Industry Focus
Our Round of Convergence
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Dec 01, 2016
There are myriad clichés that describe
change. However, the one that seems to
suit Security Products magazine best is:
Success is often brought about by change.
George Bernard Shaw said, “Progress is impossible
without change, and those who cannot change their
minds cannot change anything.”
Mr. Shaw and I are on the same wavelength when
it comes to change. At Security Products magazine,
we have enjoyed our share of successes over the
past 20 years. We have altered several things along
the way, most notably our size. During our first few
years the dimensions of the magazine were that of a
full-size tabloid. Looking back now, that thing was
huge. Moving away the large format, we scaled down
to what you probably know us best at: the European
tabloid, a little smaller and more compact.
During the past four years, our editorial content
has changed as well, due to the Internet and the instant
availability of news. When we now receive a press release
noting a new hire or promotion, it goes straight
to our website. It becomes news now, rather than published
in the magazine as news two months later. Also,
as services and solutions become more common, we
increased coverage of those in the magazine.
Now, the final piece of our change in the puzzle.
Let’s call it convergence.
Security Products will officially become Security
Today beginning with our February issue. And,
if that change is not enough, we will be doing away
with the tabloid format and the traditional front page
with a host of products. Security Today will become
a standard size magazine with a cover photo from the
month’s featured article.
Why change? Several years ago I felt the need to
build a portfolio for the next decade. The team discussed
it, and we all agreed that we needed to move
beyond a product focus to one of solutions, technology,
education and information. So, we developed
www.securitytoday.com as the start of this portfolio
and then integrated this new idea into our e-newsletters
and other parts of the digital portfolio.
“Change brings opportunity,” Nido Qubein.
We chose to showcase the changes in February because
we wanted to have a little cushion during the
holidays. Honestly, the feedback from readers and advertisers
alike has been positive and exciting. The focus
and content will continue to change as we expect
to reflect a broader and more comprehensive view of
the security market. For the past two decades we have
largely been known as a product tabloid, so having a
New Products section will not change at all. It will be
robust, timely and well positioned.
We are adding circulation to increase our reach
into the monitoring vertical. We applaud these people
in the security industry for their dedication to keeping
home and property, save and secure.
Some things will remain the same, such as our
Campus Security & Life Safety specialty publication.
Look for more exciting news for this magazine in
2017. Our Networking Security and GovSec will also
remain the same, and the Dealer Strategies publication
will continue on course seven times a year.
For the most part, people do not like modifications
to things that have been a constant in their lives.
Progress, however, means the inevitable culmination
of change. What I like most about the changes we
are making is our goal to stay true to our roots, and
to our readers. The burden of proof is on my staff
and I to bring important editorial contributions that
will teach, train and educate, and offer the latest in
technology. We will continue to use our website for
breaking news and other timely information as the
staff works the website all day to ensure readers have
a place to find breaking news. The publication will
carry the best solutions and technology-based information,
for our readers.
We’ve been working on this change for at least a
couple of years now and needless to say we are pretty
excited about the outcome. Like a puzzle, we are placing
in the last, giant piece to see the completion of
that diagram.
The time is right to announce Security Today.
Today’s security market has seen numerous changes
over the past decade. We are pleased to have been a
small part of that evolution, and now we announce
our biggest change as we integrate Today well into
the future.
This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue of Security Today.
About the Author
Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.