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Families are among the fastest-growing markets for all things digital, and FamilyPC magazine is leading the trend. Launched by Ziff-Davis in 1994, FamilyPC
guides busy parents through the ever-maddening world of technology, from the basics of PC installation to coordinating soccer practice-carpools on their PDAs. This is a market
that will only get bigger as the cost of consumer-technology plummets, as evidenced by the magazine's swelling circulation base. The number of FamilyPC subscribers
increased from 500,000 to 700,000 in 2000. The magazine presently reaches 2.3 million readers each month, and publishes 13 times a year (an extra issue comes out in December.)
CONTENT/CONTACTS
FamilyPC prides itself on serving both geeks and tech-neophytes alike. For example, the "Computer Survival Guide" in the January 2001 issue offers a broad array of tips
for glitch-free computing, whether you're upgrading your family's fifth machine or booting up your first. A special issue for the holiday shopping season directed readers to the
Web's best places for hardware, software and wireless products.
Recurring themes include video game reviews (with a watchful eye towards the most violent ones) and shielding kids from adult and other objectionable Web content. There's also
a heavy focus on family-oriented sites, even though so many consumer-oriented dotcoms are closing shop these days. Some recently profiled sites include places to buy kitchenware,
plan summer vacations, and even hire a lawyer.
Suggested contacts:
Hardware and software reviews:
John Godfrey, executive editor
([email protected] )
Health, travel, education:
Jo Cavallo, executive editor
([email protected] )
General inquiries and features ideas:
Andrea Linne, features editor
([email protected] )
PITCH TIPS
Email is the preferred method of contact, although phone calls are accepted. Faxes are non grata. Be sure to keep all pitches consumer-oriented. Says executive editor John
Godfrey, "Whenever I see the word 'business' in an email I hit the delete button."
Another PR-peeve of Godfrey's is when he gets spammed with announcements about "some VP of marketing getting a new office." Not unlike the frustrated villagers who ignored the
boy who cried wolf, he deletes subsequent emails from the source.
COMMENTS
These days technology becomes obsolete faster than it takes an Adam Sandler movie to bomb, so the more topical your story idea, the better. Editorial staffers have no problem
signing non-disclosure agreements if it means nabbing the scoop on a hip technology product. However, be careful not to over-promise. One publicist's pitch for a hot new computer
game for the holiday shopping season made it into the December 2000 issue. However, the product's release was then delayed until summer 2001 - after the issue had already hit
newsstands.
Take note: FamilyPC is getting a fair amount of buzz on the celebrity circuit these days. Editor-in-Chief Robin Raskin has appeared on Live with Regis. Movie
mogul and devoted dad George Lucas hits the pages as a columnist, and this month's cover features NBC "Today" show weatherman Al Roker. If you've got a hot human property in your
pitch, editors' ears will likely perk up.