[Media-ish] Our favorite faux-weekly, the ever-sexy In Utah This Week from local mom-and-pop print shop MediaOne, is asking what you like and dislike about their product. Actually, they're not asking their target readers--who, according to In's advertising index, are all 18-34s who make $150,000 a year while still attending college and buy BMWs on a whim.Since those folks are far too busy with their local supermodel and/or pro snowboarder careers, In sent a survey out to "influential" people in local entertainment and business. No, City Weekly wasn't on the list, but one was forwarded to us--and now we're bringing it to you. Why should you be excluded from having an opinion about a publication read by dozens of local heiresses and Hot Topic models?
Just answer the following inquiries, copy-paste and e-mail to jshoemaker@mediaoneutah.com. We've included a few of our own answers; feel free to write over 'em:
IN is now in its third year. What are your general thoughts?
About In or the carbon footprint of three years of wasted trees?
What do you like most about IN?
It doesn't make my brain hurt from too much "thinking."
What don’t you like about IN?
Not enough articles about kitties.
Complete this sentence… I would either start advertising with IN or increase my advertising presence with IN if they…
Lowballed prices to the point that other local publications without the backing of a multi-million-dollar corporation couldn't match them. Or threw in some kitties.
About In or the carbon footprint of three years of wasted trees?
What do you like most about IN?
It doesn't make my brain hurt from too much "thinking."
What don’t you like about IN?
Not enough articles about kitties.
Complete this sentence… I would either start advertising with IN or increase my advertising presence with IN if they…
Lowballed prices to the point that other local publications without the backing of a multi-million-dollar corporation couldn't match them. Or threw in some kitties.
In your own words how would you rate these features? Which is the best? Which do you not care for?
* Sexy in SLC: It's like jury duty for friends of the staff, right?
* Scene in SLC: Slightly better than reading a resume.
* Scene Team Photo Page: Slightly worse than going to The Hotel.
* Club Grid: Lists almost a quarter of the clubs in Salt Lake--and most are still open.
* Sarah Nielson’s “That’s What She Said”: Clever title, never heard that one before.
* Restaurant Guide: See "Club Grid."
* Bar Guide: See "Restaurant Guide."
* We Ate It: It's so edgy I have to look away.
* Coffee Break: Random questions to random people? Genius!
* Classifieds: Do the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News know you've reprinted their Classifieds?
What coverage would you like to see that you don’t currently see?
* Sexy in SLC: It's like jury duty for friends of the staff, right?
* Scene in SLC: Slightly better than reading a resume.
* Scene Team Photo Page: Slightly worse than going to The Hotel.
* Club Grid: Lists almost a quarter of the clubs in Salt Lake--and most are still open.
* Sarah Nielson’s “That’s What She Said”: Clever title, never heard that one before.
* Restaurant Guide: See "Club Grid."
* Bar Guide: See "Restaurant Guide."
* We Ate It: It's so edgy I have to look away.
* Coffee Break: Random questions to random people? Genius!
* Classifieds: Do the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News know you've reprinted their Classifieds?
What coverage would you like to see that you don’t currently see?
You're neglecting the 3-12 demographic; more woobie coverage, please. And more repurposed articles from the Tribune would be great, too.
Even though the comparison can sometimes be unavoidable because they are both weekly newspapers, how would you describe IN’s difference from City Weekly?
Even though the comparison can sometimes be unavoidable because they are both weekly newspapers, how would you describe IN’s difference from City Weekly?
I don't feel the need to commit to In beyond 2009; it's quite freeing. Not like the separation pain of losing the Afternoon Buzz.
Where else do you use your marketing dollars?
Where else do you use your marketing dollars?
Flush them down a solid-gold toilet, due to my immense disposable income.
As far as distribution goes, do you find IN is available to you at the places you frequent? Where do you think IN should be that we’re not?
As far as distribution goes, do you find IN is available to you at the places you frequent? Where do you think IN should be that we’re not?
It's usually conveniently stacked on top of City Weekly racks, with plenty of previous weeks' In issues lying around untouched.
IN has a opt-in texting program, are you familiar with this type of marketing and do you think it’s of interest?
IN has a opt-in texting program, are you familiar with this type of marketing and do you think it’s of interest?
As long as I get instant info about kitties and woobies, sign me up!
IN has thought about doing a glossy cover. Do you think you would find more value in advertising with IN if it had more of a magazine, high-end look?
IN has thought about doing a glossy cover. Do you think you would find more value in advertising with IN if it had more of a magazine, high-end look?
Like wrapping a turd in gold foil? Sold!
Remember: Answer, copy-paste and e-mail to jshoemaker@mediaoneutah.com.
Remember: Answer, copy-paste and e-mail to jshoemaker@mediaoneutah.com.
Thanks for more free press! Love you guys!! But the email is jshoemaker@inthisweek.com. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTrue, I'd never picked up an IN before seeing this. Now, that's 2 painful minutes of my life I'm never getting back. So fuck you both!
ReplyDeleteBut...don't you think this a good idea? There are some articles I love in Salt Lake Weekly. There are some that make me wonder why they get ink. Do you ever wonder what your reader's think?
ReplyDeleteAt least IN will find out they need help.
Disclaimer -- I'm not the biggest In fan. They have good music coverage, but the rest is pretty bleh. That said....
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny how you always brand IN as juvenile and vacuous, but you never see them stoop to this level of playground name calling. Say what you want, but at least they take the high moral ground on this kind of stuff, unlike city weekly, who thinks they're god's gift to the printed word.
You're both entertainment magazines. Get over yourselves (I'm looking at you on this, City Weekly) and just do good work.
These comments make me sad. I wish more 'weekly readers' would realize that where In Magazine just wants ad money, CW really does care about the local community. They are far more vested in every part of our local scene and have a stake in how great SLC is. IN, being corporate owned, doesn't have the same investment. And CW has every right to point it out by posting things like this. They don't need to send out worthless surveys to people who aren't in the demographic, because CW staffers are on the street and interacting with their demographic. You can't please everyone, but they sure try, and with more heart than IN will ever have. And I don't need to be anonymous to say this either...
ReplyDeleteI sent IN a press release about a gallery show, and they just hassled me about buying advertising. I tried to be polite, but finally said that I was simply not interested in buying advertising, to which they asked who they should contact at the gallery about buying advertising.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with all this "corporate owned" blah blah blah? City Weekly isn't a business?? Just like CW, the people who work at IN are all locals -- you make it sound like they phone in their stories from India for pete's sake!
ReplyDeleteWake up, all of you -- both CW and IN are corporate owned businesses. Both are out to make money, and both of them rake it in. CW just wants to go back to the old days when they were the only game in town, and they're using you by telling you how to think. And you're buying into the message.
If you don't like it, don't read it -- why is that so hard to get? Don't let any business tell you how or what to read. That goes for CW, IN, the menu at denny's or the bible. Vote with your eyeballs. If people like something, it will continue to exist. If nobody likes it, it won't.
I read CW and take the same good with the same bad every week like I have since I first saw it on campus in the early 90's. It's not just an entertainment paper. Now I see in and it just sits in the rack like a turd. No wonder they have this stupid survey to find out who to sell ads to but the readers have already decided. Cheap and dumb and not read buy in. Not cheap and not dumb and being read buy cw. Easy. If that writer thinks cw is corporate they don't know this town. If that writer thinks cw was ever the only game in town he must be 7 years old. I remember the Event. It was not as dumb as In. At least the event was locally owned.
ReplyDeleteI hope In Utah This Week doesn't do so many kitties stories. Because they peeps won't read my blog and the saccharine sweet captions I write like "I Can Haz Cheezeburge Now?"
ReplyDeleteAnonymous person two posts above me just hit on it. He/she said CW isn't 'just an entertainment paper.' Well, in IS. Quit trying to compare the two -- CW is about local politics and issues as well as entertainment. IN is just about entertainment.
ReplyDeleteThose of you comparing the two are ridiculous. It's like saying, "CW has ridiculously laughable financial content. The Wall Street Journal kicks it's ass all over the place and will NEVER be the WSJ."
IN is just entertainment. CW is local issues.