Sports Collectors Digest

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Posted By: Rich Klein

And like I said a few months ago; it's not just SCD but it's print all over. I discussed Beckett's issues when this was brought up and I was amongst the people let got in June. But it is print all over and has been such for a while; and sometimes with humorous consequences. USA Today recently offered early retirement/buy out packages to anyone on their staff with 15 or more years of experience. The entire NBA staff all took the package and left and thus during the middle of the season USA Today has to revamp their entire NBA lineup.

Print is frankly brutal to be in nowadays. Although it is still the most effective means of getting a point across; the impact is far less than it was even 10 years ago. And while it is much easier to go through -- it is not as good for the hobby when the last 2 issues of SCD have 100 pages combined. Yes, both issues of SCD were in my mailbox when I came home tonight.

And frankly, the future for print is not good either. With the communication the way it is nowadays for our youth; there is less reading and more instant phone and internet communication. The niche publications within our niche (old cardboard; etc) have a chance for survival as well as Publications such as Beckett Plus and Almanac and Krause's Standard Catalog which have one-source guides and pricing and can be portable.

Regards
Rich