For me personally, online content will never completely replace the print version of my favorite magazines. Call me silly, but there's an excitement that comes with getting a crisp, new issue of Glamour or Women's Health in my mailbox at the beginning of each month. While I wait in line at the check-out for the slooowwww people ahead of me to finally get out of my way, I busy myself by scanning all the magazine titles...more often than not I'll end up buying one (I'm guessing this is the epitome of an "impluse purchase"). There's just something about the tangible nature of a magazine-the glossy cover, flipping through the pages, dog-earing the articles I want to read, tearing out inspiring advertisements, etc. You can't get that experience online.For these same reasons, I will never buy a Kindle. I actually get annoyed when people I hear people raving about them. Some things are just meant to be touched with your hands, not clicked or scrolled through on some electronic device. Sure, browsing a magazine's content online is fun and easy, as well as convenient. Need to print a recipe? Easy. Want to share an article with a friend? Just link to it on your Facebook or Twitter account. For people who are constantly on the go or checking their email inbox, it makes since to have magazine content available online. But I definitely don't think this should make print magazines obsolete.
What do you think--what does the future hold for print magazines?
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Personally, I think magazines - along with print publications in general - will eventually fall under the same category as vinyl. Vinyl is still around but it's more of a premium product now than a standard. I feel that magazines will still be around but will be a bit more costly and targeted towards a more "nostalgic" audience (though that's years from now).
ReplyDeletePrinting won't go away for a long time. It'll just change roles.
...and by vinyl I mean vinyl records in lieu of MP3 or CDs
ReplyDeleteI love to flip through a magazine....of course I am from the 'vinyl' generation!
ReplyDeleteBy the way the previous post said that James said...but it is me on line right now reading your blog! ( : April
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly right--there is no better feeling than flipping through a magazine. It seems like I spent most of my childhood reading through magazines with my friends and fawning over all of the beautiful clothing and jewelry. Magazines are not dying...yet. I also agree with your thoughts on the Kindle. Most people will say I'm just not 'with it' because I don't have one, but I don't exactly want to 'curl up' next to a fire with an electronic book.
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