Wow, it took her this long to respond? Way to get us to read your crappy mag with such wonderful words like that.

And I'm not to cheap to buy a magazine that has more in it than just advertisements. Should try writing an article once in a while. Just make sure to get a proof reader that actually knows how to use spell check. Just saying.

Well, Ms. Melanie Warner-Kennedy just guaranteed I'll never again purchase Fresno magazine.

I actually thumbed through a copy at Barnes and Noble Sunday and considered buying it for the Best of Fresno poll. Guess I was just too cheap to follow through.

I wonder if that "150,000 monthly readers" figure factors in all the copies dropped off at random locations for no reason...

http://twitter.com/cshack_21/status/9548282763

Two notes of interest:

1) The prisoner from Blythe is more timely in responding to Beehive posts.

2) Choosing not to purchase a copy of Fresno Mag is not related to me being "cheap" - it's that I'd rather spend my money on something worth reading.

I read Fresno Magazine religiously....because my office gets it for free.
Cheap?
She would know about being cheap.
I'll leave it at that.

You call me cheap, I call me being wise with my money. I would assume that the winners of Best of Fresno would prefer that they won based on the consensus from the whole Fresno community rather than a select few. But you know what assume stands for...silly me.

Long live the Fresno Mag Blog!!!

Bring back Conlan!

I have no desire to purchase an issue of Fresno Magazine. I wouldn't even read it if it was free and dropped off at my doorstep four months late.

You know I actually subscribed to Fresno mag a few years back, don't think I ever really read an issue (well there's not much to read) but I had just moved back to Fresno and was trying to support as much local business as I could. I obviously never renewed because of all the same reasons we've read here on the Beehive before. But also, I seemed to get every issue at least 2 weeks INTO the month of the issue. Like I wouldn've got Feb's issue last week if I was lucky. There was always a calendar of local events of that month half of which had already passed.
And it was ironic that I could always find the newer issue at my doc's waiting room than in my mailbox, and I was one of their actual PAYING subscribers.

Regarding timeliness: I think her comment was meant to announce the new online voting, rather than as a simple response. (Granted, a comment on a months-old post isn't the most productive way to announce something like that.)

There are a lot of ads in the mag, but there are also interesting, well-written, and informative articles. I know this because I've written some of them. (I no longer write for the magazine.) I think a lot of the public ill will toward the magazine is exaggerated. That isn't to say that there aren't a lot of problems, but at least this online voting seems meant to address some of the criticism.

Unfortunately, the form this comment took isn't likely to win anyone over. Insulting potential customers only works for Don Rickles. Live and learn, I guess.

LOL @ the "too cheap" to buy a copy.

Nor very many people buy a copy of Fresno Mag as it is. 50% of the subs are comped. Just 5,600 paid subscriptions according to their own data.

In small print of course, LOL.

Look. Some friendly competitive reparté is good, but insulting an entire potential constituency is not very smart marketing/PR.

Floyd Jamal-Eisenhower.

Wow, as a local professional, the editor of a magazine that is desiring to be viewed as professional and of quality- that sure was a classless and immature response.

Fresno magazine seems to have a main goal of portraying what the upper 10% of the local population do with their time and money. Sorry, but seeing that isn't worth MY money, not because I'm cheap- but because I just don't care.

That was snarky and unprofessional. She just lost another reader for Fresno Magazine.

Fresno Magazine is a piece of junk, stop printing this nonsense. It's a distorted opinion geared towards north Fresno establishments with no real qualities attributed towards your "best of" status.

We have gotten this magazine dropped off for free at our office for years. Dropping off the magazine for free does not qualify people as readers. I don't know anyone, ever, who is a frequent reader of this magazine so you're telling me about 1 in 5 people in Fresno read it? That is a joke.

Here's the fuzzy math behind their "readership" count. This is pure comedy:

* Reader exposure = each time an individual opens the magazine. Fresno Magazine goes to 5,600 paid subscribers. The average number per household
is 2.5 people. The average reader opens the magazine 4.5 times. The average subscription is 2 years. 5,600 x 2.5 x 4.5 = 63,000 per month.

** Fresno Magazine is mailed to 5,500 businesses each month. The average number of readers in each business is 6. 5,500 x 6 =33,000 per month.

***Fresno Magazine is mailed directly to 4,000 waiting rooms. The average number of readers in each office per day is 5. Most offices are open 20 days per
month. 4,000 x 5 x 20 = 400,000 people per month.
† Fresno Magazine sells more than 2,000 single copies each month. The average reader per purchased copy is 2 people. The average reader opens the magazine 4.5 times. 2,000 x 2 x 4.5 = 18,000 per month. Source: 2005 MRI Readership Audit

I used to read Fresno Magazine. Granted it was a comped issue that came to my work because they wanted us to advertise, but I liked it. If I see one laying around I thumb through it definitely.

I don't see why I would pay for something that I could pick up for free though. Calling me cheap in that regard seems a bit catty.

Coming off strong like this is absolutely not the way to win people over. That message was laced with bitterness and dripping with sarcasm. Not exactly the professional route to promoting a new feature.

the funniest part about this is that everyone feels it necessary to defend their buying habits.

I'm sorry, but I still refuse to read, let alone buy, any magazine that ranks Taco Bell as the #1 place for Best Cheap Eats.

This mag has so much potential to live up to it's name if only it's editor and writers realized Fresno existed south of Shaw.

I used to work down the hall from them when they were on P & Inyo and they were always dumping off a box of mags for my office to read. It was chock full of misspellings and other errors. It was utter crap. Though I imagine this was before Conlan worked there.

LULZ! This thing is waiting to get h4x0r3d!

I wonder if Melanie Warner-Kennedy realizes that making such a rude comment has repercussions?

I don't know who her boss is but I certainly hope her boss knows what kind of things she's saying.

I also hope she's out of a job soon. If she worked for me and said things like 'hey so and so, your readers are cheap!' you wouldn't be employed for me very long.

I've never read the Fresno Mag though I have glanced at it. Now, I really have no intentions to ever read it again.

Well done, Melanie! You deserve a promotion!

Melanie Warner-Kennedy is world class.

I can't wait to get Fresno Magazine on my iPad!

At the risk of irking HMac by inserting my own work in the discussion (I have feelings too! :::sniffle:::), I recently did a marketing survey of 105 people asking about Fresno Magazine.

I had done one full-page ad in the past with very little response, and I wanted to see if it was my crappy ad-making skills or Fresno Mag, since they were asking me to place another ad for a company I represent.

I wrote a nice letter back to the ad sales rep telling them about the survey, and the overall result/commentary was that Fresno Mag was well-made, had high-end readers and ads, but opinion stated the mag was skewed, didn't have the readership, and the perception was Fresno Mag panders in their articles. Too many advertorials and the editorial content often featured only kind words about advertisors or friends of the magazine.

Seriously, how many times was Stacy Johnson-Klein on the cover??

Anyways, the ad rep didn't write me back...Melanie W-K wrote me a scathing email insisting I send her my survey results and questions the survey overall.

Her perception does not equal public perception, clearly.

I, too, used to write for the magazine, when it first started up. I thought it had great potential, but I, too, agree with the survey results.

and pandering is a misdemeanor.

there is a recording studio i often record at in fresno. i always see fresno magazine there. after thumbing through it once, i never did again. i never even read it when it features one of the bands i play in. just not my thing. nothing personal against the mag, just does not appeal to me.

fresno magazine is a great read while i'm on the sh***er at work.

It seems every market in the country has its version of a glossy, yupscale, social-climber publication that purports to be a legit magazine but is nothing but a shameless advertorial that caters to any business that will buy space.

North of Shaw -- er, I mean Fresno -- Magazine (which actually is situated on the south side of Shaw) is among the worst of the bunch. I saw it for what it was early on in my time here, after the 36th puff piece on Eye-Q, or was it the 47th photo spread of Stacy Johnson-Klein? Every time I saw it after that, I wanted to scream, "Get the hell over yourselves! This is Fresno!" Fresno and social-climbing do not ever belong together in the same sentence.

I don't know why so many people are upset about these polls. You know magazine and/or alt-weekly polls cater to the companies that throw them the most advertising bucks. These polls, be they in North of Shaw/Fresno or any other publication, have no credence whatsoever. (And that goes double for any publication that would consider Me-N-Ed's to actually be pizza, let alone the best.)

So stop kvetching about this, let this "magazine" sink into the oblivion it deserves and move on to more trivial matters. Say, like, healthcare or unemployment or G-NO-P obstructionism ...

Melanie Warner-Kennedy eats with the Stotts at Wassabi

i have never left a comment here before , and ive been enjoy the hive for years ... however,this topic excites me ,because i thought i was the only person in the sjv who felt this way .... fresno magazine has done a very bad job at actually embracing an overall view of the city , proof reading ,editing ,and over all the presentation.(though the paper is shiny , and i like shiny)

yet, they have done a wonderful job at representing the ignorance of fresno's upper northside ...(not that the northside is totally ignorant ,i believe that generalization to be crass)

there IS actually a community of readers that this represents ... there IS actually a community of people here that believe the best burger in town is the carls jr. bacon western , and there IS actually a community that wears their shiniest(shiny) clothes and slather makeup on their faces until they are orange so they can cocktail party next to bernard berrian.(no knock to bb ) it exists ....and this same community considers anything south of shaw ,the ghetto .

with that said , dont hijack my city to represent your tripe . dont hide behind MY chicken pie shop to suggest you 'get it'. and dont dare suggest that you represent the entire community when you clearly you represent the same oppressive guild of fresno's old money , and will continue to pander to their interests as long as they buy that shiny ,(oh shiny) paper you're printed on ...

and i know you hate that you're reading this right now mwk ... but dont ,please dont wave the ,im doing this for fresno flag ...

because what you do this for is yourself ....(and them shiny interests )...and your desire to be an active member of the community ,without ,being an active member of the community .... take it from an active member of the community .lol

you make me sick and your pety , little ,schoolgirl crybaby routine garners no sympathy here ...
try the elbow room ...(sniff,sniff)

ZING !!!
seacrest out .

I do not know how to read.

When Fresno magazine first started up I knew a guy that was involved in the production so I hit him up on covering the local poetry shows that were rocking the mic. He told me to come down there and sell them on it. So I did.

A rep at the magazine told me that they didn't cover events that charge to get in, they suggested that I instead write a story on local celebrities.

I replied that Fresno doesn't have celebrities but it does have hard working talented original artists that could use the support of a publication with such extravagant resources.

The rep told me the magazine was not interested in things like that and I immediately knew the score.

Before stomping out of the office angrily, I urged them to remove the title from the magazine; stating that Fresno can be represented by chain restaurants is akin to saying the ocean can be represented by a cruise ship.

She gave me a look that told me to go f**k myself without words, I took off.

I love this blog. And not just cuz it's free.

For the record, I receive a free copy...

Now..that I know the attitude of the publisher regarding this....it will only go in the 'circular file'... that would have gone in a waiting room...

way to go with that promotion thing!

Maybe someone will read your results....oh yeah...all those 'advertorial' buyers, fooling no one but themselves with their self-important, inflated versions of 'content'!

Like most folks here, I only happened to glace at a Fresno Magazine once because it was on a table some place where I was bored. It was certainly shiny, but the very idea of a "Fresno" magazine seemed far fetched to me in the first place.

Not for the usual, Fresno is so terrible there is nothing good to say, rag. Rather it was my lack of faith in any person rich enough to turn out such an overwrought, shiny and over styled magazine to have any idea of what was goin on outside their gated community or their fancy dress parties poolside in the Bluffs.

And thats pretty much what I found. Glad handing and pandering to middle class social climbers who just drool at the idea of being able to make the leap across the social divide to the idle rich side. But some how in doing that, they wind up promoting some of the most low brow businesses in town. Taco Bell? Tres elegant.

Yet, somehow I do see truth in their polls. Certainly *I* disagree with them, but of course I'm way smarter and betterer than everybody. But I think the rank and file of the 'No would probably agree with the polls. There is always a 30 minute wait at the Outback Steakhouse, but locally owned and operated places like Trelio or Cracked Pepper Bistro practically wet themselves to seat you immediately and serve some of the best food in town.

Face it, the man on the street, the guy who won't pop up in the comments of a local blog, doesn't care about great food. Cheap and tasty, in that order. Thats what folks want. And what is Cool Hand Luke's but the Outback Steakhouse with a different theme? It's novel but it's not challenging. A different place to enjoy the familiar cookie cutter menu. Fresno loves Budweiser, not Newcastle. Hot dogs, not organic apple chicken sausages.

Fresno Magazine still sucks, thats for sure. If she focused a little more of that snark into the articles in her magazine, it might not be the laughing stock it is. Challenge your readers a little instead of kissing the ass of everyone you can find in hopes that they'll buy advertising. Call out Mad Margaret Mimms on the next cover over her department over billing the courts for services that were never rendered. That'll move some copies.

Hmm, reminds me of Bakersfield Magazine. www.bakersfieldmagazine.net See if you agree.

I'm surprised that no one commented on her poor grammar/typo. I feel like that ought to be a strong point for her, but yeah, it isn't.

Is she of the Warner Jewelers clan?

Why pay for a "magazine" filled with tacky ads for useless things and services I don't want? That glossy full-color finish is like the people it attracts - superficial "classy" exterior, hot air on the inside.

Completely agree with comments above, namely: Fresno magazine has done a very bad job at actually embracing an overall view of the city, proof reading, editing, and overall presentation, in addition to a general lack of compelling content.

If you want to see a social magazine done well, check out San Francisco's 7x7.

http://www.7x7.com/

There has to be some kind of opportunity here for Rick Mirigian! Cage fight featuring Fresno Magazine staff vs. the Beehive. Then get the food people involved somehow--North vs. South! Now I'd pay for that..

Nice work OZ!!

She is right about one thing. I am too cheap to buy junk.

Since one of the things that caused so much fuss here is an insult to Beehive commenters, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate you all.

And this string of comments shows you. Not only have you guys brought some zing-worty replies, but also well-thought-out points and, of course, lots of funny stuff.

So props to you guys. You make our community what it is.

Do you know that MWK actually has a Fan Page on FB. She really thinks she's a celebrity. That is hysterical to me. Funny thing is she only has 7 fans and the page has been up at least since March 2009. Really...a Fan Page???

I had the pleasure of reading Fresno magazine 2 weeks ago... MWK and her chirren were at Revue coffee shop at Tower handing out free magazines to whoever cared for a copy! True story. I'll take a lie detector test if I need to. Hahaa!

I'm not too cheap to purchase the rag; I just know the contents are not speaking to my demographic. Nothing between the pages peaks my interest, Mel. Sorry.

I've heard MWK speak about Fresno Mag for a class I took, and it was clear that the intent of the mag is not to represent Fresno, but to provide ad space for clients who want to target Fresno's 'upscale' population. While I feel she/they are perfectly entitled to do this, I think the name of the magazine and such things as 'Best of Fresno Poll' do not reflect this intent.

The Fresno Bee had a similar magazine called "Imagine" a few years ago that "features and advertising on luxury living in the Central Valley" . Seems it was the same format as The Fresno Magazine.

I think their "Lunch Ladies" feature is pretty comical. Fresno Mag sneaks this by their readers as if its a legitimate review of a restaurant. However, it's just more advertising space paid for by the restaurant. How is that a proper service to the consumer? Fresno Mag charges a restaurant to have the Lunch Ladies come in and enjoy a free multi-course meal provided by the establishment, in return, the restaurant will recieve a favorable review(sugarcoated & exaggerated even if the visit wasn't memorable) and other ad space.

Yes, it is providing ad space for clients who want to target Fresno's 'upscale' population. But, that isn't very credible, nor keeping the integrity of what a real review of restaurant should be or how it should be conducted. So, tell me, why should I spend my money on this product?

I've have flipped through Fresno Magazine on a few different occasions, and have also found the magazine to be full of ads and directed towards a certain demographic, to which I do not belong. The only copy that I have ever purchased featured Fresno's Best Elementary Schools on the cover. Since my son is three, I was interested in the cover story, so purchased a copy, thinking it MIGHT give me some insight on my son's upcoming education in Fresno. Looking at the article, it featured mostly Clovis elementary schools, and one elementary school in, who woulda thunk, North Fresno (Fugman Elementary if my memory serves me correctly.) So not only did it highlight Clovis elementary schools, but also said nothing about Central Unified, which I believe, still is in Fresno City Limits.

Not only does the magazine sell to the "Elite" in Fresno, but it does not represent the City of Fresno. So not only does the magazine suck, but it does not represent!

BTW.. the charge for this service is between $400-$600..

Wow, big ups to the new commenters!

Seems this touched a nice little nerve in the intelligencia of Fresno, the dumbest city in America.

I want to note that, when I worked at Fresno Mag, the restaurants didn't pay to have the lunch ladies come visit...but they did provide the meal(s).

I had so much food from Campagnia so I could write a 'review' I took plenty over to some friend's house. My review was glowing but only cuz Campagnia's food rocked...I wasn't about to lie in a magazine for money (yes, yes I was....my review of that sushi buffet place was pretty glowing even tho the food was NOT).

There is one way to affect change on this type of media outlet. Be vocal to their advertisers and let them know that the bad reputation of the magazine is rubbing off on them and that your are going to stop spending money with the advertiser. If a regular customer stops using someone's goods and services the advertiser is going to have a serious conversation with the publisher.

i went to last year's 'best of fresno' dealy and had a good time. fersno mag throws a good party. however, i don't read the magazine. i have thumbed through it a few times at a doctor's office thought.

I am loving the reactions to the bourgeoisie Fresno Magazine's "Best of Fresno" special edition. The magazine definitely does only represent a certain demographic, many (though not all) of which live on the north side of Fresno (not that there's anything wrong with that...).

What really steams my broccoli about this "Best of Fresno" list has already been eloquently stated by other commenters: the magazine doesn't represent Fresno, and it is a TRAVESTY to have chain restaurants and businesses up on a list that makes a city UNIQUE and wonderful.

Fail, Fresno Magazine. Epic. Fail.

What is an even bigger fail is that the "Best of Fresno" list has been published the SAME WAY for so many years running... and people who aren't originally from Fresno have stated, "Wow, You'd never see (insert name of out of town city here) list chain restaurants in a 'Best Of' list.."

No wonder Fresno has so many image issues.

I have it on good authority that Melanie is preparing another rejoinder, so watch out.

Look for it by July.

So what's the over/under on Ms. Warner replying to this? My guess is the 2014 Winter Olympics.

I'm looking up 'megalomania'....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalomania
yup...

I vote for ignorant.
Is there a button for that on "Best of Fresno?"

This is a perfect letter to the editor. A magazine named after a city but doesn't represent it's diverse population. Perfect.

You guys are all real brave to leave nasty comments without real names, especially when you present something as a "fact" that is not. No one has EVER paid for lunch ladies or any editorial in our publication - but there are plenty of other rags who will sell you an article. Oh wait. Most of them are out of business. This post was to let people know that the dining ballot is out and you CAN vote without paying for a subscription. Last year, the only way to vote was if you were a subscriber. We listened to your feedback and gave you a chance to vote. This magazine is Fresno's Magazine - not mine.

This has been very entertaining, but you should all be ashamed of yourselves for spending so much time on this when we have local police officers who were shot today. Now THAT is real news. Thanks for all your comments. I do appreciate the feedback! I'm flattered that you all care so much. MWK.

I use my real name when posting.

Without real names? See how my name is blue? There's a link back to my site which has my name on it as well as a phone number where I can be contacted at. Not sure how that isn't real. I love how you neglected to link back to yours.

And you are the one who should be ashamed to link that tragic story of those police officers to this. What the hell does that have to do with anything that we have been talking about since YESTERDAY?

And the only thing we care about is that the entire city of Fresno is shown in a positive light. Not just the ones who pay to advertise in your grammatically challenged magazine.

I've had a few opportunities to look through Fresno Magazine in the Dr. or Dentist office, and I find that I flip through it faster than an issue of Women's Day. Definitely not made to appeal to the "27-year old male" demographic. Occasionally I find something interesting, but not usually.
But I did see last years "best of" issue, and some of the results blew my mind. Not that I thought it was suspicious, just that some places I considered pretty terrible were on there.

I am truly appalled, MWK, that you would bring up today's tragedy.

Low blow.

And yes, I revel in my anonymity. And I revel in holding on to my money instead of giving it to you.

Melanie - I am sure I am not alone in my shock at your use of today's events as a way to try to shame those who had a negative option of Fresno Magazine. What happened today was a tragic event and are thoughts are with those who lost their loved one. To use that event as a way to shift focus from the comments on the magazine was beyond low. I am appalled that you felt that was appropriate. For your sake, I hope that this was someone posing as you rather than you. Congratulations on bringing a new low.

They say, "Don't start fights with anyone who buys ink by the barrel." I really think it's not true anymore, but we might have a test of that on our hands now.

I hesitate to say anything because starting a magazine and keeping it running is tough, especially in Fresno. That being said, I find that Fresno Magazine is all about appealing to the "upper-class" and that's like the opposite of what I see everyday.

The edition that really drove this home for me was when Fresno Magazine had a cover showing Fresno's lowest-paying jobs, featuring the Grizzlies mascot who does the job for free. I just found that to be telling of what the magazine stands for. Putting Fresno in the best light. But Fresno has dark shadows. We have the highest level of concentrated poverty in the nation, and a furry orange whatsit ain't the picture of Fresno's least paid.

But then again, it seems like a lot of people, not just FMag, tend to ignore the fact we have a lot of disparity in this city. Even today's shootout is talked about like it's an isolated incident or something. I grew up on 5th and Washington and my childhood home is a f***in crackhouse these days. And when I was a kid, someone spray painted "Go away slants" on the shack at the end of my block. I can't pretend these things are not true. Well... I won't.

If you want to hate on FMag it's because you too find that their pages show a Fresno that doesn't ring true, and you want it to get real. I do too, but the things I've seen in my life here in Fresno, I'm just not sure anyone at Fresno Magazine has a clue about, and I don't know if I can blame her or them. They probably did not experience the only Fresno I knew for half of my life.

What's next, saying we're bad because we have an opinion against the magazine instead of sending money to Haiti? You're doing a good job on digging your own hole.

Okay, I'm not a huge fan of Fresno magazine. I pick it up at the doctor's office or cafe and thumb through it just for fun. It's fluffy, but that's okay. I like candy too even thought I know it's not good for me.

While I don't condone the response of the editor on this blog, I do support her effort to make a Fresno-centric publication. The Fresno that is represented in the pages is certainly not the Fresno I live in, but it is a Fresno that some people live in.

Rather than flaming here on a safe (but fantastic) blog, let's vote and get our friends to vote. If we want to change the content then this isn't the way to do it.

Again, Fresno Mag is not written for me, but that's okay. It's a local person trying to do something positive for Fresno.

As the folks at the Bee know, print media is a tough business. I seriously doubt Fresno mag is making money hand over fist, but it is a vocation and not just an advocation. Money needs to exchange hands to keep things going. Advertorials are part of the business and are always clearly marked.

For all of you throwing stones, I challenge you to create a publication that can support itself over the 4-5 years that she has pulled it off. It's not easy. I'm sure it's long hours of hard work away from family and friends. I don't blame her for taking the comments posted here personally. I would guess that she has put a lot of sweat and tears into the project. Does it represent all of us, no. But that doesn't mean you have to hate on her. Isn't that the type of bigotry we rail against?

Stay classy Fresno Magazine.

Freak, I created an entire scene and somehow I lost the darn thing when trying to submit the darn thing!

Wait, Fresno has a magazine?

Mr. Incognito sees he's way to late to the party and he's also using an alias, without a pic (like Schultzie, nice pic buddy). Cognito, looks at all the commotion and retreats back into the shadows but not without leaving one last comment.....

"Melanie Warner Kennedy" is a genius; the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist and like that.....(soft whisper) he's gone!

If Fresno Mag brings back the best local website category, what are the Beehive's chances this year?

Fresno Mag is filled with ads that don't really appeal to me and most likely don't appeal to anyone that lives south of Shaw. It is also full of picures of the same handful of people socializing at events I wouldn't even think of attending. I don't buy the mag because I'd rather spend my money on something worth reading. Very classy Melanie.

Did you know that Fresno Magazine is accepting op ed pieces? If you don't like what's in it, then why not submit your own editorial? Are you afraid of it being published and ripped apart by people like us? You can send it to editorial@fresnomag.com. You can also send these comments. If you use your real name, they will print it. Chances are others feel the same way.

Fresno mag was not kicked out of their office & they don't owe people money. I know that for a fact. I used to work there. In fact, we got calls from people that were trying to collect money from fresno bee. I'm sure they won't post this though! You all bash Fresno mag for being a "corporate sell out" for selling ads yet you are posting on a corporate website owned by mcClatchy. The Fresno bee constantly has negative editorial that beats down Fresno. Yet u support that? Hypocrites!

Let me tell you a few things that I know for fact -

#1 - Miss. Snootie has had many, many problems paying employees. How many times have they been paid late, paid with bad checks or not paid at all?
#2 - How many times has Fresno Magazine moved and left landlords with multiple months unpaid rent?
#3 - How many vendors in Fresno had she placed orders with and then not paid them?
#4 - Why did Cactus Media Group file bankruptcy and then reopen the next day under a different name - again leaving countless landlords and vendors without money.
#5 - Why did she not show up to court for the Bankruptcy hearing - we were there waiting, WAITING for our money. Where was she?
#6 - Why does she want us, hard working, self employed people to pay $ 15,000 for an ad spread when there is no guarantee that she will even be around tomorrow.
#7 - Why doesn't she change the f'ing photo. It looks so smug - hello - you do not live in a New York penthouse - you live in Fresno. Nice, friendly Fresno.

Please, please stop crying about how everyone is so mean to you. Look in the mirror Missy, you rep what you sow.

Also FoFM - Really? You worked there? Then you know EXACTLY why they moved several times, look at the paper work filed by the landlords. You, my friend, are the one in denial. Good luck with that.

Have fun - Love to all the peeps !!!!

It is interesting to me that so many of you who wrote your comments had nothing but negative to say about Melanie and the magazine. When the "response" was made to rebut a "not-so-flattering opinion" on the Fresno Bee's part.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
If you don't like the content of Fresno Mag, don't support it.
But to make comments about her person and professional life, from here say or rumors is just wrong, unprofessional and immature.
To accuse someone of lying without any proof is bad reporting. To always focus on the negative about "fresno locals" instead of focusing on the positive is exactly why the 5th largest city in this state runs like a country bumpkin town.
This "so called" savvy city has no understanding of culture or class as so many of you have obviously shown in your tactless comments.
The Best of Fresno is open for anyone to vote and it was created to celebrate local businesses. It was created to showcase the beauty of Fresno and the people in it. If you don't want to support and celebrate your local businesses... that is your loss....
Those of you who are attacking a great part of the Fresno local business and culture is what makes Fresno "the armpit of California" instead of the "heart of California"
Didn't your moms ever teach you if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all?
Way to go...Fresno Bee... way to attack your own.
Did you write this "so called" report because the Fresno Bee's copy cat mag did not make it?
Or is it because the Best of Fresno gets more attention and input than Fresno Bee's People's Choice Awards?
hmmmm... obviously Fresno Mag is doing something right... cuz after all the mags I have seen in the last 5 years, it is the last one standing...
Have some class, build your community up and don't tear them down...and she was talking to the Fresno Bee staff, about being cheap, not the masses...People who cuss on blogs and make cheap shots are unprofessional.

I wonder if there is a story in the Fresno Mag about how ridiculous Fresno Bee is? I doubt it... Cuz I think she has more class and is more professional than that.

Mike, why is it okay for you to "make a jab" at Fresno Mag, but not okay for her?
I feel like I am reading a high school gossip column... Reallly?

I like Fresno Mag, yeah there are a lot of ads and the doctor "profiles" which are paid ads are always the same. More depth is needed. But the Laval photo and description in the back is cool, and the business buzz section features good local businesses. Yes, most od the businesses are in North Fresno...they really need to leave their comfort zone more. When they do, or when their freelancers do, the results are good. A year or so back I remember a couple good profiles on some Tower businesses--one on the Revue and another on Spinners Records. Those features were a nice change, they should do more articles about local businesses like that and have less doctor ads amd best of fresno contests.