Media watch - Tensions between Qercus and RISC OS Now ran high this week after Qercus editor John Cartmell said there wasn't enough room for two colour A4 magazines. The fallout came after RISC OS Now editor Louie Smith rang John to find out how many subscribers he had, and the details of his publication's costs. John refused to answer, adding that he owed his subscribers a promise to deliver issues, and would not let competition from Louie stand in his way.Meanwhile, Qercus has yet to publish and post a single issue to its paying subscribers during the past twelve months. In August this year, trainee maths teacher Louie announced her plans to launch a new bi-monthly RISC OS magazine.
John told drobe.co.uk: "I made it clear [to Louie] that Qercus would be continuing and that I believed that there wasn't room for two such similar publications. My opinion was that such direct competition would lead to losses and I would need to ensure that Qercus continued for the sake of the responsibility we had to our subscribers. She told me that her magazine would have content quite different from that of Qercus and would not be in competition with it.
"Louie seemed unhappy that I wasn't simply wishing her well in her new part time venture and I suggested that she email me in order to discuss ways to cooperate to produce a magazine rather than compete in a market that was too small. She has not done so."
Louie said the production of RISC OS Now would continue as planned despite John's comments.
She said: "I have no conflict with John. I was however very upset by his manner with me on that day considering that at the start of the conversation I outlined to him the purpose of the conversation - a courtesy call to notify him of my intentions to launch a new magazine for the RISC OS market. I was met with rudeness and contempt. Whether or not this was intended as threatening, I was left feeling very upset and shaken.
"I would wish for all public comments regarding this to cease as it is not for public discussion, and that there is no argument between myself and John. I would also like to assure my own clients that they should not be perturbed by this event and I am continuing with RISC OS Now."
John, usually seen at RISC OS shows sharing a playful chuckle with punters and selling board games, later added that he was having a 'bad month' at the time of the phone conversation. He also said he will only announce details of the next issues of Qercus, specifically numbers 278 and 277, once they are in the post to subscribers.
Links
RISC OS Now website
Qercus website - free copies available for prospective subscribers