Better on paper than screen

Apparently magazines are jealous of books. For some time now, novels have slowly made their way to paperback extinction. Kindles have taken over the book industry, and now magazines are following suit. Why people prefer reading off of those new world tablet devices as opposed to the fabulous glossy pages of a REAL magazine is beyond me. But then again, I am a dork and an old-fashioned bookworm to the very core. I get a feeling of thrill flipping through the colorful pages of Glamour quite like the adrenaline boost athletes get after making a big play. This is probably one of the reasons people call me “weird.” So, for me, the possibility of my glorious, tangible magazines fading into oblivion is heart wrenching. All you religious folks, pray for me.

Advertising is a huge source of income for magazines, and many publications report that digital ads are creating more revenue than printed ads. A vast majority of the population owns a smartphone, tablet or both. On both these devices, magazine apps are available. You can buy a single copy or even access your entire subscription on these digital formats. For print subscribers, the electronic version of your magazine is entirely free. Some magazines even offer free access to the public of every single edition they’ve ever produced. I hate to admit how convenient these magazine apps are. No matter where you are, especially if you’re in Rinky Dink, Wyo., with no access to a newsstand, a magazine can be right at your fingertips in the touch of a screen. Convenient as it may be, to me, the digital format of a magazine is not a real magazine. You can’t cut out pages to tape to your wall on a Kindle (unless you’re not thinking clearly). You can’t save a copy of your favorite issue for your grandchildren down the line to browse through. You can’t build a tower out of all your old editions of Teen Vogue. (This is a fun activity. I suggest you try it).

I am a huge advocate for print publications of magazines, as you know by now. But the stark reality is that in the future; hopefully, after I’m dead, books and magazines as history has known them will be a relic of the past. Yes, I am having a hard time coming to terms with this truth. Our world is becoming more and more digitized every day, but my hope is that some day my kids can read books and magazines just like I have: not with an LCD backlight.

 

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