Comments on: Why magazines are losing readers: No page numbers

By: Linda Swisher

Linda Swisher — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:31:50 +0000

My pet peeve is when the Treasure Hunt headline is not mentioned in the article itself. I turn to the page listed in the Table of Contents (assuming there ARE page numbers), and the article bears little resemblance to the headline. I just bought an issue of a leading health magazine whose headline (I’m paraphrasing) said “90% of women” do this. I turned to the article and, unless I need new glasses, I saw no mention of “90% of women.” I feel that if you put that on your cover, your article should include the same statistic, and also where/how that figure was obtained.

By: Edward Vielmetti

Edward Vielmetti — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:47:53 +0000

Joan -

Just be glad that Wired is printing things in a reasonably readable font – they used to delight in making things virtually unreadable with fun inks on fun backgrounds where you had to really squint to make out the words.

By: ALEX NEWELL

ALEX NEWELL — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:04:08 +0000

Joan

It is so nice to come across someone else who finds this sloppy practise irritating. Yes it is “101″ but it’s Caring about your Customer 101 and its not just editors who fail on that.

I’d better stop I feel a rant coming on!

Alex

By: Mario Bonilla

Mario Bonilla — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:27:08 +0000

When I am looking for the ‘treasure’, other stories don’t matter to me. I am focused on what I want to see, ‘THE KEYWORDS’ that signal I have found the treasure and everything else I might see does not make a lasting impression.

By: garth

garth — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:07:54 +0000

Joan, I’ve found this quirk in many mags. I think it’s called a Treasure Hunt headline.

I believe editors feel that because you are so curious about the headline (the prize) you will thumb through the whole mag until you get your prized
article.

I think from your description it seemed to work and it tends to pull me in too so you’re not the only one.

Now more on this Rolling Stone-Martin Scorsese partnership? I can’t get no satisfaction without more details it sounds so exciting.

See you did it too!