Wave goodbye - Say hello.As those of you who pop into Chatterbox will already know, changes are afoot here at Compers News. Which all means that this is the last ever serving from my ‘Smorgasbord’, and a new column will appear in this space from next month. But do not grieve (or possibly even cheer!) too loudly, since I’ll be taking over as the magazine’s editor from next month – so you haven’t seen the back of me yet!
I’ve been doing plenty of research in readiness for my new role, and one thing that I’d never quite realised before was how many comps are crammed into every issue of Compers News compared to other publications that are out there. We may not look as pretty, but if it’s comps you want then I’m convinced that CN is unbeatable. I certainly intend to carry on this same style once I inherit the baton from Jane and Nigel – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, after all – but I’ll be looking to make some improvements too. Watch this space!
I’ve already asked on Chatterbox for ideas, comments and suggestions, but if you don’t join us on the web then do please still drop me a line if you have something to say. Compers News is YOUR magazine, and I want it to stay that way. Likewise with Chatterbox – I now oversee the forums there too, and will make sure that it remains the friendliest comping site on the web. I’ll be working hard over the coming weeks and months to ensure that Compers News and Chatterbox complement each other, and together provide the most accurate, authoritative, comping resource available. With, hopefully, lots of fun along the way!
It’s clear from feedback that I’ve received so far that there is room for improvement, and I’ll be introducing a few changes in future issues. Suggestions so far include less mainstream magazines to be included in the Prize Draws section, more men’s magazines, fewer baby magazines, more Winformation, and a greater emphasis on skill and slogan comps. Well, I can’t promise to please everybody but I’ll certainly try my best. I’m already looking at other magazines to include in the listings, so if you know of any titles that are particularly good for comps but are not currently covered, then do please let me know.
I’ll be making more use of Chatterbox for those last minute comps, to publish Winformation listings as soon as I receive them, and also to list new comps as soon as I find them. There will be improvements to other member facilities too, such as the Round Robin entry form groups. So do try to pop into Chatterbox if you can – we’d love to say hello and remember, it’s all free and exclusive to current Compers News subscribers.
Now that I’ll be spending more time looking out for and researching comps, I hope to start discovering even more ‘smidding’ snippets to pass on. Although I’ll no longer have my regular column here, I’ll still be including any really juicy titbits elsewhere in the magazine and on Chatterbox – so keep your eyes peeled!
It’s been a pleasure writing this column for the last two years. I know from the many letters I’ve received that readers have found my comments and advice useful, and that lots of you have ‘smidded’ your way to a prize or two. I certainly never expected my name to become a comping verb, that’s for sure! Thanks for all your support to date, and I hope that I can live up to Jane and Nigel’s high standards as I make myself comfortable in the editor’s chair.
Here’s wishing you all a happy – and winning! – 2006.
Smid x
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