In recent years there have been massive changes in media. The number of sources of news and digital content has mushroomed and how we consume information has been radically transformed.
Many have questioned whether magazines are relevant or if will they go the way of the dinosaurs and simply disappear.
Magazines may never again reach the massive readerships they once had, but some like womens weekly have carved out a niche by playing to their strengths.
The Golden Age
The London-based The Gentleman’s Magazine was launched in 1731. It is considered the first general-interest magazine. It ran for almost 200 years before being shut down.
Through the 1800s magazine circulation increased as mass communication and transportation improved. Magazines introduced audiences to writers like Mark Twain and gave rise to serialized fiction. Magazines included photos and illustrations which brought their stories to life and engaged their readers.
The early 20th century has been called the “golden age of magazines”. The Australian Women’s Weekly was first published in 1933 and for decades was the number-one magazine in the country. Over the years magazines have advertised new products and influenced culture.
Digital Publishing
The internet provides endless possibilities for instantaneous content delivery and multi-media integration. Most major magazines, still in print, have some form of digital presence through websites, mobile apps and online articles.
Magazines have been forced to adapt to the changing trends. Magazines have been pressured to innovate while still retaining their core identity and values. Despite this. magazines retain certain qualities and characteristics that set them apart and provide value to their readers and subscribers.
Tangible Experience
Magazines provide a tactile experience. Unlike digital content, magazines are real. They have weight, depth, and size. You can hold them in your hand. You can feel the pages and smell the ink. on them. It is unlike anything you can experience with digital content. Magazines provide an immersive experience that cannot be duplicated online.
The curated finite content of magazines provides relief from the constant information overload of the Internet.
Design and Photography
Print magazines rely heavily on visual design, photography, illustration, and layout to engage and inform their reader. You can leave copies of magazines lying on your coffee table to act as focal points or prompts for conversation.
Many magazines are collectible. While not many people actually collect magazines, some rare magazines are worth a considerable amount of money.
Reader Engagement
Studies have found that the casual reading experience promotes deeper engagement. Print readers retain information better. Advertisers still value the focused attention of magazine readers. Special issues, innovative formats, and niche targetting allow magazines to stay relevant.
Technology
Print magazines require no technology to consume them. You can read a magazine with no internet connection and without the assistance of a high-tech device. Magazines provide universal access. They don’t require any software or gadgets to start reading.
This makes magazines ideal for archiving information that you want to access in the future, regardless of whether or not you have internet access.
So although it’s clear the landscape has changed, magazines will continue to provide value to both their readers and advertisers.
