Our secret weapon: Industry Trends & Analysis

Since finalizing the purchase of CTE Publications Inc. a few months ago, I’ve been on a mission to meet with as many industry leaders as possible—both to introduce myself and, more importantly, to listen and learn.

What I’ve learned so far is mostly reassuring, but there was a surprising revelation.

From a business perspective, industry leaders have confirmed for me that the horizon is bright despite a continuing skills gap and worries about the trade war. That’s the reassuring part.

What caught me by surprise was a false rumor that CTE would go all digital and that the future of print media in general is bleak. As the new owner of a print trade magazine, naturally I couldn’t help but think of these “ironic” words from singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette: “He waited his whole damn life to take that flight, and as the plane crashed down he thought, ‘Well, isn’t this nice.'”

Ironically, I spent the better part of the past decade trying to convince the former owner and publisher of CTE that the internet wasn’t a fad and that it had a robust future. Now, it would seem, I need to flip the script to champion print.

Or do I?

I’ve never viewed CTE’s various media channels as separate, distinct products: a print magazine, a digital magazine, a website, an e-newsletter, a mobile app and a smart TV app. CTE is one entity with multiple media channels, and I champion all of them.