Shift from Print Magazine Hits PC Magazine – Now Online Only
November 22, 2008
Just last week, I wrote a post here on KeySplash Creative Conversations about the shift away from print advertising that is driving many established magazines to resort to layoffs in order to remain profitable. This week, Ziff Davis announced that its 27-year old PC Magazine will no longer be available in print. Instead, PC Magazine will be available online only. The new online version has been rebranded as PCMag.com.
This seems like a natural change since PC Magazine generates 80% of its profits from its existing online content. Also, circulation of PC Magazine has dropped by half over the course of the past decade. However, what other magazines are likely to follow suit? The Christian Science Monitor made inroads in October when it announced the publication would be the first national magazine to move from print to digital only. It will be interesting to see what other companies make the same change for their print magazines.
What do you think? Is there still value to print magazine advertising or is the clock ticking?
Image: PCMag.com
Shift from Print Advertising Drives Magazine Layoffs
November 12, 2008
If anyone doubted that print and television advertising were on the brink of suffering, those doubts have been shattered with the recent layoff announcements by not one, not two, but multiple magazine industry leaders in various categories. Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Money have not just let executives go recently, but now, each company is seeking voluntary layoff participants to trim expenses. the culprit – reduced advertising revenue.
The writing has been on the wall that print and television advertising need to prepare for a shift in ad spending from traditional media to online social media. It could be argued that a business model overhaul is required to keep many of these publications floating above water in the long term.
What do you think? Will there always be a place for traditional print magazine advertising, or is the clock ticking?
Image: Flickr
