This document discusses the future of magazines as they transition from print to online. It notes that while print allows for depth, online allows interactivity. The future of print magazines relies on advertising revenue as readers and advertisers move online. However, online magazines are expensive to produce and reduce journalism jobs. Overall audiences have more control over media consumption and prefer accessible, relevant information, suggesting magazines will need to transition online to remain viable.

1. The Future Of Magazines
By Luke Harris

2. Future as Print & Online
The transition from print to online is still very
much feared by some magazine
companies, which are worried if they don’t get it
right, they will lose buyers and more importantly
income.
Things to take into account:
 Print can offer more depth into a story and
present the most relevant information.
 Online offers something new, allows the
audience to interact with the media. Watch
videos, view photos, go to external links –
keeping in line with new technology.

3. Looking To The Future- Print Magazines
>Print Magazines rely heavily on
advertising and the revenue they
bring.
>However as more readers move
from print to online, so are many
advertisers. Meaning print
magazines really have no choice but
to make the move online.
 It can be argued that the future of print magazines relies purely on
whether advertising revenues increase after post-recession.
 Modern society is busy and often hasn’t got the time or luxury to sift
through information online, print magazines can filter the content and
present the most relevant information.

4. Looking To The Future – Online Magazines
 The cost of producing and maintaining
an efficient online magazine can often
prove to be expensive; something
which print magazines have to
consider for something that promises
little revenue compared to print.
 Moving to online means different treatment of journalists, there won’t
be as many jobs – making journalists more “bloggers” than
“columnists”.
 With todays technology, online magazines are often easier and faster
to access and can cover real-time topics in detail.
 Online magazines, allow the audience to interact with the media
much more and allows user generated feedback to the latest topics.

5. Audiences Habits – Consuming Media
 In modern society the audience of
magazines tend to have much more
power, now online magazines have
entered the market.
 New technology has given audience’s
more control and choice of when, where
& how they consume media.
 Coming out of a recession, people are less willing to spend money on
magazines, when they can get it free online or on TV. (Some online
Magazines have started charging)
 Society is very busy so they prefer to consume media which contains
the most relevant information, having no time to indulge in big articles.

6. Magazines And Advertising.
 Advertisement is one of the main
revenues for any successful
magazine.
 Many advertisers are switching to
online with the hope of attracting
more “eye-balls” and knowing that’s it
more efficient.
 I believe advertising will have a massive say as to whether magazines
choose to move online or not, as without advertising its to much of a
financial risk.

7. Circulation Figures – Increase/Decrease?
>There is an obvious trend that circulation
figures of magazines are on a decline.
>Magazine circulation figures continued
declining in the first three months of 2011.
> According to the Audit Bureau of
Circulations retail weakness weighed
heavily on the performance of mass
weeklies which fell by 5.5% compared to
2010.

8. Conclusion
Overall I believe that the future of
magazines lies purely in the hands of the
public/society.
Audiences are having much more power
on the media in which they consume and
a magazine is designed around its
audience in order to bring in revenue.
I believe magazines will make the transition online, because todays
technology and the way in which people have so much access to it, make
it almost a forced move.
The next generation will grow up in a world of new technology and online
magazines will be the easiest and most efficient way to target them and
may well be the only way for the industry to continue. Although I believe
there will always be printed magazines but online will dominate.