Magazine Moves Online
by Bill Farkas • November 2005 • 29 Comments •
It is with mixed emotions that we inform you that the Cross & Crescent magazine will no longer be printed — at least in the foreseeable future — and is instead available only online at www.crossandcrescent.com.
C&C History
1914: No. 1, Vol. I, of the Purple, Green, and Gold published
1915: Vol. I, No. I, of Cross & Crescent published
1932: Purple, Green, and Gold changes its name to Cross & Crescent
1970: Linn C. Lightner (Franklin & Marshall 1918) retired after 50 years of service as editor
2004: General Assembly approves “Publication [of the Cross & Crescent] shall be deemed to include electronic posting on the Fraternity’s web-based or other similar site.”
2005: Printed version of Cross & Crescent discontinued, online version made available at www.crossandcrescent.com
The motivation for this change in format was purely financial. Members of the staff and Grand High Zeta equally enjoy receiving the magazine in the mail; some have even amassed collections that parallel those of National Geographic.
But the fact remains, it cost the General Fraternity in excess of $250,000 annually to produce printed editions of the Cross & Crescent for 125,000 members. Considering our annual budget is less than $3.1 million, the magazine was one of our greatest expenses.
For more than a decade we have witnessed sustained declines in recruitment, this decrease in membership has placed the General Fraternity in a position to make drastic cost-cutting measures. Ceasing the production of the printed Cross & Crescent became a necessary step toward financial recovery.
Under ideal circumstances, we would prefer to provide a printed edition of the Cross & Crescent that is complemented by an electronic version — much the way commercial magazines and newspapers operate. But since we can’t afford to provide both, we have tried to make the electronic format as appealing as possible.
Starting November 2, 2005, you will find a new issue of the Cross & Crescent online at www.crossandcrescent.com. Subsequent issues will be posted on the second of each month.
Not only is the content timelier, the online magazine is more interactive — inviting you to comment on stories and contribute feature articles.
The success of the online Cross & Crescent is partially in your hands. We are still interested in your chapter news, alumni news, obituaries, and feature stories about notable and interesting alumni. We also welcome experienced writers and editors to participate as volunteers in the development of each issue.
We invite you to explore our new format, to add your comments to each article, and to return to this site on the second of every month for the next issue of the Cross & Crescent.
To learn more about this website or the change in format, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
Bill Farkas, Executive Vice President
Jason Pearce, Editor
CFEA»Blog Archive » Embracing Electronic Distribution Says:
November 2nd, 2005 at 11:19 am[...] To learn more about the reasons for making the change, visit the article Magazine Moves Online or find me at the CFEA MidYear conference a few weeks from now. [...]
Charles DeMaio Says:
November 2nd, 2005 at 7:22 pmSend me the email version
Charles DeMaio
Indiana State ’73
IE 802
Jason Pearce | relatively irrelevant » Blog Archive » Magazine’s RSS Feed Says:
November 2nd, 2005 at 11:34 pm[...] The electronic versions of the Cross & Crescent magazine were launched less than 24-hours ago and one chapter has already added its RSS feed to the front page of their website. [...]
Bill Schilling Says:
November 3rd, 2005 at 5:17 pmI presume there will be both a cross and a crescent on the tombstone for the demised. A sad, sad day for many. A new dawn for others!
Robert Tennyson Says:
November 4th, 2005 at 5:27 pmSorry to see the Cross & Crescent magazine go, but I do understand the demographics. Will look forward to reading it on line each month.
In ZAX
Robert Tennyson
AO 652
Telfs, Austria
Glenn Miller Says:
November 5th, 2005 at 1:52 amI think National has made a very good decision by making this change. I would put a link on lambdachi.org to take everyone to crossandcrescent.com. Do a good job with the navigation and the new format should be a big success. I like what I see so far.
Jayme Little Says:
November 5th, 2005 at 2:19 amIt’s with mixed emotions that I see the C&C move to electronic format. I really appreciate the regular updates, but since 1995 when I was initiated I’ve been collecting the print copies. While not quite the collection that some have, I value my C&C hard copies. Thank you LCA for pioneering this electronic format.
ZAX,
Jayme Little
GGZ 1294
Professional Staff ’99 – ’02
Pat Atwater Says:
November 5th, 2005 at 8:00 amSad day. I hope we can eventually go back to at least one annual printed issue. Lets get busy with recruiting.
In ZAX
Pat Atwater
Robert Frey Says:
November 5th, 2005 at 5:23 pmNeed to look at the bigger picture. Cross & Crescent magazine sparked conversation and awareness about the Fraternity when people saw it in my office. I was proud to have it displayed at home or office. Maybe if things are so fundamentally different financially than they were before, we should consider charging a subscription fee just like other magazines do. Hey, just a thought.
Rob
St.Mary’s University (San Antonio)’96
Dallas, TX
Jeff Logsdon Says:
November 6th, 2005 at 10:38 amI think the new format is great. $250,000 per year can be used on better things than having a publication in print. Having the Cross & Crescent with more frequent issues is a definite plus.
-jl
AH 1602
Dick Anderson GK 366 Says:
November 7th, 2005 at 8:58 pmAnd what of the many brothers, especially the older ones, who do not have acess to email and related? Have we just deserted them in interest of economy?
David Says:
November 7th, 2005 at 9:28 pmPerhaps doing the bulk of the publishing online and allowing those older members who don’t have access to the technology to receive a biannual printed subscription for a nominal fee would ensure that some aren’t left without access. If the issue of access could be resolved for the few who don’t have it, I would applaud the decision. Otherwise I fear that we may be leaving a generation behind.
DGK
Gamma 1327
A.E.KAISER, III Says:
November 8th, 2005 at 3:13 pmAS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, YOU NEED NOT APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE….CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT CHANGE AND ONE WHICH WILL SAVE THE ORGANIZATION VALUABLE MONEY! I LOVE IT!!! THANKS, MANNY KAISER
Andy Buffington Says:
November 9th, 2005 at 6:18 amI would prefer the PDF version being automatically emailed to me instead of having to go to the website. Thanks for making the correct decision to do away with the hardcopy version.
WAYNE JONES Says:
November 10th, 2005 at 11:33 pmI guess I am old fashioned– I prefer the printed version. Zeta omega 116
Dennis Rorex Says:
November 12th, 2005 at 5:02 pmWould it be possible for the brothers to receive it on a subscription basis? I am very sad about this situation.
In ZAXS,
Dennis Rorex
Sigma Delta Zeta #033
James Wood Says:
November 12th, 2005 at 6:27 pmThis internet only version stinks. Please remember your alumni do not have time to sit in front of PC and read entire magazine. That was great part about printed version, it is portable and can read when convenient, not dragging a laptop along!
denny maisano Says:
November 15th, 2005 at 11:10 amToo bad but I understand the economics. Since my chapter was disbanded (Villanova) this was the only way to keep in touch with old friends. I hope the Chapter news imput doesnt drop off significantly
Yours in ZAX
Denny Maisano BI #37
Cross & Crescent Moves to Online Distribution :: Skockination Says:
November 21st, 2005 at 11:13 pm[...] As of November 2nd, Lambda Chi Alpha’s magazine the Cross & Crescent has moved to an online distribution. At the same time, they’ve discontinued print distribution. I really enjoyed the print magazine, but I can understand the financial burden they presented. I also understand how cheaply a website can be set up and maintained. [...]
Keith Weeks Says:
November 29th, 2005 at 2:14 pmI prefer the printed version even though I understand the decision that was made. I enjoyed being able to take the print version with me. I think offering a print version at a subscription rate is a great idea.
In ZAX,
Keith Weeks
Troy University
Albert W. Bellais ZGZ 174 Says:
December 3rd, 2005 at 12:12 amI know that my chapter has gone through much since 1958, but the magazine meant much. I appeared on its cover in 1959 (or ’60) when I went to Antarctica. I would prefer a printed copy as I always read it and looked for news of the chapter and friends. If it is at all possible I hope there isa way to keep it in print. The word doesn’t seem to have the same power on an illuminated screen.
Randy J. LaFollette Says:
December 4th, 2005 at 3:59 pmImagine being I.O. 492. Kenny Chesney issue of Cross and Crescent is lost in the mail. Kenny is I.O.555. Obviously for E.T.S.U. brothers this is the most signifigant issue we will ever see. I called Indy to request a new copy. The positive side to this is …..I know I can log on to recieve my copy the first week of every month. My Cross and Crescent magazine is much like Kenny’s “Old Blue” chair. I support the decision to go online. I also respectfully request to recieve a copy of the magazine featuring Kenny online. Yours in ZAX, R.J. LaFollette,I.O.492.E.T.S.U.86
CFEA»Blog Archive » Chapter News Importance Says:
December 5th, 2005 at 9:04 pm[...] The magazine is now released only online in three formats (XHTML, PDF, RSS) on the second of every month at http://www.crossandcrescent.com. We also send out a teaser email reminding folks to return to the site to get the latest issue (image to right). [...]
Bob Howard Says:
December 12th, 2005 at 4:23 pmI love the website, it will be a great chance for us to get more updated information on our chapter and others…I am going to miss getting the magazine in the mail though…well guys take care.
Yours in Z.A.X.,
Brother Bob Howard bl418
Philip C. Brooks Says:
January 3rd, 2006 at 4:29 pmWhile I’m technologically literate enough to have access to the new electronic Cross and Crescent, I think we are making a great mistake in abandoning the print media. An electronic publication does not convey the same high quality image as the print version of Cross and Crescent, as some brothers have noted. More importantly, though, any electronic publication is essentially not accessible to many people who do not have computers, are not computer literate, or do not have anything better than dial-up computer service; consequently, by going to an electronic format only, we are writing off a significant segment of the brotherhood — especially the older brothers, the very people we hope will remember the fraternity in their wills. As a professional writer and editor, and as a former fundraiser for governmental and non-profit organizations, I think that converting Cross and Crescent to an electronic-only publication is an exceedingly unwise step and a great disservice to many brothers.
Some good suggestions have been made regarding this issue, including an annual print issue and a modest subscription fee for a print version. I most strongly urge the Grand High Zeta and the editorial staff to give these suggestions careful and favorable consideration.
Please bring back the print version of the Cross and Crescent!
Philip C. Brooks
ZI-256
James Edwards, MD Says:
January 4th, 2006 at 2:40 pmWhile not an avid reader of the C&C, I am sorry to see the magazine go. I use a computer every day, but prefer to sit in an easy chair to read. The new format is interesting but I fear it is the beginning of the end, not only for the C&C, but for LCA and fraternities in general. That will be a sad day indeed. James Edwards, MD AO 757
Cross & Crescent » Online Magazine Tells Stories Says:
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:07 am[...] For 90 years, Lambda Chi Alpha’s Cross & Crescent magazine was distributed the traditional way; by mail. But on November 2, 2005, we broke that tradition by replacing the printed version with five electronic formats: web, PDF, RSS, podcast, and email. [...]
Tom Lawrence Says:
May 7th, 2006 at 1:48 pmIf getting this non-magazine on my computer means I have a subscription, please cancel it. There had to be a better place to cut corners.
yrs. in Z.A.X., Tom Lawrence, Order of Merit
Mark Orman Says:
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:26 pmWell, it has been almost 2 years, and I still miss the printed page.
My high school students asked many questions over the years about Lambda Chi and fraternities in general. I would like to be able to subscribe to a hard copy.
My father ( also a Lambda Chi) does not have access to a computer…so he , and those who are his general age are just left out.
Our older brothers are the ones who “blazed the trail” for us, now they are abandonded by the very people who are supposed to be their (younger) brothers.
Best wishes to all …
ZAX
M.O.
Sigma Delta Zeta