I don't think the stupidity (or immaturity, which might be a better term here) of Wizard's columns and articles is the main issue here.

The bigger issue, as I've seen it unfold here, is should a trade magazine, like Wizard, who by pretty much everyone's account doesn't cover the multiple facets of the industry they cover, be allowed to be the sole voice to the mainstream audience which might not be into the industry yet?

It seems like it's pretty much decided that it shouldn't. So, the question should be, what do we, as the fans and frontline "face" of this industry, do about it? I think demanding better quality from Wizard, while a good idea, is also a very hard prospect. Wizard isn't very likely to change what they do (as stupid as some of it might be), because they think it sells. And while changing things might make them sell BETTER, there is a calculated risk to doing so. And companies like Wizard rarely take those kinds of risks,when they are content with what they are getting right now.

The only other option, as I see it, would be for us to support other trade magazines (like the ones Kyle Rayner has mentioned) and perhaps talk to supermarket and drug stores (and places like that) which have a newsstand section, to see if they would be willing to carry another comic related trade magazine, besides just Wizard.

With Wizard basically being a monopoly on newsstands, they have no real reason to change the content and how they operate. After all, who will take their place if they don't? But if we get CBG or Comics Journal on newsstands to compete with them, and they begin to see a decline in their bottom line, Wizard would feel the pinch and might be open to doing things differently.

I ceratinly agree that the sterotypes of this industry, while still having relevence, shouldn't be allowed to be the only image people have of comic readers. Just like the material in the industry, we are a diverse group and deserve to not be dismissed as "smelly, introverted fanboys." Wizard's constant playing into that steroetype not only makes it harder to break that image among the mainstream non-readers, but keeps them from trying comics out and taking them more seriously (as an artform and entertainment source). However, the only way to change that, is to get more than one voice speaking about this industry to them. Wizard's all most folks, who even had a passing glance at comics, know. That's what needs to change, before anything else can.