Sure is nice to see so much support for the continued existence of printed magazines and catalogs recently. After much hue and cry about digital gutting the traditional print magazine, calmer voices are being heard and the frenzy appears to be dying down.
The latest voice of reason comes from staff writers at the Economic Voice, who make a compelling argument in “Page vs. screen: Why print is still significant in a technological world.”
Digital fans, and the people that market to them, seem to forget that not everyone has a digital device on which to consume their content. Yes, half of all adults in this country have smartphones or tablets. But half don’t, and many of the folks who do have them are technically challenged and not using them for much beyond emails and text messages.
Another group of people (self included) spend so much of our working hours on digital devices that the last thing we want to do in the evening is put our feet up with another lit screen.
This is where magazines come in…the low-tech calmness, the leisurely pace, the casual sticky note tucked in to mark a favorite item. This is how we read for enjoyment.
This low-tech experience that allows one to browse and linger is among the reasons why 95% of customers would choose a printed catalogue over an online version. (Forbes)
And as Grazia editor Jane Burton so colorfully points out, “…there will always be a place for magazines. You can’t take an iPad into the bath.”