Dear PC World, Is 43.2% Good Enough?

Dear PC World magazine,

I was at my local Border's bookstore today and saw your latest issue. However after briefly browsing through it, I have noticed there is a significant amount of full-page advertisements.



Not including the front and back cover pages, I have jotted down this actual content list with their starting page number :

5 - Content list
8 - Credits
11 - Techlog
13 - PCW Forum
18 - Forward
41 - Consumer Watch
47 - Business Center
53 - Security Alert
60 - Reviews & Ratings
82 - Main Article, Get the Most Out of Your Laptop
95 - Article, Stay in Sync
105 - The Best TV on the Web
116 - Here's How
131 - Magazine Contact Information
132 - Full Disclosure

Now let's count the number of full-page ads shall we?

Pages 1-4, 6-7, 9-12, 14-17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33-40, 43-46, 49, 51-52, 55, 57-59, 65, 67, 73, 75, 79-81, 89, 91, 93, 99, 101, 103-104, 109, 111, 113-115, 123, 125-130.

That does not even include the half-page ads like on pages 68-71 & 76-77:



Out of 132 printable pages, the total number of advertisement is 72 pages. That only left readers with 60 content pages.

If we subtract pages 5 (content list), 8 (credits), & 131 (magazine contact information), the end result is actually 57 pages.

I don't know about you, but 57 out of 132 is only 43.2%. If you are a student, that is definitely an "F" on your report card.

Just like the Reviews & Ratings section in your own magazine, what would you do with a product that only scored 43.2%? Would you recommend it to someone else?

I don't think so.