Focus on the future
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future
John F. Kennedy
In researching quotes with which to open this column I came across hundreds of profound words, and the one thing that was clear is that the views people have on the concepts of past, present and future are both interesting and varied.
When I started at FOCUS, more than six-and-a-half years ago, my past was simple – a degree in journalism; a passion for writing; and a love for piston power, driven wheels and the glossy magazines that allowed kids like me to indulge the passion.
My present, on the other hand, was filled with the excitement of finally, professionally entering the glamorous world of automotive publishing. My future was still lined with rose-tinted hope and a cautious view of this new arena of diesel and dust.
Fast-forward to August 2017 and much has changed. The internet has morphed into a force nobody can ignore as digital platforms become increasingly favoured by consumers. This is a somewhat scary thought for the print industry as it reminisces about a golden past.
The commercial-vehicle industry has changed, too. The accelerated rate of technology proliferation in all spheres of product and service has increased. A new generation of operators is emerging, as well.
In fact, if there’s one thing we can say with certainty about transport operators it is that dwelling on the past is not in their makeup – dealing with current issues to ensure a more efficient, prosperous future is more their way of thinking.
Where does all this leave FOCUS? Well, in recent years we’ve put a greater emphasis on our digital integration, creating a convenient mobile app and placing web-based platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube high on our daily agenda – in which regard, you can expect bigger and better things to come.
The actual printed magazine is, however, still front and centre of our media model. The challenge is to evolve it and integrate it as much as possible with these digital platforms, in a way that brings our readers and advertisers an even more immersive experience.
We aim to entertain and inform – that much has been true in the past – only now we have ever more “futuristic” avenues with which to do so.
So, paging through this issue you’ll enjoy a new look and feel. You’ll be exposed to new voices of industry professionals, who share their views on pertinent topics of the day (and maybe even the future). You’ll also be able to expand your magazine-reading experience with your mobile device…
If you’re unfamiliar with those funny little square blocks you’ve been seeing on some of the stories, go to your device’s app store and download a Quick Response (QR) code scanner. Aiming it at one of these QR codes will unlock all manner of content related to that story – from websites to multi-media content – and put even more value into your hands as our reader.
All this – and more to come as we roll into the future – is our concept for the evolution of FOCUS to ensure it remains at the forefront of South Africa’s commercial vehicle media … whether it be old-school print, the present emphasis on digital, or the futureproofed combination of the two.
Thank you for joining us!