Magazines, The Power of Print

This is beyond cool, in my opinion. Y&R NY created the image by combining the distinctive typographies of multiple magazine logos: “M” from Time, “A” from Vanity Fair, “G” from Rolling Stone, “A” from Entertainment Weekly, “Z” from Harper’s Bazaar, “I” from Marie Claire, “N” from Fortune, and “ES” from Esquire.

When I was in middle school I made my own “Bucket List.” Along with “get my first kiss,” “own a Vespa,” “get married,” and “see the seven natural wonders of the world,” I had one item on my list that I crossed off during my college years:  “Write for a national magazine.”

My first magazine byline was in a publication called travelgirl—still on stands today!—and I currently write for Albuquerque The Magazine, a lifestyle publication all about Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’ve had articles in a few other publications, but I’m currently itching to write for some magazines in my new location. In the next few weeks I’m going to actively start updating my portfolio, revamping my website, and begin seeking new writing gigs.

The point of all of this is to say that magazines are not—and are nowhere near—dead. They are very much alive and people are reading mags more than ever these days.  If you’ve picked up a magazine lately you may have seen some of the following ads placed within the pages:

Sorry for the quality, I scanned these in. You can click the image and I think it will make it larger and hopefully a little more reader friendly.

Here are some exciting readership statistics:
Metrics supporting the campaign’s message include:

1. Magazine readership has risen 4.3% over the past five years (Source: MRI Fall 2009, Fall 2005 data)
2. Average paid subscriptions reached nearly 300 million in 2009 (Source: MPA estimates based on ABC first half 2009 and second half 2009 data)
3. Adults 18-34 are avid magazine readers. They read more issues and spend more time per issue than their over-34 counterparts (Source: MRI Fall 2009 data)
4. During the 12-year life of Google, magazine readership increased 11% (Source: MRI Fall 2009 data)
5. Magazine effectiveness is growing. Ad recall has increased 13% over the past five years. Action-taking—based on readers recalling specific ads—increased by 10%. (Source: Affinity’s VISTA Print Effectiveness Rating Service, 2005-2009)
6. Magazines outperform other media in driving positive shifts in purchase consideration/intent. (Source: Dynamic Logic)

Those ads inspire and empower me every time I see them. People are reading magazines! And while I love writing for for online sources (like here and here), there’s an exhilarating feeling when you see your name in print, whether it’s a small county newspaper, a local magazine, or a a national publication. Even when I’m not being published (like right now…) I just love flipping open a new issue and diving in to read it cover to cover.

So what about you? Do you still subscribe to magazines or pick up your favorite issue when it hits stands? What are your go-to magazines to read? Right now I have subscriptions to: The Food Network Magazine (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!), The South, Cooking Light, Real Simple, Women’s Health, Albuquerque The Magazine, travelgirl, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, and All You.