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The Continued Success of MagazinesInternet predominance has not made magazines obsoleteLong-predicted to not survive in an age of internet freedom, magazines of all genres continue to be popular and well-read, even those of the news/politics persuasion
In 2007, virtually every mainstream and alternative magazine has an online version of itself, often available at no cost to readers. Whether one’s interest is high fashion, auto mechanics, international travel or political affairs, there is undoubtedly a magazine available online for you to read. With the wide availability of choices online, many observers have speculated that magazines will soon be things of the past. Just as we see c.d. sales going down steadily over time, these individuals believe that magazine sales will likely follow suit. However, these naysayers continue to be mistaken: magazines remain popular in a wide variety of genres. From perennial favorites like Vanity Fair and Sports Illustrated, to newer entries such as Bust and Girls Life, magazines are, for the most part, still thriving. Why Magazines Remain PopularThe reason for the continued success of magazines is multidimensional. Firstly, there is the convenience of buying magazines: whether in a grocery store, a drug store, or specialty shop, magazines are generally near the cash register, and are surprisingly hard to resist. Secondly, there is something luxurious about treating oneself to a favorite magazine- a pleasure much less guilty than cigarettes, chocolate, or excessive caffeine. While we can find out much of what magazines cover online now, there is still an undeniable, and somewhat inexplicable, satisfaction in having the hardcopy of the latest information on our favorite topics in our hands. Finally, the average gossip, sport or other special interest magazine targets readers’ specific needs by having particular cover stories, glossy ads, and headlines all geared toward the subject at hand. News MagazinesIt is more difficult to understand the continued success of newsmagazines than it is of those of a less political nature. Glamour, lifestyle and special interest magazines cover topics that are not seen in our daily newspapers, and the reputation and loyalty built by many of the old established magazines of this type has proven hard to destroy. Newsmagazines, on the other hand, face competition from a multitude of online columnists and news websites, both those that also have hardcopy versions (such as the websites run by mainstream and alternative newspapers and television channels), and those that have been developed specifically for the web. The Globe Online and FoxNews.com are examples of the former, while Slate is an excellent example of the latter. When we look at why people read magazines, we can start to understand how newsmagazines continue to be popular. Newsmagazines give readers a sense of community: by reading the National Review or the Western Standard, conservative readers can rely on reading columnists and journalists that share their views. Conversely, by being a reader of the New York Times Magazine, you can be assured that their will certainly be some biting critique of the President, and some news about the upcoming Democratic primaries. Even magazines that are traditionally not partisan such as Time and Mcleans have made some changes in order to appear more cutting-edge, and thus political. Where the future of the traditional magazine lies is still up in the air; however, current conditions should show us that the resiliency of this popular form of media should not be underestimated.
The copyright of the article The Continued Success of Magazines in Newspaper Journalism is owned by Kate Butler. Permission to republish The Continued Success of Magazines in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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