- Black and white has its advantages when it's time to evaluate a situation at its basic structure. Once free of distractions it's possible to focus on what is there and what is not there. From that point, the complications, colors and shades of grey are welcome and necessary as long as there is a strong foundation at the start.
- For the first issue of 2006 and the first SCN of which I'm the editor, the scheme of black and white makes sense. This has always been a strong book: providing information and a point of contact for the people in this industry to grow their businesses. My goal is to maintain the strong foundation while adding rich details along the way.
- Moving forward, SCN will be dedicating more pages each month to the world of security. It's a vague notion and one that is unsettling when there's not enough of it and can feel constricting when there's too much. Security does mean more business and a healthy way to diversify an integrator's offerings. Each month we'll address a new aspect of security, from life safety and fire protection to encryption software securing wireless transmissions.
- The tone of healthy caution is likely to instill more of a sense of realism and credibility to your customers than the alarmist tactics that are so tempting and easily fallen into by many a news source.
- In stepping back and assessing structure, it's important to recognize the structure of this magazine and those responsible for making it happen. Nicole Cobban is the art director. She brings a consistent and fresh face to SCN and turns pages around with lightning speed-especially on trade show dailies. Neel Patil's intuitive illustrating ability brings to life SCN columns every month along with many a cover illustration. Annmarie LaScala and Greg Gennaro are two artists who have contributed their expertise to the production of SCN over the years all while balancing the book in the rotation of many other magazines and numerous other projects that seek their skill and swift design.
- Kirsten Nelson had been the editor of SCN for the past five years and I greatly value the time that we've worked together as well as her friendship. I learn a lot from her and I look forward to what's ahead with her new role as editor at large. Mary Bakija is the managing editor for SCN and has quickly made herself indispensable to the book and to my workday that involves a great many discussions and analysis of situations down to the black and white structure.
- The structure of this book rests most heavily on the reader. That's you. I'm hoping to get plenty of feedback as to important industry issues and methods of handling the particular challenges of this business. Please feel free to send an email with story ideas, questions or any other comment as to how SCN can serve your in formation needs better.
- It's SCN's job to add color to its structure with details and news intended to arm the reader with information to grow their business. Yet the simplicity of black and white sells, and the message is clear. Security is on everyone's mind.
