1490 February 2017

Comment by Thierry Lombry on February 3, 2017 at 4:22am

Hi,

Is it the same issue as #1702 below also so-called "US issue Feb 2017 that I can pruchase in Be or Lux ?

Comment by George Thomas Wilson on February 3, 2017 at 10:13am

Thierry,

That is the newsstand cover.  In the U.S. it has a barcode on it.  Phil posted the subscription cover.  Their contents are identical.

Tom

Comment by Thierry Lombry on February 3, 2017 at 11:57am

Can you tell me for how long NG has created 2 US versions, one for subscriptors (so only sent by mails) and another one for bookshops ? Is it well what you mean ? What is the benefit of creating two cover ? I do not see any, on the contrary.

Comment by George Thomas Wilson on February 3, 2017 at 12:25pm

NG has, on occasions, printed to different covers for subscriptions and bookstores.  They did it last month as well:

I'm sure they have their reasons for doing this.  Perhaps it's marketing.  I know it bothers collectors like me, especially when they include a map, or other supplement, in the bookstore version and not in the one we get in the mail.

Comment by Scott T. Shier on February 9, 2017 at 11:05pm

Thierry, and Tom.

If you look at this editorial link RE: the Jan 2017 issue, scroll down ,and read under the sub-heading "Why are there two covers?" and you'll note some interesting insight - one of the only times they have directly addressed the scenario of multiple versions. Of course, to me, there was nothing "new", but that it is only a confirmation of what I have already been tracking, noting, and discussing (e.g., the rationale). 

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/01/gender-issue-rea... 

     - - Scott 

Comment by George Thomas Wilson on February 10, 2017 at 9:29am

Scott,

As we both suspected... Marketing.  I guess the February issue means the subscribers are more eco-conscious and the newsstand cover plies the rest with alcohol.

Tom

Comment by Philip Riviere on February 10, 2017 at 12:40pm

I'll drink to that.. Ha,  Ha

Comment by Thierry Lombry on February 10, 2017 at 2:29pm

I presume that the marketing think that a subscriber does no more need to be attracted as he paid his subscription, while the general public shows potentially a larger diversity of cultures. Consequently, he can be attracted if he is seducted by a specific image, hence the NGS explanation : "our editors try to find the photo and cover language most likely to engage our audience in different settings. In this case, Avery Jackson's portrait is a nuanced and thoughtful image to find in your mailbox. On the newsstand cover, we wanted to show a wider range of people and how they describe themselves on the gender spectrum."

But as you say George, I also think that it is surely an expensive waste of paper more that a possible chance to gain new subscribers.

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