All things must pass, but it is with a heavy heart that I note that TechTarget‘s excellent Storage magazine has shipped its last issue. No official word has been posted by the company, but it is now widely reported. All print publications are feeling squeezed by a move to online readership which robs print of advertising revenue with its quicker turnaround and lower cost. Like its ancestor, Byte, and PC Magazine, Storage will continue online at searchstorage.com as well as through a controlled-circulation PDF newsletter. I do not yet know which of the excellent staff (writers, illustrators, and editors) of Storage will remain with these online efforts.
A History of Excellence
Storage magazine was launched in March of 2002 to be “the best magazine dedicated to storage,” in the words of Editor in Chief, Mark Schlack, and it was. It stood out from the crowd right away, with square “perfect” binding and high-quality printing and design. Inside that first issue, one was greeted by fresh and engaging layout and artwork that was both clever and humorous. These would become the trademark of the magazine.
But content was king at Storage, and this is the area with which I am most proud to have been associated. The very first issue featured insightful pieces by Steve Duplessie, Rich Friedman, Richard Scannell, Dennis Martin, Darryl Brooks, and others. They were joined by a who’s-who of the industry, including Jon Toigo, Marc Farley, Alan Radding, Jerome Wendt, W. Curtis Preston, Jim Damoulakis, Tony Prigmore, Marc Staimer, Randy Kerns, and Tom Halfhill, and that was just in the first year! Just about every independent voice in the industry was represented over the next six years.
It was precisely that independence that brought credibility to the magazine. Although they eventually ended their provocative Behind the Firewall insider-tips page, they never allowed the magazine to become an advertorial. Like the companion Storage Decisions conference and seminar series, TechTarget managed both to remain editorially independent and to gather strong support from the industry. No doubt it was the wisdom and experience of the editorial staff, Schlack, Friedman, and Rich Castagna, who ensured balance rather than cheerleading or FUD to dominate the pages. They received recognition, as well: Just look at TechTarget’s award page for a list of “bests”!
My Own Experience
Storage even found a place for yours truly in their pages: I wrote the Integration column every other month for two years before moving to the Best Practices column through 2007. I also contributed almost a dozen feature articles over the years, the last of which just missed the final issue. I was proud to be listed as a Contributing Editor for all of those years as well, and gave everything I could to keep Storage “the best,” including quoted commentary in many issues.
Every one of my interactions with Storage magazine was positive. The editors always knew how to edit my work to bring out the best. Although I am not truly a journalist, I have learned many things from Mark, Rich, Rich, and the others. And I remain honored to be listed alongside the luminaries whose work appeared next to mine.
I also want to call attention to the standout look of the magazine: I talked to many of the photographers featured on the pages, having had my own photo taken a few times as well as my editorial subjects, and they were truly professionals, drawing out the best in us. The illustrations that graced my columns and articles deserve repeated praise, too, always amazing me with their clever twists on what I wrote.
Storage magazine deserves its place in the enterprise storage industry, as well as the publishing world in general. But more importantly, it earned a place on my bookshelf, and it will remain there. I cannot praise it higher. Thanks for seven great years, and I look forward to working with TechTarget and the excellent staff of Storage in the future!
Stephen,
TechTarget put out an SEC filing yesterday afternoon (12/11) that stated it will eliminate two print publications and, in another online article, TechTarget’s CEO Greg Strakosch, was quoted as saying Storage magazine and Information Security magazine were being cut.
http://www.secinfo.com/d17evd.th.htm#1stPage
http://biz.yahoo.com/paidcontent/081211/1_330588_id.html?.v=1
Stephen,
TechTarget put out an SEC filing yesterday afternoon (12/11) that stated it will eliminate two print publications and, in another online article, TechTarget's CEO Greg Strakosch, was quoted as saying Storage magazine and Information Security magazine were being cut.
http://www.secinfo.com/d17evd.th.htm#1stPage
http://biz.yahoo.com/paidcontent/081211/1_33058…
Thanks, Jerome. I was looking for a press release or something at techtarget.com but didn’t see anything yet. So it’s officially official, then.
Thanks, Jerome. I was looking for a press release or something at techtarget.com but didn't see anything yet. So it's officially official, then.
Wow, this was a really nice “eulogy,” Stephen. It was really a treat to work on Storage for the first few years that I did, mainly because it was such a great staff. Alexandra (Alex) Barrett, who did the front of the book, really set a new standard in skeptical and technically informed news analysis. Rich Friedman turned a lot of good but difficult manuscripts into very readable prose. And the person behind that gorgeous layout was Mary Beth Cadwell, who we’ll miss. The legion of technically sophisticated contributors (you included) that gave Storage such a high usefulness quotient were also a big part of the story.
The ezine will be continuing that story under Rich Castagna, and getting contributions from many of the current crew that continue Storage’s strong tradition online. We remain dedicated to providing in-depth, analytic articles to storage professionals.
Thanks again for the kind words.
Wow, this was a really nice “eulogy,” Stephen. It was really a treat to work on Storage for the first few years that I did, mainly because it was such a great staff. Alexandra (Alex) Barrett, who did the front of the book, really set a new standard in skeptical and technically informed news analysis. Rich Friedman turned a lot of good but difficult manuscripts into very readable prose. And the person behind that gorgeous layout was Mary Beth Cadwell, who we'll miss. The legion of technically sophisticated contributors (you included) that gave Storage such a high usefulness quotient were also a big part of the story.
The ezine will be continuing that story under Rich Castagna, and getting contributions from many of the current crew that continue Storage's strong tradition online. We remain dedicated to providing in-depth, analytic articles to storage professionals.
Thanks again for the kind words.
Thanks right back at you, Mark, and to the rest at TechTarget for putting together such a high-quality product. I’m especially pleased to hear that Rich C will be part of the continued online effort. I look forward to seeing the first issue!
I remember Alex, of course, and wanted to point out to everyone that Christine Cignoli really did an equally nice job in the later issues. So many people who deserve praise!
Thanks right back at you, Mark, and to the rest at TechTarget for putting together such a high-quality product. I'm especially pleased to hear that Rich C will be part of the continued online effort. I look forward to seeing the first issue!
I remember Alex, of course, and wanted to point out to everyone that Christine Cignoli really did an equally nice job in the later issues. So many people who deserve praise!
I also want to say thanks to the Storage Magazine folks for their role in this business. Especially Mark Schlack – who stood out from so many other editors for having class and perspective. A real pro, that one.
I also want to say thanks to the Storage Magazine folks for their role in this business. Especially Mark Schlack – who stood out from so many other editors for having class and perspective. A real pro, that one.