Do You Read HRMagazine?

This is a cover of the latest issue of HR Magazine. Do you read it? I don't. When HRMagazine is delivered each month, I glance through it to catch the quote boxes and side bars on my way to staff mailboxes to route to my staff. Many of my staff read it cover to cover.

I used to read HR Magazine. Early in my career, my interests were in developing a solid foundation of "how to" and "why we have to" and SHRM resources were life-saving to me. I had web pages bookmarked, white papers document protected and the knowledge center on speed dial. I read HR Magazine cover to cover and dog-eared page after page.

My interests now are on the broader role of HR in providing leadership and on engaging in real time discussions with others about emergent issues. HRMagazine is solid and meets a real need but it is a magazine for the masses. I am in search of the niche. I want real-time, speed-of-light, broad-range-of-perspective kind of interactions. I look to the 50+ blogs in my Google Reader, Alltop, HR networking sites HRM Today and HR Presence Network and, of course,Twitter for my daily fix of interaction and information.

I am a card carrying SHRM member. Yes, I am a expectation meeter at heart, but I don't maintain my membership year after year to make others happy. I maintain my membership each year because, as Laurie at PunkRockHR so finely stated, "there are tremendously talented men and women who work to make HR a more credible and visible profession."

So, do you read HRMagazine? Why or why not? China Gorman, SHRM COO, is on Twitter and she really wants to know. Won't you share your thoughts with her? 

Comments

[Frank Roche]

Hi Lisa,

I have to admit that I do what you do -- I scan the cover, then I look to see if any articles are written by people I know. Then the magazine it set aside until trash day. I know that's horrible, but I get daily HR news and thoughts online and in my Google Reader. It's as simple as that. I'd say to SHRM, "save some trees. Get blogging and have a presence if you already are. Forget the old fashioned way of delivering information. Lots is out there and can be aggregated."

[John Nail]

Lisa, I agree with you completely which is why I started the Industry Radar 4 years ago to aggregate all the information I need to know for the "global business of people". i recently added your blog to the hundreds of HR sources we aggregate.

This post will be in our newsletter today to over 100,000 readers as well....hope you get some good feedback...

www.theindustryradar.com

[Sharlyn Lauby]

I am also a card carrying member of SHRM and do not read HR Magazine. Not because it isn't a good publication but because it doesn't provide an alternative viewpoint. Sometimes I really want someone to challenge conventional thinking and unfortunately, HR Magazine doesn't do that. Hopefully, with their new social media portal, we will see some interesting dialogue take place on their website.

[Rachel - I Hate HR]

I skim it. It's lengthy and boring. I learn more faster by reading blogs and news online.

[Lisa Rosendahl]

@Frank, great point about print - it is "old news" before it even gets off the printing press.

@John, I will be checking out the industry radar tonight. Thanks for sharing and for including this post!

@ Rachel, yes, it may not totally be "what" is presented but "how" it is presented. I am definitely moving to an on-line preference too and am even thinking of asking for a Kindle for my b'day!

@Sharlyn, new SHRM social media portal? I better get up to speed!

[Kerry]

I don't read it, and haven't in years. That's partly because I have mastered the basics; like you, I read it religiously when I was starting out. I also have more reading to do than I can really handle, so I have to prioritize. I'm also a stay-at-home mom who only does HR project work now, so I'm no longer a full-time HR professional.

I do still maintain my membership, because I feel that I MORE than get my money's worth for $160. SHRM is still a great resource when I'm looking for information fast, and it's especially important for me know as a tool to "keep up" while I'm home with my kids.

I get frustrated by the SHRM-bashing that I see from time to time. I know for sure that I never would have made it in the early years of my career without them; they made me look smart, and I'm grateful. It can't be all things to all people, but it's a tremendous resource for HR professionals who want to learn the basics, and we all benefit from successfully educating those folks.

[Lisa Rosendahl]

@ Kerry I have not been to the SHRM website lately but am going to be checking back regularly now to follow their new site design and social networking efforts. Thanks for commenting!

[Carrie Williams]

I agree with you Lisa. I did used to read it and then it got to the point where I kind of already knew the things they were writing about. That's about the time I stopped, however every once in a while, I find something interesting I hadn't thought of or didn't know.

[Cynthia]

Wow, I thought I was the only one who got the magazine out of the mailbox, looked at the cover, and promptly threw it away. The information I want/need is electronic & "just in time" which has led me to search for the best HR rss options out there. By the way, one of my favorites is HRCapitalist...which is how on stumbled upon HR thoughts. Thanks!

[jessica lee]

interesting... i was lunching with SHRM folks yesterday and asked them how long they'll keep printing HR Magazine given newspapers and mags are struggling a bit. no plan anytime soon it sounded like to scrap it... but i'm not sure they know how few folks still read it... i agree with you completely on the need for light-speed info - by the time HRMag comes out, it's just so out of date... it's still great for younger HR folks growing in their career but are magazines where they really turn to for info? i dunno...