July 26, 2006 the headline in MediaPost read: Teen People Folds in Print, Remains Online. The article went on to say, “Time Inc.’s move comes several months after Hachette Filipacchi closed Elle Girl’s print edition in April. Like Teen People, Elle Girl kept its online presence. Both companies have indeed cast a continuing Web presence as a profitable alternative to print publications…” My comment in Erik Sass’s article (click here to read) was, ” The beauty of the Web is it gives magazine publishers the excuse, ‘We’re not killing the thing, we’re staying on the web.’ If people could survive on the Web, don’t you think Playboy would have folded its print edition long ago?” Well today’s headline in Foliomag.com reads, Teen People Can’t Make It Online or In Print. The article went on to say, “the site was not generating enough traffic to keep it going as a standalone.” (click here to read). The site is now folded into People.com, a very successful web site that complements the weekly’s print edition. The problem that I have with publishers folding their print edition and going online only, has nothing to do with the technology, rather with the content. The web is a great place to be, but it is not print and should not replicate the print editions of the magazines. It is not an alternative to print, it is a must-have complementary medium to your print edition. Just think, that if you cannot survive in print, there is no way you are going to be able to survive online alone. If you think you have competition in print, think how much more competition you have on the Web. The problem is not with the technology or the method of delivery, the problem is in having a product that is relevant to the reader whether it is in print or on the Web. It is the content stupid… just keep that in mind the next time you try to convince your readers that the reason you are folding your ink on paper edition to live in the bliss of pixels on the screen. If your readers are not there for a printed copy, I can assure they will not be there for a digital or online copy alone. I don’t mind being proven wrong, just show me the proof… if the proof is in the pixels on the screen only that is, after being published first in print. Now, if you only an online publication from the beginning, well that is a different story for a different day.
Archive for April 12th, 2007
You own it, we report it: The Land Report
April 12, 2007
Do you know what is in common among the following people: Ted Turner, Archie Emmerson, the Irving Family and the Singleton Family? Well, you are in good company if you did not know the answer until now. The Land Report, the new magazine of “The American Landowner,” lists the four aforementioned names at the top of its list of the “100 Largest Landowners in the United States.” Each one of the four owns more than one million acres of land. The editors promise that the premiere issue of The Land Report and every monthly issue after that will differ from the hundreds of shelter magazines out there by going “one on one with passionate landowners and get them to share their dreams and laugh at their mistakes…” every single issue. In addition to their signature story on The Land Report 100, the first issue contains features and photos that explain the many aspects of taking care of the land and showcases the gorgeous beauty of different property throughout the United States. The name and cover of this magazine may not look like the Godiva’s box of chocolate, but the inside sure taste like the best Godiva chocolates money can buy. To learn about the remaining 96 largest landowners in our country click here to access the listing of the nation’s largest landowners. The magazine is the latest publication of the Dallas based Patience Publishing group.
