Category: Uncategorized

In case you don’t get Gorkana’s media alert, today’s mailshot contained all the contact details of the ex-Highbury mags that Imagine is going to continue publishing. For the edification of freelances everywhere, I’ve listed them below. However, I’ve noticed that some of the names repeat, so either Imagine have some multi-tasking editorial staff, or there’ll be one of those Gorkanna correction emails coming out tomorrow. I’ll update the entry whenever that happens.

UPDATE: There’s a PDF press release detailing all the Imagine titles and teams on the company’s site. I’ve updated the Gorkana information where possible.

Advanced Photoshop (updated)

Aimed at Photoshop professionals, each issue of Advanced Photoshop has inspirational interviews, tutorials and professional tips.

Contact: Deborah Allen, Editor

Emma Cake

Digital Camera Buyer

Digital Camera Buyer is a monthly magazine covering news and reviews of the latest digital cameras.

Contact: Chris Lean, Editor

Rosie Tanner, Senior Staff Writer

Digital Photographer

Digital Photographer focuses on the complete needs of digital camera users, whether they are professionals or enthusiasts. Each issue brings the reader cutting-edge imagery, practical shooting advice, interviews with professionals plus news and reviews of brand new equipment. NOTE: This isn’t listed in the Imagine press release, although there is a web site for it.

Contact: Kirsty Eaglesham, Features Editor

Games TM

Games TM is a gaming magazine about past, present and future gaming products. It features the latest news, reviews and previews appealing to both the serious and casual gamer.

Contact: Paul Morgan, Editor, tel: +44 (0)1202 586 257

Rick Porter, Features Editor, tel: +44 (0)1202 586 200

John Denton, Senior Staff Writer, tel: +44 (0)1202 586 239

iCreate

iCreate is a creative computing magazine for Apple computer users. Editorial focuses on Mac software and hardware.

Contact: Ben Harvell – Editor

Natalie Johnson, Senior Staff Writer

PDA Essentials

PDA Essentials magazine is for dedicated users of PDAs, and covers the very latest news and reviews in hardware developments plus new software and tutorials

Contact: Andy Betts, Deputy Editor

Play

As the longest running PlayStation magazine, Play features authoritative reviews, the very latest in news and the best cover exclusives.

Contact: Nick Jones, Editor in Chief, tel: +44 (0)1202 586 211

Aaron Asadi, News Editor, tel: +44 (0)1202 586 211

Luke Smith, Sub Editor, tel: +44 (0)1202 586 211

PowerStation

Merging the very best of PlayStation and Cheat magazines, PowerStation is packed with detailed guides to the latest PS2 and PSP releases, and all the latest cheats. This magazine is a solutions magazine for keen PlayStation gamers.

Contact: Ryan Butt, Editor

Henry Rowlatt, Senior Staff Writer

Web Designer

Web Designer is the UK’s premier publication for the online author. The magazine has a tutorial-based format for learning, whilst also providing the reader with the latest industry news and feature topics.

Contact: Mark Billen, Deputy Editor

Mark was previously the Deputy Editor of Web Developer. There is no editor at present.

Windows XP Made Easy

Windows XP Made Easy is a magazine for the home PC user and covers news, reviews and tutorials on Windows XP and Windows based products.

Contact: Stuart Tarrant, Editor

Steve Jenkins, Reviews Editor

Matt Powell, Technical Editor

X360

X360, the essential magazine for enthusiastic Xbox 360 gamers, is dedicated to giving honest opinions and detailed coverage of the best and most exclusive games on the market.

Contact: Martin Mathers, Editor

Martin previously edited Games TM.

Media Week is running a Q&A piece with the SMD Publishing ad team. If you want to find out what the new owners of Hotdog, DVD World, et al are like, the article seems a reasonable place to start.

On St Patrick’s Day, it’s nice to see this article from Slate looking into the worldwide reach of faux-Irish pubs. Think Ireland: think pubs. That’s a good, non-stereotypical message, isn’t it?

Long-time readers will remember my trials and tribulations with First Direct and some slightly dodgy payments from my bank account to a Vanquis Bank credit card (APR 58%) just before Christmas. Just to update you happy few on what happened, First Direct refunded my account both transactions and gave me a new Switch card, which seemed to solve the problem. Which was nice. They never actually told me what happened as a result of their investigations, but there you go.

Interestingly – and whether it was because of the change of card or some artfulness on the part of these particular dodgers, I don’t know – there was no third transaction that would have triggered a deeper investigation by the First Direct frauds department. That might have yielded more information, so I’m assuming two dodgy transactions wasn’t enough to go on or worth the effort.

Nevertheless, it seems to be the tip of a financial iceberg. I just received this email from another worried First Direct customer (name withheld to protect the innocent, of course):

I have just read your article about being a First Direct customer and Vanquis Bank Chatham taking £250 twice from your bank account. I am very worried now because exactly the same thing has happened to me today. Vanquis Bank has taken £203 from my bank account and like you the First Direct Disputes Department say they will investigate the transaction because I didn’t authorise it.

So that’s two First Direct customers undergoing the same scam c/o Vanquis credit card customers. Tip of the iceberg or coincidence? Enquiring minds want to know.

Got a letter from Ernst & Young on Saturday, giving details of the Highbury break-up. For ex-Highbury freelances, the following clauses probably seem the most relevant – if anyone can spot any others, feel free to add comments:

Continue reading “Letter from the Highbury receivers”

Just in case you were wondering whether Imagine would carry on both its Mac magazines, the answer is no. The Mac Creative web site now says “iCreate incorporating Mac Creative”.

For those paying close attention to the Imagine web site, you’ll notice that the acquired mags now feature in the Imagine scrolling portfolio, with a couple still marked as “Top Secret” and wrapped in brown paper. Since iCreate isn’t shown but Mac Creative is, I’m assuming iCreate is one of those mags. Since I’m writing an article right now (ah, procrastination, how I love you), I won’t bother comparing lists to work out what the other mag is.

UPDATE: Incidentally, according to senior staff writer Ben Harvell on the Mac Creative/iCreate forum, the next issue of iCreate is going to be out on the 16th March.

How’s this for a happy story from a former Highbury freelancer?

Hi Rob. I freelance for the Radio Controlled Models and Electronics magazine previously owned by Highbury and now a suite of Orpington based magazines owned by Encanta media. I thought you might like to know that Encanta are to pay me in full the missing money I was owed by Highbury. A very kind gesture I thought as they have no obligations to do so. I believe this arrangement is offered to all Encanta freelancers who didn’t jump ship as it went down.

A small result but encouraging.

While that’s not happening, as far as I know, with any of the titles now owned by Imagine, Imagine are re-commissioning some of the work Highbury commissioned. That means that even if the receivers don’t pay up, at least the work will get used and paid for by someone.

As for SMD, I’ve seen Hotdog and the other titles on the newstands now, but I have no further information on what’s happening there. If anyone would like to email me with dirt, the address is [email protected].

Imagine Publishing has started the process of integrating its new titles into its operations. First up, some new web sites. Games™ is already on the shelves of WH Smith’s so it’s not surprising its web site is also the most advanced.

Of interest to readers of the other acquired mags is the pull-down menu at the bottom of the front page that provides links to the other new Imagine titles, as well as the existing ones. None of the sites seem much further down the line than “Under construction” and there are no hints that mags other than the ones we already knew about are being worked upon, but it’s good to get some confirmation that the mags are definitely on their way.

games™ is now on the shelves. Looks good (from a design perspective. I have no idea, content-wise), so I have high hopes for the remaining mags.

Still no word, incidentally, on which other titles have survived. Sorry.

Imagine’s put up a press release that lists some of the titles it’s continuing with. They are:

• gamesTM
• iCreate
• X360
• Play
• Windows XP Made Easy
• PDA Essentials
• Digital Camera Buyer
• Web Designer
• PowerStation
• Advanced Photoshop
• Digital Photographer and
• Go>Play

Damian Butt also adds: “We have made a commitment to honour all subscriptions for magazines we intend to publish, and we are keen to retain the support and enthusiasm of our loyal subscribers. We will also offer an alternative offer for those with subscriptions for magazines that will not continue. All subscribers will be informed by letter within two weeks.”

So good news for a few mags at least. Note, this doesn’t mean the other titles aren’t continuing, only that the ones listed are the only ones that are carrying on for sure.