Has Journal AWWA Lost its Way?

Is new format a step forward or backward?

I used to keep the latest copy of the Journal AWWA (JAWWA) in my briefcase for a month or two as I gradually read the technical articles. Sometimes I would have several issues backed up if there were a lot of articles of interest I wanted to read.

Last week, as I flicked through the most recent issue in about 30 minutes, I wondered if the new format of extended abstracts rather than full technical papers is a step backward for the traditional readership. I was also left with nothing to read for the remaining hour of my plane trip….A couple of the abstracts looked interesting and if the full papers were there, I would have read them, but for the new format I have to go online to find the full articles. Not really practical on a plane or in the lunch room when I typically read JAWWA. Maybe I am old school, but I am not going to read a technical paper direct from my computer screen anyway, so that means I now have to print it and carry it around with me so it is available when I get time to read it on a plane or at lunch – not going to happen! The end result is I am less informed about new technical developments in the Water industry, one of the main benefits JAWWA previously had to offer me.

I can’t recall the reason the American Water Works Association gave for the new format. I probably should have said something when this was announced but I didn’t realize at the time how the changes would impact me. JAWWA is now slipping towards the tabloid status of WE&T, Waterworld and Water & Wastes Digest, which have more room for advertising and less for substance. Was the change to JAWWA to allow the inclusion of more articles to keep authors happy or allow more advertising or both? Has it been worth it?

AWWA had better be careful it does not lose members out of this change. When I was living in Australia and did not have access to AWWA conferences and Section resources, the main reason I was an AWWA member was primarily to get the Journal followed by access to the book store and technical library. I was speaking to a consultant at the recent AWWA Annual Conference in Dallas about how difficult it is to keep up with the technical reading and every few months he said he went through his pile of magazines and threw out everything except JAWWA which was a must read. I was the same, but with the new format, my JAWWA pile now goes down a lot faster – in fact I don’t have a pile now… Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Will that consultant soon also be throwing out JAWWA without looking through it?

Personally I think JAWWA is losing the technical high ground it had over other water industry publications and if it moves too far away from what previously differentiated it from these publications, will lose readership of the very people it needs to attract its advertisers and members.