Do people still buy magazines?
I pulled yet another late nighter last night and only got to bed at two. When I got up this morning, I had big bags underneath my eyes. I realised that it might have been wise paying more attention to advertisements talking about fine lines and wrinkles and that like Tyler [watch the video] I should be watching Oprah for tips! I was amused that this has been the first time it occurred to me that those little creams might be handy afterall.
Not being a complete girlie girl I wouldn’t know where to start finding the right product. My instant thought and point of reference was the Cosmopolitan magazine! [Come on - most girls grow up with that mag!] It then occurred to me that I dislike and in actual fact don’t buy magazines anymore. Why buy something that you could find online, right?
I mean the sources of reference online is endless from Cosmo to Women24 - I was bound to find the answer without spending money on a mag that has a short lifespan and inevitably gets piled up and eventually recycled.
This makes me wonder - is there a future for magazines? Is it possible with more and more people having access to the internet that this form of publication will be dramatically impacted and eventually a thing of the past?
FeistyFemale is curious to know: Do any of the online community members still buy mags? If so, why?
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09/04/2008 at 6:55 pm
What? Hell no! Magazines come out once a week. By the time the news gets to you it’s already lank old, discussed, blogged, and out of fashion. I don’t read out of dead trees, bah! News should be on your computer and on your mobile while you’re walking somewhere or sitting stuck in traffic. For the rest, podcasts / vidcasts do the trick.
Although… Late nighter? Getting to bed at 2? I normally only go to bed at around 06:30, and that’s because the sun is coming up.
09/04/2008 at 7:12 pm
Nice question Bev! I met with a large magazine publisher a little while back and he chatted figures that indicated that most major mag circ figures have dropped by at least 30%. We met because he was interested in doing some cool stuff online
aaah a forward thinking publisher.
From my point of view - I don’t, my RSS feeds and intense online interaction mean that as Charl said I get the latest news, goss, stats, M&A and brand activity as it happens so I personally have no real need to go elsewhere. I must admit though that as a Journ grad I still like the feel of paper and I think that’s the case for many which is why mags etc. will always be around.
And BTW for some weird lunar reason this last week or so has been the week of all-nighters / early mornings, you’re not alone
10/04/2008 at 12:00 am
[...] Merriman asks, “Do people still buy magazines?” This makes me wonder - is there a future for magazines? Is it possible with more and more [...]
10/04/2008 at 12:01 am
@Charl
Firstly and most importantly: I miss you guys! Thanks for the great comment, good to know that I am not the only one that considers mags old news…LOL Oh and the reason I HAVE to go to be at two/three is the fact that I have to be up again latest seven o’clock… I don’t get to sleep till eleven!!!
@Melissa
You read my blog! LOL, excuse “my moment”, like most bloggers I am amazed when I discover other social media people reading it…
30% you say? Wow! And yet there are new magazines coming out all the time. I wonder how that works?
Hey as far as the real paper goes, mags are disposable in my opinion, now books, books are a whole other story. It’s simply not the same reading a romance novel from your laptop screen while lying in bed one rainy afternoon.
10/04/2008 at 10:11 am
Thanks for the mention Bev. I buy Entrepreneur once a month, I only a few articles. My favourite columns are by Guy Kawasaki and Robert Kiyosaki.
10/04/2008 at 11:57 am
Bev, I like how you hook a reader from a personal angle and then finish off with a strong call to action. Something I need to pay attention to.
Wrt the magazine issue. Even though circulation of magazines have dropped to 30%, there’s something about being tired, alone, relaxed, content and even being in love that goes hand in hand with the touch of paper / glossy pages etc.
In terms of breaking news, developments and all that jazz, online has certainly taken over a great deal of news delivery. However, ageless content is sometimes much more appreciated in association with your coffee table companions.
10/04/2008 at 12:07 pm
@Tyler
The mention was a pleasure…had a little laugh while I typed it. I love the Entrepreneur Magazine too, but like you, only one or two articles really spark my interest, thus I don’t buy the magazine.
10/04/2008 at 1:58 pm
I buy photography magazines mainly but as there are few decent local ones I subscribe to online versions via Zinio. I also buy the Go magazine each month as it let’s me see parts of our beautiful country that I haven’t been to myself and gives ideas for places to go and visit. I despise all the trashy magazines that feed the sheeple’s craving for news about Britney, Princess Di and others whose lives (or deaths) really have no impact on my own.
10/04/2008 at 4:52 pm
Hi Bev
Excellent question. I don’t buy magazines very often any more - online is definitely the best source for information.
The only frustration is when I want to get away from technology and just sit somewhere, even outside, to relax and read a bit - that’s where I want the magazine over the laptop anytime.
Keep up the great writing.
10/04/2008 at 5:36 pm
@Henre
Thanks for the commment. It certainly added an interesting point to the question raised. How many people still prefer mags above online? I just got back from an FHM/Heat Magazine launch and mag sales are actually increasing!!!
10/04/2008 at 10:47 pm
Well on a slightly crude note I don’t think people can take their desktop PC with them into the toilet like they can a magazine :). They also can’t really take it to the beach or somewhere to just relax.
I also think certain insight magazines such as Time or Newsweek could work in an online manner but the fact that the journalists actually have some time to sit down and think about their topic makes for better material.
Finally I think the reason magazines work better offline rather than online is that I personally struggle with online reading, I just don’t seem to concentrate as hard compared to something physical. Maybe that’s just me but I think most people struggle as well.
My 2 cents
11/04/2008 at 9:43 am
@SaulK
Your 2 cents is always most welcome. All very valid points!
I do think that it is more difficult reading online content. Perhaps we should rather look at what you read, why and when? If you looking for information - online is the place to be, if you reading for frivolous entertainment [on the beach] you will in all likelihood be reading a different type of magazine.
I don’t think that online content has less insight though! Online press is [and should be] an extension of offline mediums such as magazines. Online brings elements of interactivity and exploration into the mix.
If you were referring to reading blogs, I agree, not all of them are insightful - but it is fun finding ones that are insightful, inspirational and educational. Often these blogs are driven by professionals with expertise in their fields and are so information rich that you keep going back to them as a point of reference.
My summed up thoughts:
1. I believe that many individuals do prefer online content.
2. I believe that this will increase as more people gain internet access.
3. I don’t believe that will magazines will go extinct - at least not all of them…
4. In actual fact I think certain magazines will grow their readership [will post more on this point later]
5. I do believe that some types of publications might see a decline in their readerships.
PS. I think there are people out there that will be able to surprise you on where you can take your laptop.
11/04/2008 at 11:13 am
@ David C
Thanks for the great comment, thrilled that you enjoy the writing. Don’t you find that when you want to escape technology that you also want to escape information overload at the same time? Maybe it’s a “online thang!”.
@Steve Crane
Ha! Photography magazines are one of those magazine publications that’s worth buying. Those magazines are awesome and a great value add. [I love value!, Yes I do!] Like you, I don’t get the trashy ones either. I realised yesterday that there are actually mortals out there that don’t require intelligent reading. Sad but true.