In the digital world that we live in today, you’d expect all
things reliant on print to be extinct by now. This idea is in our heads because everyday we are witnessing the decline of newspaper readership, but magazines yield a different story. Today, print
magazines are not only continuing to survive the digital takeover, they
are thriving! MPA's compilation of tweets pertaining to the magazine industry's continuing success says, "91% of US adults read print magazines" (MPA). This number is so high because magazines encompass a few things that digital versions of
media are either lacking completely, or just don’t seem to be doing as well in: tangibility and readership.
The tangibility of print magazines creates something special
for a reader. Just like books, many people still prefer to read physical copies
rather than ones on a digital device. There is just something about holding an object
in your hand that enhances the experience of a consumer. Print magazines
stimulate the senses, beyond those of the ears and eyes (audio and visual) like
you get from digital media. With a hard copy of a magazine in hand, you can
feel the smooth pages. You can smell the ink and the paper. Essentially, you
could even put the paper in your mouth or eat it. The physical product combined with the appreciation for the work
of art that it is, print magazines prove that they can stand the test of time against the digital push. As said in the Huffington Post, “In the ethereal world of digital media, printed magazines
continue to offer something concrete, a tangible representation of a
collaboration between editors, artists, designers and writers” (Taibi).
Then there’s the idea that the copy itself is just of larger importance than a digital copy, regardless of the content inside. A physical copy of something holds a certain amount of significance that lots of times represent a milestone or accomplishment. When a celebrity makes the cover of a magazine they don’t hang the flash drive that holds the PDF version of the magazine on their wall. Instead, they get the first, fresh printed copy to frame for sentimental value.
Aside from the physicality of print magazines, the ability to engage readers on such a high level makes magazines one of the top media mediums. They prove to be the most trusted and influential forms of information. The Association of Magazine Media boasted, "Consumers trust and are more inspired and influenced by magazine media than TV" (MPA). They also prove this point by showing that magazines rank the highest in all categories when their study's participants were asked about media influence.
Every year magazines are responsible for presenting some of the hottest topics and stories (Bazilian). And now that online magazines have become popular due to Kindles, Tablets and iPads, you would think print
magazines' success would be hindered. The digital versions however, do not actually take away any success from printed versions. Online magazine success has provided a new outlet for appreciation of the print magazine. The birth of online magazines has rekindled the importance and significance of the magazine cover. When events like the Charlie Hebdo massacre and Caitlyn Jenner's transformation were published in The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, the issues' covers went viral. This cyberspace circulation is something magazines never had the chance to experience until the digital shift. What this did was bring in a wave of demand for printed copies. This goes back to the idea of tangibility and its' significance; To possess a copy of the printed magazine that covers such a historical topic proves more meaningful than just reading about it online.
Although the Internet has forced a digital revolution for
magazines, I do not see print magazines becoming dinosaurs any time soon. The
future holds crazy technological advances that will allow for online magazines to survive and thrive, but I firmly believe there
will always be a market for print. Nothing can compare to the prestige and
significance of a tangible copy, nor produce material of such high trust and
influence like a print magazine can. So do not throw away the magazines piling high in your bedrooms
and bathrooms, those babies are still in style.
Articles:
Works Cited:
Works Cited:
Bazilian,
Emma. "Hot List: These Are the Magazines That Made Everyone Take Notice in
2015." AdWeek. AdWeek.com, 29 Nov. 2015. Web. 05 Mar. 2016.
MPA. "2015 Magazine Media Factbook." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Magazine.com. Accessed 4 Mar. 2016. Web.
MPA "22
Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine
Media. Accessed 5 Mar. 2016. Web.
Taibi,
Catherine. "How The Magazine Cover Is Surviving -- And Thriving -- In The
Digital Revolution." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16
June 2015. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.
I completely agree that there is nothing quite like having the real thing in your hands while you read. I have never really been a big magazine consumer, but can definitely relate to this concept in the form of books. Being an avid reader, I honestly hate reading books on a Kindle or digital platform. It hurts my eyes and doesn’t give me the same sensation as when I have the real thing in my hands. Like you said so well in your post, having the physical item in your hands adds to the experience. I am happiest and most connected to the story when I can feel the pages and smell the ink.
ReplyDeleteIn my life, there have been a few magazines I have collected, almost all of them pertaining to sports. I have the Sports Illustrated commemorative issue from the 2004 Boston Red Sox that still sits in my desk drawer at home. My walls are still lined with sports heroes from my childhood that I tore from the pages and plastered on my wall, usually crooked and crude. These things have a value that isn’t measured in how well they have kept. They have value because of the memories they hold. They have value because when I grab that old Sports Illustrated and flip through it, the smell and feel of it immediately brings me back to when I was 10 years old watching that team reverse the curse. It brings me back to getting to stay up late with my Dad and older brother to watch David Ortiz bash home runs. Yes, if I saw a video online from that historic season it would create nostalgia for me, but not in the same way. This seems to be holding true with millenials because according to The Association of Magazine Media, “95% of U.S. adults under 25 read print magazines” (MPA, Tweets).
Even though it doesn’t hold the same personal value as a physical copy might, digital magazine content is also very important in our society today. When we share an article or a cover photo we feel strongly about, we are contributing to this global sharing of information to reach as many people as possible. This is something that can’t be accomplished so easily with just a print copy. For example, if I read an article from a physical magazine, I might make a Facebook post about it or tell a friend, but if I am able to share the entire article on social media so that any one of my friends can read it at any time, the information stretches farther. According to an article by The Association of Magazine Media, magazine readers that are 18-34 are highly connected to social media with the majority of them, 91%, using Facebook as their main social media platform (MPA, Social). In this regard, it seems magazines will continue to thrive and grow even as digital media surges ahead.
Works Cited:
"22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 7 Feb. 2016. Web.
"Magazine Media Readers Are Social." The Association of Magazine Media (2012): n. pag. Print.
Although digital media has taken over, I am not surprised that print magazines are still thriving today. I am part of the 91% of adults who read print magazines, and I agree with Publishers Press that “the printed world offers readers an experience that no other medium can stimulate.” With this being the case, I don’t think that digital magazines will ever compare to what print magazines offer. As you mentioned, one of the benefits of print magazines is the ability to physically hold the glossy pages in your hands, something that digital cannot offer. I love being able to flip through the pages of a magazine and aimlessly skim through the different stories and images, and I even enjoy looking at the ads, which is something that I dislike in digital media.
ReplyDeleteWith online magazines, the readers have a different experience, one that doesn’t provide them with the ability to hold the physical copy. I view online magazines to be similar to that of news websites. This provides readers with articles to choose from and the ability to skim through stories, but it doesn’t offer the same visually appealing layout or carelessness experience that print magazine do.
To me, the physical copy of print magazines is the number one reason they are still thriving, however you bring up a good point about magazines providing trusted content. Magazines clearly have a significant influence over readers, as seen in the graph provided in your blog. I think a lot of this has to do with their loyal readers and trusted reputations that have developed over the years. The Association of Magazine Media found that 180 print magazines have thrived for more than 50 years, while only 13 TV programs have done the same. These magazines have been around for so long because they have built a foundation of loyal readers by providing trusted content. When magazines build trusted and significant reputations, it becomes more important for readers to have the physical copy rather than simply viewing the content digitally.
In fact I see print magazines as almost a statement of significance. For the individuals who have physical copies of Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover they are making a statement in which they express their significance for possessing such relevant information. No one is going to Instagram a screenshot of their iPad with a magazine article displayed on the screen, but people will Instagram their copy of Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair next to their morning coffee and bagel. When you possess a physical copy of a magazine it shows off an individuals status and significance, highlighting how they are on top of today’s current issues and trends.
22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 7 Feb. 2016. Web.
2015 Magazine Media Factbook." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 7 Feb. 2016. Web.
I have been an avid reader of magazines since I was a young teenager, although the genre I read has changed. That is something I love about magazines in general, is that there is a magazine genre that can relate to everyone. Magazines are something that I love to be tangible; I can confidently say I have never read a magazine online. I enjoy reading magazines slowly and looking at everything in them; if I did that online, my eyes would be bleeding by the time I finish. According to the Twenty-Two Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media, “91% of U.S. adults read print magazine.” That is a huge percentage that I don’t doubt one bit. In a handful of my classes, we have discussed the extinction of Newspapers and the digital aspect of reading, whether it be on a news website, social media or on a nook, but not once have we connected digital reading with magazines.
ReplyDeleteThe aspect of magazines being sentimental is a huge advantage for them. I love your quote, “When a celebrity makes the cover of a magazine they don’t hang the flash drive that holds the PDF version of the magazine on their wall.” Not only do celebrities want to keep their first cover, family, friends and fans do too. Magazines I used to read when I was younger like J14 and Twist had poster sized centerfolds of celebrities that I would take out and use to decorate my room. The cover of the magazines would also say something like “Selena Gomez and Justin Timberlake posters inside!” causing myself and other fans of these celebrities to purchase them.
Something that works as an advantage of magazines is that most of the time they are very in your face, whether they’re next to you at the cash register in CVS or front and center at a kiosk in NYC. When we see something we like or are interested we are immediately drawn to it. If I see one of my favorite celebrities on the cover of a magazine or a blurb on the cover (true or not) that I want to read more about I will be inclined to buy the magazine. Similarly, like the cover of Caitlin Jenner, celebrities will post their covers on their social media pages allowing you to see it there too, which could spark an interest in the magazine that way. Magazines also tend to have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages that people can follow. According to the article, “Magazine Media Readers are Social,” “Avid magazine readers consistently index higher on all usage of social media with magazines.”
The downside about magazines is that they are similar to newspapers in the way that after you read it from front to back, you don’t want to read multiple times again. Although, I agree that magazines won’t go extinct anytime soon if at all. I myself am someone that will put the magazine in the pile rather than in the trash and I bet more people than not will do the same.
Work Cited:
MPA "22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 5 Mar. 2016. Web.
MPA “Magazine Media Readers are Social.” MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 7 Mar. 2016. Web.
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ReplyDeleteHonestly, this blog post really surprised me -- as well as the class readings about the magazine industry. I’ve heard time and time again how magazines, especially print magazines, are going down the tubes. Well, I guess you can’t trust everything you hear. According to the Magazine Media Factbook, 231 print magazines launched in 2014, which is certainly promising to the growth of the industry (22 Tweetable).
ReplyDeleteWhat I think is fascinating is your take on the importance of physicality for print magazines. I can’t begin to explain how many times I have had the urge to “put the [magazine] in my mouth and eat it,” and print magazines make that a possibility (Kostek). Only kidding, but I am a huge fan of physical copies of magazines, books, and CD’s. I don’t like how much of our time is devoted to looking at screens, so looking at and feeling the glossy pages of a magazine is a pleasant change of pace. In saying that, I do still hold the belief that print will take a backseat to digital in the future.
The percentage of adults in the US who read digital magazines has QUADRUPLED in the last three years (22 Tweetable)! That is a substantial amount of readers to say the least. I understand that these readers may still pick up the hard copies also, but the fact that they chose to subscribe to a digital version shows a shift in the norm.
Digital is just convenient. Instead of lugging around a 40-page magazine, you can have all 40 pages in your smartphone, or tablet. 60% of smartphone users said that they “read more/about the same number of [digital magazines] as print magazines” (Magazine Media 8). The shift has already begun. That percentage is only going to get higher. Unless there is a huge story in a certain magazine with a controversial cover, there is no need to lug that print copy. I believe that industry tradition and print-loyal readers will keep print magazines in circulation for years to come, but digital provides too many advantages for it to keep up with.
Digital magazine readers are more apt to share what they are reading -- twice as likely as print, to be exact (4). This creates a more collaborative, and more rapid, share of information as opposed to print magazine which relies almost solely on word of mouth. Also, what I have noticed, is that digital magazines are starting to incorporate cool graphics and animations as you scroll through the pages. This makes the experience two-dimensional, and keeps the reader involved in the story. The last interactive digital magazine story I read was really neat and kept my attention throughout the (longer than I had anticipated) article. Even though we are getting to that age where it’s unacceptable to admit -- reading stuff with pictures is way more fun.
I know I sound like a digital-age magazine advocate, but I’m really not. I believe that both digital and print will see an increase in growth; but I stand true to the fact that I think that digital will grow quicker.
Works Cited:
MPA "22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. 5 Mar. 2016. Web.
MPA “Magazine Media Readers and Smartphones .” MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. 5 Mar. 2016. Web.
I was able to easily connect with the focus of your post that print magazines continue to be successful in a world where digital media is getting more and more popular. Especially when you said, “The tangibility of print magazines creates something special for a reader.” I was able to relate to this because this is how I feel about magazines. I have been able to transition into using digital media and love it but there are certain things that I cannot switch to, such as digital magazines.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to things like casual reading I’m fine with either a book or using my kindle. I like using the kindle especially when I go on trips because it’s easy to pack and it doesn’t really feel like looking at a screen. But on the other hand when I want to read a magazine I like to have a hard copy. While reading a magazine I like having the physical copy in front of me, I think it adds to the experience of the reader. I like to read fashion magazines like ELLE and Vogue so I feel it is important to have a print copy in front of you especially while going through a magazine of this nature.
The Magazine Media Readers and Smartphones research on magazine readers from ages 18 – 34 found that “83% of respondents accessed or downloaded a magazine branded app via a digital newsstand with more than one-third using a newsreader.” (MPA) Out of all the findings I able to connect with this the most because I have used digital platforms to access magazines. But at the same time I did not stick with using a magazine app for more than a week. I’ve tried to read the magazines I mentioned previously on my iPad but they were not able to hold my attention as well as a physical copy. Being able to look at a magazine that is printed gives me a better experience as a reader because that is how the content is meant to be consumed. While you get the same content on your phone, tablet, or computer I think that the integrity of the content is then compromised.
A fact in Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media reinforced my belief that having a hard copy of a print magazine gives me a better experience not just as a reader but also as a potential consumer. “Brands achieve higher brand favorability & purchase intent in print magazine ads than they do online or on TV” (MPA) People are constantly seeing ads on television, Facebook, Twitter, and all other forms of social media so it has been easy for us to be able to tune out these advertisements that are constantly coming at us be either clicking or scrolling away from it. But when you read a magazine it is much easier to be drawn to the ad and pay attention to it and possibly go buy the product. Fashion magazines in particular are trying to sell a product to you even when you are not looking at what is obviously an ad; so it is important to keep print copies in production.
As you stated there is going to continue to be a market for digital magazine media in the world but traditional print magazines will continue to have an audience. I completely agree with this notion and will continue to purchase print magazines in the future.
"22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 7 Feb. 2016. Web.
"Magazine Media Readers & Smartphones." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Report can be accessed on the MPA's website:www.magazine.org
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ReplyDeleteThe print is dead story has been jumping around the media world for years. Print journalists have been crying for years that it isn’t dead; meanwhile digital people say it is. When it comes to ad revenue that statement might well be true, many businesses have completely migrated their advertising efforts to the web because of its cost effectiveness, exposure potential and convenience. Print still maintains its stance as a powerful and necessary component of an ad campaign. But you can’t argue with statistics, and according to MPA, 91% of U.S adults still read magazines.
ReplyDeleteYour magazine angle is an interesting one. I think the reason print magazines are not dying is the same reason that retail stores are still around. People like to have the actually experience of holding and looking at the magazine just like people like to have the experience of actually trying on their clothing. I have never had to urge to eat a magazine page but I have always been the type of person that has try on shoes before I buy them. And when it comes to opportunities for interaction, print has some distinct advantages over online and even apps. Print magazines exist in the same physical space as us human beings, digital magazines don’t. Digital magazines are behind an “on” button on your device. It was also interesting in the MPA report how they draw the correlation that magazine readers are also very active social media and smart phone users (MPA, Social). To me its more of an interesting because you think that kids who are on their devices more often would not even look at a print magazine.
Magazines also take on a personality in some sense. With over 7,000 print magazines in circulation (in just the U.S) every year they have to have their own way of telling stories that differentiate it from others (MPA, Tweets). This could be the images, writing styles, colors and even headlines. Newspapers all kind of look the same and have less leeway when it comes to stories and style.
I do think there will always be some sort of market for print but I do believe eventually it will get phased out more and more. I can’t remember the last time I picked up a magazine or newspaper that wasn’t in the Doctors office. Quinnipiac can’t even get their students to read their newspaper / magazines. I think people feel grown up when they read a magazine or newspaper because we grew up watching our parents do it. We can get everything we want to read right on our phones/laptops. If I see an interesting magazine or newspaper title, I don’t buy that copy, I search that headline on my phone and read it there. I know I go against the 61% who act upon reading an interesting headline (MPA, Tweets). To me magazines and newspapers are too much work. You have to walk around with them in your bag, meanwhile you that entire same news story on your phone. I think for the generation after us that magazines will be a novelty item. Kind of like trading sports cards. People with the original untouched version of a magazine cover will be able to sell it for a lot of money.
Works Cited:
MPA "22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 5 Mar. 2016. Web.
"Magazine Media Readers Are Social." The Association of Magazine Media (2012): n. pag. Print.
Taylor Hoblitzell
ReplyDeleteI have always loved magazines and the digital age has not changed that. I still buy magazines in the stores. I still read them in hair salons, nail salons, and waiting rooms. I would have to agree that print magazines are thriving in the digital age. “Magazine readers 18-34 are highly connect social media users. For the most part, those 18-34 personally own a digital device and access multiple social platforms. The have a healthy appetite for media and believe that technology has improved the experience of accessing media.” I found this section from Magazine Readers are Social to be very relatable and represented well in your blog. If I find a magazine I like I will look into their social media. Following their Instagram or twitter is a great way to not only see what the company is about, but also how the company makes an effort to connect with their community of readers. Magazine media readers and smartphones shares that, “three in ten recommend the magazine to someone, with those spending one hour or more reading digital content on their smartphones being more than twice as likely to do so.” I have found this to be particularly true. I have done this with People and Cosmopolitan on Snapchat. I began looking at their Snapchat stories on Snapchat news. My friends would always send me links to them. Then, I slowly began to look into the magazines more. I now follow both on them on Instagram and twitter and I am twice as more likely to actually pick an issue up in a store. This makes following and contacting the magazine a lot easier. When I was in middle school, my friends and I used to write letters to teen vogue. That was of course our only way to get in touch with the magazine to tell them what we thought of the issue. Now, you can simply send a tweet to the company on twitter and get the same message across. I was not surprised when you said that consumers trust and are more inspired by magazines than TV. For me, I have always loved to read. Magazine media still incorporates reading, which may sound stupid, but many people do not enjoy reading anymore. It is interesting because you see so many social media sites like Twitter or even this blog, limiting how much we can post at one time as a user. It is a part of this digital trend to cut down the text as much as we can. I think that the magazine has stayed away from extinction because it makes an effort to convert. Through social media that magazine media represents themselves on, they must limit what they write. Social media works as free advertising for them. A simple tweet with a headline or Instagram picture of what to find in the upcoming issue tells consumers to check out the full story. I would have to agree with you that I don’t think the magazine is going to become extinct anytime soon.
Works Cited
"Magazine Media Readers and Smartphones." Association of the Media Magazine (n.d.): Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
"Magazine Readers Are Social." The Association of Magazine Media (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
I was amazed and so thrilled to read this blog post as I discovered that the digital revolution has not completely squashed the magazine industry. Not only has it survived through the digital age but as you had previously stated it is thriving. When I was younger I used to read magazines quite frequently because I found it was more fun to read than a book. Although it seems so long ago a few years back every member in my family even had their own subscription to a certain magazine. That is the beauty of magazines, there is a certain niche magazine for every demographic.
ReplyDeleteAccording to MPA’s findings magazine readership is very diverse among age and race. Across America “91% of adults, 94% of those under 35, and 95% of those under 25 have read magazine editions in the last six month and only 3% are digital editions” (MPA). “Magazine media readership is diverse with 90% African-American adults, 88% Asian-American adults, and 86% Hispanic-American adults who have read magazine media within the last six months including both print and digital editions” (MPA). With so many different industries there are numerous magazine companies that can appeal to almost everyone.
Given the fact that magazines have such a broad audience advertising companies will stick around to keep putting money into the companies as well. The industry remains a lucrative business despite the fact that some print mediums have taken a large hit in sales due to technology. MPA’s tweets stated, “Brands achieve higher brand favorability & purchase intent in print magazine ads than they do online or on TV” (MPA). This is largely in part because audiences tend to put more trust into print mediums so audiences will continue to buy them such as magazines. The trust in magazines also correlates to the influence that they have over their readers. Each time a story is released in new magazine the hot topic stories are typically written by authors who ensure that their source is credible before posting the story.
Magazines have been around for a long period of time and even though the digital age is nowhere near its peak I still do not see magazines being run out of business by technology. Digital media has gained a following due to all the tablets, iPhones, and laptops but there is something to be said about having a tangible magazine in your hand to read.
For me personally I know that I will always choose a print magazine over reading a magazine via digital platforms. Flipping through the freshly printed pages of a brand new magazine is an experience that you get. When you are reading a magazine article electronically you do not get that exact same experience as you do when you are physically holding the pages in your hands.
"22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 7 Feb. 2016. Web.
"Magazine Media Readers Are Social." The Association of Magazine Media (2012): n. pag. Print.
As an avid magazine reader, I am delighted to read that print magazines are thriving in this new digital age. My favorite magazines are ones that have anything to do with fashion. The pictures, the models, the clothing…there’s just nothing like it. I cannot imagine looking at a vogue magazine on my computer. I am not a huge book reader, however, I cannot purchase any of my textbooks/required text for my classes online. It is important for me to hold books in my hand, write in them, and have that important physical feature. I find when I am reading on the Internet, I am not able to focus and my eyes also begin to feel sore after hours and hours of reading.
ReplyDeleteNot only do I like to read hard cover magazines, but my parents do as well. My mom, who is a publicist in the film industry, receives the Hollywood Reporter as a hard copy every single week. My Dad, who is in the fashion industry, also gets many magazines sent to him every week. In fact, “91% of adults read print magazines” (MPA, Tweets). One thing I have also noticed, however, is that they read more magazines than I do online. This is because it is quick and easy for them to receive the information online and use it as they work throughout the day. It is harder for them to refer back to hard copy magazines only sent once a week. One interesting fact is that, “People under 35 read print more than people over 35” (MPA, tweets).
I also think that these numbers for adults reading hard copy magazines are so high because it is extremely convenient to pick up a magazine and read them. For example, every time I go on an airplane, I always pick up three to four magazines to read. When I walk into CVS, I pick up a magazine at checkout. Even when I was a young kid waiting on the long Shop Rite lines with my mom, I would always read a magazine while waiting and beg my mom to buy it (she always said yes). It is just so easy and carefree to read hard cover magazines and they are always available and accessible.
It is also proven that more people purchase products by looking at them through a magazine rather than television. Research shows, “Brands achieve higher brand favorability & purchase intent in print magazine ads than they do online or on TV” (MPA, Magazine, Readers, & Smartphones). There have been many times where I am looking through a magazine, see a cute outfit and since all of the information is already in the magazine, I can easily find it online and purchase the product! Yes, this could definitely be done through a digital platform; however, one is more likely to scroll through the ads on an iPhone than they are reading a hard copy magazine. I am happy to see that print magazines are thriving, and will continue to do so in the future.
"22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 7 Feb. 2016. Web.
"Magazine Media Industry Releases Year-End Social Media Report." MPA: The Association for Magazine Media. 29 Jan. 2016. Web.
Technology is improving at an incredible rate, and with that comes the digitalization of media. Media powerhouses back in the day such as newspapers and magazines are suddenly faced with a dilemma, adapt or become extinct. Surprisingly enough, newspapers and magazines have in fact managed to adapt, from finding more creative ways to get subscribers, to creating digital editions to post online. But will this keep them alive?
ReplyDeleteI really do believe so. As stated by the MPA, “91% of US adults read print magazines” and I myself am included in that statistic. I have to agree that one of the biggest factors for me is the tangibility of magazines. Once a month, I get my issue of Rolling Stones in the mail, and it genuinely brings me excitement. I mean who doesn’t love to get mail, as lame as it sounds its almost exciting nowadays. Plenty of people enjoy reading their magazines on Kindles or IPads, but for me it’s just not the same. I don’t want to have to stare at a screen any longer than I normally do on a daily basis. I’d rather hold a physical copy of what I just purchased, hold it as I read it, and eventually set it down with the rest of my issues that I’ve collected, allowing me to actually look and appreciate my growing collection. While I’m not alone on this, not everyone feels the same way. In fact, according to Forbes magazine, about 25% of their audience uses their mobile devices to read magazines. (DVorkin, 2012)
I’m not one hundred percent against digitalizing magazines however. It’s actually a neat idea when you think about it. When I first got my IPad, I played around with it for hours, and one of the first apps I went into was Newsstand. Laid out as if it were a magazine rack, Newsstand is an app that collects and displays all of your digital magazines, allowing you to open and read them whenever you want. It’s a really neat and organized system, making it incredibly easy to find what issue you want. It’s also easier to bring your IPad with 30 issues on it to lets say the beach, than it is to bring 30 physical issues which would weigh 50 pounds. Another added benefit is saving paper. Not to get all environmentalist, but the digitalization of print media like newspapers and magazines can actually help and have an extremely positive affect on deforestation.
While that all may be true, I’ve chosen where I stand. I still like holding physical magazines in my hand, and not on a computer. While Rolling Stones does have the option to subscribe online, I’ll still be running to my mailbox once a month, because that’s just the way I like it.
DVorkin, L. (2012, August 15). Inside Forbes: How a Social Media Strategy Can Work for a Magazine, Too. Forbes.
MPA. "2015 Magazine Media Factbook." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Magazine.com. Accessed 4 Mar. 2016. Web.
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ReplyDeleteYou bring up some great points about why the magazine industry is still persevering despite the overall shift from print to digital in most areas. Yes, I believe most would say they prefer the tangibility of a magazine over a digital magazine, or going on the magazine's website. The feeling of being able to dissect the magazine's well thought-out text, images and stories and flip through each page is unrivaled compared to digital versions. To be honest, I was shocked to read that "The percentage of U.S. adults who read digital edition magazines has more than quadrupled over the past 3 years."
What I do love about the magazine industry is that is does mesh and integrate well with its digital counterpart. For example, I along with many others prefer reading printed magazines over a tablet or online version. However, magazines do a great job supplementing their printed magazines with digital initiatives as well including their own websites with different articles than in the magazine issue, apps, and keeping up with social media i.e. Instagram, Facebook pages that lead to articles digitally. In the article "Magazine Readers Are Social," the study found that "Those who consider themselves "avid magazine readers"..."follow" a magazine on Twitter or "like" a magazine on Facebook."
In terms of readership, there is still that nostalgia of being a subscriber to a magazine. I am someone who subscribes to a few magazines, but will also pick up magazines at the airport that I do not subscribe to for reading on the plane/vacation. There is a ridiculous mark up price on magazines purchased off shelves versus subscribers. A year subscription to Vogue costs $14.99, whereas pickup up a single copy on stands costs $4.99. Some magazine's even value their subscribed readers so much that they give them special offers, gifts, release dates prior to on stands and even unique covers, all in effort to keep subscriptions/sales up.When I renewed my subscription to Vogue this year I received a "limited edition" set of Vogue coasters, pretty cool. The magazine I intern at, Harper's Bazaar has a different cover for those who are magazine subscribers versus their issue on stands. It's a magazine's little way of saying "thanks" for subscribing and to try and keep you to renew your subscription each year.
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ReplyDeleteIn the fashion industry magazines play an extremely vital role in the industry. When you first open almost any magazine (especially fashion magazines) the first 20 some odd pages are advertisements. Fashion designers and brands spend a great deal on these advertising campaigns, as they know how many people are going to read magazines like Vogue, Marie Claire, Instyle etc. But, in my opinion, a large majority of readers flip through these first few pages because they know that they're all advertisements. Other than that, magazines also feature pieces and brands in stories, edits and photo shoots, aka Public Relations/free advertising for the brands. When I interned in the PR department at Tory Burch, part of my daily tasks included going through every magazine the company subscribed to (which was way more than you'd ever expect) and tab for Tory Burch credits. Now being on the other side of the industry working for a magazine (Harper's Bazaar) I see things from a different perspective. The two industries thrive off of each other and enable one another to stay alive.
I recently came across an app called Texture. You get unlimited access to thousands of magazines for $14.99 a month and can create your own library among other features with the motto "all you can read." Its the new streaming of the magazine industry. It's definitely for avid magazine readers who want to discover new titles and take full advantage of a variety of magazines, but its also for those who again prefer to read in a digital format. It will be interesting to see if this alters the rise of reading magazines digital.
"Magazine Readers Are Social." The Association of Magazine Media (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 8 Feb. 2016. Web.
Markella Damianos
ReplyDeleteOne of my guilty pleasures at the grocery store, besides getting junk food, is picking up a copy of People magazine and other gossip magazines. When I read articles, I prefer that they be hard copies. As an avid book reader, I refuse to switch over to a Kindle or other device. As Alina points out, I love the smell and the touch. I am part of the “91% of US adults,” who “read print magazines” (MPA).
There is more to a magazine than just its smell and touch. Alina also mentions that they have an emotional significance. My siblings, my dad, and I would all call my mom a mini-hoarder because of the amount things that she saves, but all of these things have an emotional significance. She has saved copies of newspapers and magazines from important moment in her life: the three of our births, the death of Princess Diana, 9/11, and much more. They are all sentimental to her. I do not think online articles would have the same emotional effect as the print magazines do for her.
Another reason I think print media will continue to survive is that they offer more than online media. For example, I am a big crossword puzzle and word search fan. Most of the times, I buy People magazine or even grab a copy of the QU Chronicle is because of the crossword puzzle and word search. These tasks allow me to engage more with what is going on in the world. Last week, the theme of the Chronicle word search and crossword puzzle was Harper Lee. I loved that they were honoring the great literary author even if it was not article. Plus being a lover of Harper Lee, I was able to breeze through it.
Another aspect of the print media still being relative that Alina mentions is trust. She highlights this idea with The Association of Magazine Media: “Consumers trust and are more inspired and influenced by magazine than TV” (MPA). I agree with this somewhat. I think many people trust TV reporters/hosts a lot more than print journalists. For example, if you watch Good Morning America or CNN every day, you are more likely to trust them because you continue to watch them everyday. One example that I think emphasizes Alina’s point is Brain Williams. Brian Williams was a trusted reporter until he lied about being shot at. I feel that if this were a print journalist, they would have to provide more evidence.
Similar to how books will not go out of style, magazines will not as well. They provide a certain idea and feeling for readers. They also focus on certain demographics just like television and movies.
Works Cited:
"Magazine Readers Are Social." The Association of Magazine Media (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
22 Tweetable Truths About Magazine Media." MPA: The Association of Magazine Media. Accessed 8 Feb. 2016. Web.