The Future of Adventist Today

[Gregory Matthews]

Two independent publications have become an important part of Adventism.  Spectrum  began publication in 1969.  It was intended to promote in-depth discussion of issues current to the SDA denomination.  Adventist Today began publication in 1993.  It focused on providing the Adventist community at large, current news that could not generally be obtained from any other source.  While these two publications have had some overlap, they have maintained their original focus and served an important part in Adventist life to this day. 

Now both publications are forced by changes in U.S. society to examine their place in Adventist life and ministry.  In that age of the Internet, people are reading less magazines.  Well known periodicals, such as The Saturday Evening Post have been forced to restructure and in some cases go out of business.    Both Spectrum and Adventist Today have been affected by these changes in U.S. life.

On some levels concerned Adventists have questioned whether or not these two publications can continue to survive, and even if they are needed in this day and age.  It has been speculated, that in order to continue to have a place in Adventist life and mission, they might need to merge into one organization.  Personally, I believe that in their original formulation they best serve Adventist life and ministry.

In an attempt to survive, Adventist Today  has proposed a change in its mission and place in Adventist society.  It is attempting to change from a subscription service to a membership service.  As a subscription service, every person who paid a uniform fee for an annual subscription became entitled to all of the services and information that any other person received.   In the proposal to become a membership service, there will be levels of membership. 

In this plan, there will be three levels of membership.  The first will start at an annual fee of $75, or quarterly payments of $20.   The middle level will have an annual fee of $169, or a monthly payment of $15.   The highest level of  membership will have an annual fee of $549, or a monthly fee of $50.

I can understand the financial needs that these publications may be facing toddy.  But in my thinking this plan is not the answer.  It will change Adventist Today from  an organization designed to reach the Adventist community at large to an elite organization  only addressing the few who will be willing to pay the appropriate fees.    This change in ministry and mission, I believe, will be the preverbal last nail in the coffin, and potentially will result in  Adventist Today  no longer having an important role in Adventist life and ministry.

[debbym]

These publications do provide thoughtful communications, and broad reporting.  This demonstrates we do have an incredible diversity in the church, and ranges of issues that have been given voice.  I know persons who utterly dread spectrum, and then those who value the honesty and gain understanding of people's thinking through it.  I see them as pulse taking of the church.

Perhaps if they saw themselves a a mission and those who supported that mission would support them. The freedom of information on the web changes so many things, so much. I assume they have online subscriptions.

[Gregory Matthews]

It should be noted that effective today, the Editor of Adventist Today and I have having an on-going comprehensive discussion of what I have posted above.

 

[Jeannieb43]

And I think we should also consider the many calls for contributions which our dear leader, Stan, has had to make recently.

 

Running these conversation sites and these inspirational journals is no easy task.

 

[Gregory Matthews]

Wanderer:  Thank you for your response.  From my understanding of what you have posted, it appears to me that you may not fully understand Adventist Today and Spectrum.  So, probably this is true of others and  let me share a bit:  I will be specific to Adventist Today.

*  Both Adventist Today and Spectrum are much more than just a website.  Both regularly publish a magazine.

*  Adventist Today is published four (4) times a year and in the current issue consists of 44 pages, counting the covers.

*  Spectrum in a recent issue consisted of 80 pages not counting the covers.

*  Currently the annual subscription price for Adventist Today is $29.50. However, the  cost to AT to print and mail the print issue is an annual cost of $40.

*  Both AT and  Spectrum are largely produced by unpaid volunteers.  There is very little cost for paid employees for either.

*  However, for both publications, there are costs to send competent journalists to cover important Adventist events.  These events will include General Conference Sessions such as the recent one in Texas, important scheduled meeting at the General Conference HQ and other meetings that are held around the world.  Attendance at these meetings may be restricted to accredited journalists who while volunteering to attend may require travel expenses.   

*  There are substantial differences between Spectrum and Adventist today.  While some have proposed a merger of the two organizations, the  majority have not considered this to be a viable proposal.

*   I suspect that Spectrum is funded by people who on the average have a higher income and therefore a higher level of financial support than does the average person who supports Adventist Today.

*  Both Spectrum and Adventist Today maintain a digital presence.  In line with the current culture of this age, the digital presence of extending beyond that of the print presence.  Yes, much of this is provided by unpaid volunteers.  But, the costs are increasing to provide what is needed in this digital age.  Stan probably could give personal examples of this as it relates to Chub Adventist. 

*  The bottom line is that Adventist Today is facing a need to change the financial foundation on which it is supported.  It is probably correct  that it cannot continue to exist on its current level of financial support and it must make some major changes.  I have some major concerns as to the direction that it is going, as I have stated.  But, I do not claim to have the answers as to what it should do in order to maintain financial stability.

 

[Gregory Matthews]

Wanderer:  The main people behind Club Adventist are Stan, Gail and Tom.  Standing behind those three are a  group of other people of whom I am one.  But, I and those others do not contribute as much as do Tom, Gail and Stan.

 

[Gregory Matthews]

My reservations related to Adventist Today concern the direction that they are taking to move from a subscription based organization to a membership organization.  I believe that such will change the focus of their from a broadly based  mission to Adventist members to a focus on an elite group.  Further, I do not believe that it will be succeed  in resolving their financial issues.