Topic

=Healthy Eating in BC=

Ideas - please add more ideas, and fill in the description, pros and cons for each


 * Vancouver Lifestyle-** We had this idea in the beginning and everyone seemed to like it. I was wondering if this could be thought out in more details to cater to everyone's liking.
 * I think the problem was that this concept was a bit generic. A lot of groups have done this in the past from what I've heard, and it seems like some might even already be doing it in this class session - although who knows for sure. Also, since Bob will be marking the ideas...I don't think he'll be especially impressed with this concept since he already works on a successful Vancouver Lifestyles magazine. just some thoughts...

Geocaching
(stolen from Wikipedia)... Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game in which participants use a GPS reciever or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (caches) anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little value. Today, well over 440,000 geocaches are registered on various websites devoted to the sport. Geocaches are currently placed in 222 countries around the world and on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

pros
Relatively new sport, so there is a large potential for expansion Audience is typically those with disposable income who can afford the technology and travel expenses to play... Easier to find sponsorship and advertising There are only a few online geocaching magazines, and one in print (though I could not find it, I don't think it's been released yet) Interesting topic, lots of information will be available online Articles will be able to cover endless topics such as new technology, equipment and clothes used in the sports, exotic destinations for the game, tournaments, etc... Magazine will likely have to include an online concept, since many of the coordinates for games are posted online... spinoff -
 * yes the print magazine is 'in the works' but its not like the market is at all saturated with this sort of content so I think it could still be a really workable concept - there are 2 online zines if I remember correctly but I think the fact that there is some pre-existing material would actually work to our advantage...we could analyze these existing publications and really focus ours so that it is unique.
 * yes total spinoff potential woot!
 * ([|http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=141806)] there is actually a forum on demographics of geocachers and yeah seems to be quite a cross-section. I think this could work as well though since no-matter their age/SES it seems as if all geocachers are unified by the idea of this being an underground sort of sport - if we make the magazine appeal to this element of exclusivity it could work in a big way - huge potential for cult-like status I think.
 * In terms of advertising, yes GPS and outdoor equipment would definitely work but also, there are a variety of geo-caching specific products - coins and special edition items to hide for example - I see it as a super niche market and I don't think we'd have problems getting advertisers on board since its not like they currently have any print-based options.
 * This concept also has a lot of potential for environmentally-geared articles - about sustainable eco-tourism etc. - would appeal to more advertising... :)
 * The magazine could be easily 'hyped' through online forums that already exist...we could also put subscriptions to the magazine in actual geo-caches and use the sport itself to get the ball rolling on readership.

cons
I disagree with the idea that people who do this sport necessarily have a high disposable income. It is a very inexpensive sport/hobby (GPS units start at $100) The target audience is almost a cross-section of the population in terms of demographics. People of all ages, sex and socio-economic status. It will be easy to sell ads for GPS units, but not for other goods. We would have to rely heavily on a high news stand price. -After further research, I agree with you about the age demographics, income, etc. But I think there is also a high demand for a gecaching magazine, as the sport is so new. (Check out this forum: [|http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=57448).] I think geocachers are pretty avid about the sport, and we may be able to get away with a higher subscription fees. Also, this seems like a more 'outdoors' kind of sport... so hiking gear, outdoor clothing and equipment companies would still be interested in advertising.
 * yes lots of families participate - it seems to be a democratizing hobby in the sense that it is very accessible. If we want to target the geo-cachers with more disposable income we could focus the magazine on exotic geo-caching/extreme geo-caching for those who travel with the hobby...maybe focus on exclusive caches that are really hard to find/technically difficult to access - for the sport pros - those who would be willing to spend more $$ on equipment etc.

GM-Free Eating
a magazine that would focus on news type stories about genetically modified foods, lobby efforts, notable scientists, and grocers/restaurants/manufacturers who have gone GMO free. Maybe it could include a recipe a month. It would also include a guide in the back that people could use to help them shop in grocery stores for non-GM foods. Like adbusters, it would be read by people who already are converted to the idea of eating non-GM foods. It could also be read by people who are interested, and could be converted.

pros
a socially conscious idea researching will be interesting arguably the greatest health risk of our time hasn't been done will generate free press represents a movement that is gaining momentum, and would be ideally positioned to become popular as the movement develops inexhaustible amount of material, with several websites dedicated to news and advocacy will be very easy to get the material we need for our project ready distribution network through grocery stores - health food stores, plus regular one since people will want to find out which products are non-GM Strong existing advocacy group, who would be an excellent subscriber base international opportunity in future spinoff possibilities - educational DVDs, special issues, TV show etc.
 * Has potential to promote and recognize restaurants/businesses that are actually doing some good for people - that's nice! - and would encourage others to enter this market if the magazine becomes a success.
 * Definitely a lot of potential 'allied' organizations that would support this sort of publication.
 * Everyone eats and I think that its definitely an issue that a lot of people worry about and not a lot is being done to address this.

cons
Limits our advertising to select, few, GMO-free companies. May have to get sponsors from somewhere else? Just a thought.
 * I suppose because it is somewhat of an activist magazine, it does run the risk of struggling in the world of popular culture?
 * Resistance from large corporations maybe?
 * Is non-GMO/organic food actually affordable for the general population or would this magazine be more geared towards the wealthy who can afford more healthy food? We could face barriers with the cost of these foods since they are currently treated as a specialty and can hardly compete with the prices of mass-produced GMO foods.
 * Since we would have to limit our advertisers to GMO-free companies, would they even have enough of a budget to pay for competitive ad rates or would these ads have to be subsidized for them somehow?

More Information
[|www.responsibletechnology.org] [|www.gmwatch.org] [|Genetically Modified Food - Wikipedia] [|50 harmful effects of GM foods]

pros
we have the benefit of living in Vancouver, which has the rep of being one of most "green" cities in Canada (target market) a large portion on Canada's population reside in urban centers, where sustainable living may seem impossible (content) lots of information available online for our research would be appealing to advertisers of eco-friendly products has politcal, social and enviromental purpose
 * green movement is really gaining momentum and becoming trendy...so people's homes will most likely follow in suit.
 * There are some sustainable living magazines out there but I haven't found any specifically geared towards urban life.
 * Cities do have such a huge impact on the environment so this is really where the change needs to occur - a focus on an urban setting would make sense for us economically and also would make sense in terms of practicality.
 * We could really take advantage of the Olympics coming to appeal to our readership's sense of Vancouver/west coast pride
 * This is great for our city's reputation so we might be able to get support from government initiatives ($$ and PR)
 * Decorating magazines/TV shows seem to have a lot of success and with this new green spin it seems as if the demand would be there

cons
This is a good idea but isn't the other group in our tutorial doing this?
 * I don't know if they actually were - my impression was that they were just doing a lifestyle magazine and that this would resemble theirs in that sense - we could just ask what their topic is I guess if we're really interested in running with this concept?

More Information
[|http://www.sustainablebuildingsolutions.com] http://training.esri.com/campus/library/ConfProc/urisa/1998/1998-65.pdf