Are the future of magazines safe?!

Do they have a future as a product as well as online?

Research would suggest that they do. A study in the US shows that 95% of adults read magazines and 75% of teens do.

Also magazines are a way to pass time when you’re waiting at an airport/on the beach etc, that would be increasingly difficult to read online and fit in your bag!

However some research suggests that popularity of magazines doesn’t fit with how popular the site is online. 'Sugar'- the top selling teenage girl magazine is around the 59 thousand mark in the global rank of sites visited. Whereas as 'Now' magazine has beat it at around the 40 thousand mark. This goes to show that just because they're a popular magazine doesn't mean they can get their readers to go online very easily.

What has been the impact of this change on the magazine industry

(production, exhibition, distribution and consumption)?

There has been less need to produce and print magazines as many of them just get read online. The same can be said for distribution and consumption. This has had a major impact on many jobs, and jobs in the industry are scarce.

How has the consumption of media changed?

The consumption of media has changed drastically. As more and more new technology is being invented, the consumption is rising. News can now be read online on your phones, sent in emails and updated through social sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Before music used to be just played on the radio, now we have music channels, ‘YouTube’, music downloading sites and sharing.

200046 % of adults use internet

5% with broadband at home

50% own a mobile

0% connect wirelessly

201079% of adults use internet

64% have broadband

82% own a mobile

59% connect wirelessly

Future of the industry- Wired“The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed yet”.

Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine UK, David Rowan

Wired is a great example as to how to survive the magazine consumption decline! They have evolved and told stories in new ways. By integrating rich media, with social sharing and real time feedback you create a new form of browsing magazines. Imagine reading an article about a movie review, then clicking on a photo to watch the trailer. At the end of the trailer, you have the ability to browse movie times in your local area, purchase tickets, and see who has purchased what, all without disrupting the background of the magazine.

“When was the last time you paid for news?” I don’t. “What was the last thing you paid for digitally?” I said games. “Why?” Games have figured out a way to capture attention and lure us into making upgrades without disrupting gameplay. This is exactly what magazines are trying to capitalize on. Exploring digital magazines, shows that quality content is something that people will pay for. The richness of the medium and the user interaction is something people will pay for. The economic model and real-time feedback is something advertisers will pay for. The question is now, what does this mean for the future of traditional media? Are magazines all eventually going to be clickable and swipeable?

In your opinion what is the future of the industry?

I think although the industry is in decline, it will never be completely replaced. New technology usually never completely replaces old, as we always find a use. For example when the digital cameras were first invented, everybody though the use of film would completely die out, but in fact it is now on increase. However I do think the magazine industry will decline, and I think to overcome this decline, they will need to create BETTER online sites than their other competitors. Or another way to survive, is include more free gifts when they produce magazines, as this is very tempting way to buy a magazine.

In your opinion what is the future of the industry?

I think although the industry is in decline, it will never be completely replaced. New technology usually never completely replaces old, as we always find a use. For example when the digital cameras were first invented, everybody though the use of film would completely die out, but in fact it is now on increase. However I do think the magazine industry will decline, and I think to overcome this decline, they will need to create BETTER online sites than their other competitors. Or another way to survive, is include more free gifts when they produce magazines, as this is very tempting way to buy a magazine.