine is budgeted to include a quarter of the Public Information Officer's salary, half of the Public Information Assistant's salary, and the costs of various part-time staff and freelance contributors. That money is recouped by advertising revenues, so long as advertising targets are met; the Recommended Budget forecasts a net profit for the magazine. But the cost structure of the magazine clearly shows that it is paid for both by taxpayers and advertisers; IN Mt. Lebanon magazine is paid for only by advertisers.
Back in 2007, the Tribune Review ran this story that concluded that Mt. Lebanon is one of a very few communities in the region that pays for full-time public information services. The article noted that the PIO's salary (as of Nov. 1, 2007) was just over $82,000, and the Public Information Assistant at the time was paid just shy of $35,000. These aren't astronomical sums. They aren't chump change, either.
I believe the Publisher of "In Mt. Lebanon Magazine" is a resident of Mt. Lebanon, and he already is, and will be, publishing local versions of this magazine in many area communities...like Fox Chapel area, Sewickley, Peters, USC, etc. besides Lebo.
It will be interesting to compare the identity, number and purchased space of advertisers in the now *competing* publications over time. Sort of like a contest between the private and government sectors. USC in the same boat.
The private sector at work and, from all appearances, working!
Mt. Lebanon has a wonderful community website that is much more appropriate, timely and less expensive to publish than a monthly magazine. If every cost associated with publishing the current MtL magazine was offset by advertising revenues I would see no reason to complain. But, in these trying economic times, publishing a community monthly magazine simply because "its always been that way" doesn't make sense. We cannot get caught up here, the way they do in Washington, of justifying expenditures with the argument that "it's only a tiny percentage of the overall budget". It all adds up.
And, for the record, I generally enjoy MtL magazine, but also think the IN Mt. Lebanon magazine could rise to the same standards given time.
...and maybe the new magazine won't be shy about covering controversial issues. I'm shocked at the paucity of articles about the new high school considering the target audience of the magazine. Or at the complete lack of coverage of the Sablegate scandal.
I like mtl and all, but they really need to remove their blinders once and awhile. If it's an important issue in your town--report it!
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