North American Magazines Fold: Thousands Lose Jobs
According to Folio: magazine.com, 525 North American magazines folded in 2008 versus only 335 new titles launched within the same time period. That translates to one and a half (1.5) times as many magazines folding than new titles launching in 2008. So far in 2009, the trend doesn’t appear to be improving. During the first three quarters of 2009,MediaFinder.com reports that 383 magazines have folded and only 259 new titles have launched.
This still equates to roughly 1.5 times as many folded magazines than new titles. When a magazine folds it effects a wide range of people: editors, writers, graphic designers, photographers, freelancers, ad salesmen, and publishers included. In simple terms, over 500 magazines closing their doors means thousand (if not tens of thousands) of jobs lost.
As dismal as reports of the alarming rate of magazine closures may be, the landscape for titles struggling to stay afloat is just as grim. Publications have experienced a 20% reduction in page count on average in 2009. Reduction in page count is a direct result of fewer ad sales. As much as editors would like to believe that their well-written editorial is the lifeline of a publication, logic would argue that advertisements are the fuel that powers the vessel.
Magazines Compromise Quality of Content
Most publishers follow an advertising-driven formula, so when ad sales drop page count drops accordingly; often forcing editors and designers to abridge, reformat, and even eliminate editorial content all together. As a result, by the time a “reduced page count” magazine hits newsstands it is usually a mere skeleton of its original folio plan. Many brilliant editorial ideas are left on the cutting-room floor and never see the light of day. Ultimately, the publication presents the reader with an inferior product and more severe problems compound from there.
Print Versus Online: The Shift towards Web Content
Readers are keen to pick up on the slightest shifts in editorial direction. Proof of their attention to detail can be found in the inbox of any editor who is suddenly forced to cut content. A mass exodus of unhappy readers is a potential death-blow to struggling publications, so how can magazines balance lower page count with a demand for more editorial content? Is online publishing the answer? Stay tuned for further exploration of the magazine industry. Upcoming articles will discuss the apparent trend of magazines moving their publications to an online format.
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Carlos Anderson - With over a decade of professional experience as a Graphic Designer and several years of experience as Art Director for internationally ...
