Sic Morphit BCR - Another Technology Magazine Grazes the Dust

From 1983 to 1988, I worked in the network division of Bolt Beranek & Newman (BBN).  I started as a tech writer; In 1985, I shifted laterally to be the PR writer (and subsequently, PR manager).

One happy result (and part of my motivation for pursuing the change) was I got to work with lots of editors and reporters, mostly in the technology press. (And also with sundry PR people in agencies and in BBN network customers.)

This included schmoozing on the phone (this was the cusp of the transition to email; most press releases still went out by FedEx, ditto most marketing manuscripts), office visits to or by where possible, and handshakes at trade shows.

Many-to-most of these magazines are no longer in existence, e.g. CMP's Communications Week (which turned into Internet Week before going web-only and then even web-dark), Data Communications and LAN Times (bought by CMP and then killed), Datamation, MIS Week (sigh), and TP+T, to name a few. (Some, like ComputerWorld, Network World and Telecommunications are still actually around in hardcopy, albeit smaller and thinner shadows of their heyday selves.)

With yesterday's postal mail, I learn that another one has gone, after 37 years. The December 2007 issue of Business Communications Review (BCR) that arrived is its last, as a paper entity.

BCR has been an interesting, thoughtful magazine covering the telephony, data and other networking arena, largely through columnists and feature articles by knowledgeable, informative experts (and some by yours truly).

BCR had been its own entity; if memory serves accurately, they started up some seminars/conferences including working with John McQuillan on the Next Generation Networks (NGN) events, and ultimately were purchased by CMP.

Thankfully, BCR's not simply turned off.  BCR's magazines's main editorial staff, main contributor columnists, web site, and other aspects, will continue under the new name www.NoJitter.com.

One reason I care is that every info-outlet we lose is a loss of history, continuity, and of a "known place to go."

I also have a writer's personal interest -- while at BBN, I was responsible for causing a number of articles to be contributed to BCR, some by freelancers I assigned, some that I ghost-wrote myself. And post-BBN, I actually wrote half a dozen or so articles with my own byline, mostly on early-commercial-stage Internet topics like the CIX, IS-IS versus OSPF routing, and other things I'd have to pull open my file cabinet to itemize, as they're too old to be online and search-found by BCR.

And lastly, but far from least, I care because the editorial folks at BCR are nice people.  Over the years, I got to be friends with a bunch of editors, reporters and fellow freelancers, including BCR editor Fred Knight. Fred's one of the nicest guys I know -- not just because he bought articles from me -- and is also a fellow men's neckware (tie) aficionado.

So, Fred: Best of luck with the new site-only!  And keep wearing those elegantly tasteful ties!