PA #87: Letter From The Publisher

Welcome to issue 87 of Protoculture Addicts. This issue marks the end of the first full year of "Anime News Network's Protoculture Addicts" and unfortunately the end of our bi-monthly schedule -- for now at least. When we first re-launched Protoculture Addicts last year, we set certain goals for the magazine in terms of how we wanted to improve it over the first year.

Unfortunately we didn't meet those goals, and after six issues we were faced with a number of tough choices. We could continue as we were, stop altogether, or work towards some major changes. While we're very proud of the improvements that we've made to the magazine over this past year, we're not satisfied with where we stand right now, or the pace of improvement, so continuing as we were was out of the question. But as many like to say, "My momma didn't raise no quitter." We're committed to Protoculture Addicts, committed to improving this magazine and seeing it succeed on its own merits. So in the end, the only choice was to make some big changes.

Thing is, big changes had always been the plan, and they just weren't happening. Right now it takes us about 10 weeks to create each issue of Protoculture Addicts (and the magazine is due out every 8.5 weeks!). There's just no time in the production schedule to focus on improvements. So the decision we made was to slow down the production schedule for a while, giving us plenty of time to focus on improving the magazine.

The next issue of Protoculture Addicts will come out in May 2006, and trust me, this will be a very different magazine from the one you hold in your hands right now. Every aspect of our layout and content will be evaluated, re-evaluated and either tweaked or completely re-invented. Of course, one thing that won't change will be the spirit of the magazine. Protoculture Addicts has always been and always will be a magazine written for the more mature and intelligent anime fan. Sure we're going to have fun with the magazine, but it will never read as if it was written for a 12-year-old.

So please look forward to issue 88.

In the meantime, check out www.protoculture.ca for regular updates on our progress with the magazine. Join our mailing list or join us in the forums to contribute your thoughts on what we should change in the magazine, and how we should change it. We'll run a number of polls to see what you like about the magazine. How we change the magazine will be largely determined based on what readers tell us, so make sure your voice is heard.

Finally, for our subscribers, since you paid to receive six issues a year and there will not be six issues in the coming year, we offer you the right to request a partial refund for the undelivered portion of your subscription. Of course, you can also keep your subscription, you'll still receive the same number of issues you paid for, just later than originally planned. To receive a refund, or exchange your subscription for back issues, send us an e-mail at editor@protoculture.ca or a regular (snail) mail to Protoculture, P.O.B. 1433, Stn B, Montreal, Qc, Canada, H3B 3L2.

See you next issue!

Christopher Macdonald
Publisher -- Protoculture Addicts