The rise of e-readers and tablet computers inevitably leads to questions of whether print is on its way out. Magazines bear the brunt of this speculation, with many mainstream titles’ circulations falling.
The most common argument regarding the future of print magazines is that readers would prefer to consume what they currently offer electronically. This much is obvious – why get the latest gossip, trends and reviews in print when these are even more up-to-date online? That print magazines are still chiefly offering this, however, does not prove that print is untenable, but that publishers and distributors are blind to where electronic media excels and crucially, to what works better in print.
Despite the falling sales of major titles, the popularity of niche magazines continues to grow, suggesting not only that the public still wants print but that the print they want is increasingly exploring very specific personal interests.
See full article at: This print is dead mantra is lazy thinking | Suraya Sidhu Singh | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk.
