Bee magazines

[gavin]

Gavin - I don't take Bee Craft - maybe I should, should I???

Bee Craft: it is the magazine of the BBKA and so is slanted to English beekeeping. Down south they have to buy their magazine, so it is open to everyone to subscribe to it. The quality of the articles varies quite a lot, but there is usually something worth reading.

Perhaps the standard of beekeeping writing is better in Beekeepers Quarterly, but I've let my subscription lapse. It has a European focus.

Some get American Bee Journal.

I'll move this to a new thread. Anyone else want to comment on the bee journals that hit their door-mat? BEaring in mind of course that you all (almost) receive and cherish the Scottish Beekeeper, an excellent magazine produced by a dedicated and unpaid editor and sent free of charge (covered by your subscription to the SBA) every month without fail to every member.

G.

[drumgerry]

Just finished a 2 yr sub to Beecraft and I must say it wasn't the best money I've ever spent. It's pretty light on content and generally a dull read IMO. I've taken Beekeepers Quarterly in the past and liked it. But it's (correct me if I'm wrong) about £25 for 4 issues and just doesn't cut it in terms of value. Scottish Beekeeper is fine for what it is - no criticism intended of the laudable effort that goes into it by all concerned. But it's a wee local beekeeping magazine and could benefit from a bigger format and some pictures.

I'd have thought there would be a gap in the seemingly ever expanding beekeeping market for a modern, fun, informative, scientific beekeeping monthly. Every other hobby seems to have its special interest magazine(s) why not beekeeping? I find the beekeeping forums themselves do a better job at keeping their fingers on the pulse than any of the magazines I've read.

Gerry

[gavin]

On the SB, even the colour on the front stretches the budget available. As it is the main means of communicating with the membership (see how few have found there way here so far - though maybe I should be promoting it more vigorously) the current type of magazine will probably continue. To spend money improving it would I assume mean a fair hike in the subscription, or having a separate subscription for the magazine. Neither seems feasible.

Yes, I take your point about a really attractive beekeeping monthly, perhaps retailing on the shelves. I could see that working too, although with the rise of the internet would it really be sustainable?

Perhaps we just need to boost the informative, fun, scientific aspect of the organs we already have?

Gavin

[POPZ]

I think the SB is a great little publication. It always seems to contain at least one topical and scottish flavoured article every month. The problem I find with magazines like BeeCraft is all those pestilential adverts that take up so many pages in order to produce a glossy, upmarket looking magazine. Andwhen it actually comes down to it, there is usually only one item of interest and then very generalised.

Not sure Drumgerry, why SB would benefit from more pictures and being in a larger format. But then I guess, simple stupid is what I look for when it comes to learning/instruction.
POPZ

[Jon]

I joined BIBBA last year so I get 4 copies of Bee Improvement and Conservation for the £20 membership. I think it has some good articles and it seems to have a practical focus. Might suit you folk further north as the AMM/native type bee seems to predominate.

[drumgerry]

I've thought about joining BIBBA Jon. Maybe I should take the plunge.

Popz - the colour/ larger format thing IMO would make it a bit more user friendly I think. The good articles it carries would I think be more interesting if they were illustrated. Larger format = easier to read. But I agree it's good for what it is and I applaud those who put it together every month. I'm in no way slagging it off!

But don't you wish there was a beekeeping equivalent of, say, Trout and Salmon or the like?

Gerry

[gavin]

I've just joined BIBBA this very minute. You can do so online, and it was the least I could do after their hospitality last weekend.

Don't you just buy the Trout and Salmon for all those pictures of flies in the adverts?! Anyway, it is Trog that might buy that magazine, Popz's tastes will be more along the lines of Cetacean Spotter's Monthly.

G.

[drumgerry]

T&S maybe wasn't a fair comparison. Much more money in something like that from advertising I'd have thought with all the holiday cottages and fishing people want to flog.

But I keep hearing about the huge upsurge in interest in beekeeping - how beginners classes are overrun with participants, how women are flocking to join our ranks in their droves. No longer is beekeeping the preserve of crusty gentlemen of a certain age! The new vitality that has been injected into the "craft" needs to be reflected in what we're reading. It's there in spade loads when you visit the forums so why not in the magazines as well? Mix that up with articles from experienced beekeepers and information on the latest research presented in an accessible manner and bob's yer uncle!

I must say that I enjoy reading my local association newsletter (check out the Moray Beekeepers website to see it as well) as written by our highly talented secretary Tony Harris much more than most issues of Beecraft I've ever received.

Gerry

[gavin]

Excellent thoughts, thanks. I'm off to look at the Moray BKA newsletter now! Are there any other Scottish local BKAs regularly producing a newsletter?

[Trog]

I have to admit I bought my first copy of Trout & Salmon last week, along with a few flyfisher/flytyers mags, in the local charity shop (20p each). I'm more likely to buy Practical Boat Owner on the rare occasions I buy any magazine. Apart from some interesting fly patterns to try next winter, I didn't find them overly interesting - lots of old boys in chest waders and no lady anglers!

Back to the subject: if the SBA mag were to be a larger format it would cost more to post and I quite like the 'handbag size'.

Local BKA newsletters: the Mull BKA has produced one printed and one email newsletter since October and I daresay there will be more. Not so much in the lap of the gods as in the laptop of the secretary ...