So what is really happening to the scrapbook magazines?

[JulieM]

Are they no longer needed because of online galleries which can provide lots more inspiration?
Or is it because we can learn new techniques on line?
Are they too expensive in this economy?
Are the companies that take out ads in a pinch with this economy and not able to buy ad space? (I've seen how much ad space in one magazine can cost..... it's very very expensive)
Personally, I got tired of how they continually kept cutting costs by using cheaper paper (corners always curling up) and each edition got thinner and thinner.
Are people really wanting online magazines instead of hard copies?

I write for 2 downloadable magazine publications. They are both great magazines but are hard copy magazines a thing of the past. Even newspapers are struggling today because of online news sources. How about hard copy books? Will they become a thing of the past? Losing hard copy books makes me very sad to think about!

Your 2 cents.......

I think its a combination of things- Pressure to Go Green use less trees, the economy to include subscribers, less ads, lower quality- my opinion too many adds and not enough inspiration etc. The economy is unstable- or thats what they keep preaching so even if people have the money, the media has us so scared to death- we are actually hurting the economy by not spending... but we are running around like the sky is fallin cause the media tells us so. Honestly, if the media didnt preach so much doom and gloom, I think people would be less afraid and sales would be up a bit more. People in general believe everything the news tells us.

[SarahA]

I'm thinking it's a combination of all of those things you listed. I don't know if books will ever disappear, but the Kindle is one sign of that. You mentioned newspapers, too- our daily newspaper has went down to only printing Thursday, Friday & Sunday editions.

[terri04]

I work in a school so what happens to the people who still can't afford computers? & the Kindle is not exactly inexpensive. People in this economy can still pick up a mag or book once in a while but computers are still out of reach for some families.
Plus i like curling up with the paper or magazine

[Beth-W]

I have no idea but I miss all of the magazines!!

[handerful]

I think its a combination of all the things you listed. It is not just scrapbook mags, but all print media that is cutting back. There will always be people that prefer the real thing, but the bottom line is what runs a business - and publishing companies can't produce a product if they don't have funds coming in. A vicous cycle!

[Mommybruno]

I'm sad about the magazines! I just picked up an issue of Making Memories and was shocked to see that it's their last one. That leaves me only CK and Scrapbooks ETC. Personally, I prefer lounging on my couch with a paper magazine. I spend enough time on my computer as it is!!


Do you think CK will hang in there??

[JeanG]

I'm down to only one magazine subscription and I won't be renewing it. They just seem to be going down in both quality and content. Every once in a while one has a great issue...but do I want to spend $6 for a magazine that only might be good? I think that by the time my granddaughter graduates (she's about 6 months old), everyone will have a computer and all the newspapers will be online. I think that's sad...we always use the newspapers to wrap up the fish guts for disposal!

[Janedee]

I only have one subscription left to Scrapbooks Etc., although I do pick up Scrapbooking & Beyond and Scrapbook & Cards Today quite often. I think the recession has hit the print media very heavily with a lack of advertising revenue so they have had no choice but to switch to online versions.
With the advent of the Kindle (I haven't tried one yet but have heard good things), I'm wondering whether the magazines should have a format downloadable to the Kindle so that you don't have to sit at your computer screen all the time.

[AnnOminous]

I think that a change from printed paper tech to online/electronic media tech has been happening for some time now. It slowed down some when a lot of internet sites tried to go with paid subscribers and people just didn't sign up in droves. But now the economy has sped the change back up.

[ElsieB]

My husband works for a newspaper and I can tell you that it's not just scrapbooking magazines. It's print media in general and no one is immune. I think very specific magazines like scrapbooking magazines are more susceptible to the major changes going on in the print media industry, but even major newspapers are feeling the heat. Ad revenue (more so than subscribers) is the major issue affecting these publications. It is definitely an industry in major transition and no one knows exactly what the future holds.

[SBcrazee]

It's a combination of all you mentioned. Remember when we had to hand write a letter & mail it? With email, how often do most of us hand write a letter & mail out? Remember how we had to call people. Now so many people would rather text. We had to read hard copy books but now I listen mostly to audio books & so many have reverted to the Kindle or downloads. Add to that the whole Go Green aspect & pretty soon mags & books will probably be redundant.

[Firegems]

I think with all the information at your fingure tips on the internet that magazines will eventually stop printing.
I personally never by magazines any more..... It's costly to get them, I don't read them more then once and then I have them laying around.......so if I want to know something new I go on line.... and I can print off only what I really want to keep.

[writerlady]

I think it's everything you mentioned. I was reading a blog this morning about the end of film processing. How very sad. I appreciate the "new" technology, but I will never like reading online the way I like reading a magazine or a book - or even the newspaper. I love my digital camera, and it saves me sooo much money, but there is nothing like getting printouts of your pictures from roll of film. I think sometimes that we over-improve - and I know that I will sincerely miss those magazines.

[sdwhru]

I think its a combination of things- Pressure to Go Green use less trees, the economy to include subscribers, less ads, lower quality- my opinion too many adds and not enough inspiration etc. The economy is unstable- or thats what they keep preaching so even if people have the money, the media has us so scared to death- we are actually hurting the economy by not spending... but we are running around like the sky is fallin cause the media tells us so. Honestly, if the media didnt preach so much doom and gloom, I think people would be less afraid and sales would be up a bit more. People in general believe everything the news tells us.

I agree with a lot of this. People use computers more and more. But I love my knitting magazine. No way I want to look at a pattern on-line and try to decipher it! Plus I usually make a copy of the pattern I'm doing so I can write o it!! LOL People put too much stock in what the news spouts. Everyone would be better off if they turned off the "talking heads" and did some of their own thinking.

[Art_Teacher]

This makes me sad! I don't like reading my news and magazine info on the computer! I spend too much time on the computer as is. Our school used to get newspapers for the kids to read up on current events, and they were notified by the newspaper that there won't be any more actual papers delivered...they will be online! That doesn't really help in study hall where there are no computers, etc. Plus, then I can't recycle them in the art class for paper-mache and to help keep tables clean! Boooo! I hope magazines don't go away entirely, because I love my magazines!

[MamaK321]

there is just something about having a printed magazine in your hand, I prefer it that way. I'm not against reading an a-zine but it isn't the same. Sure an e-zine is better in some ways because you have active links to additional content, shopping for products, getting close ups on images, etc. But you sure can't take it with you to the beach or on a long car ride, kwim??


I have heard many publications are quitting the biz because of costs for materials and printing, plus you have to figure in the bad economy and people electing not to splurge on the newest issue so that money can better be spent elsewhere? It is a shame. Especially when the powerhouse mags are the ones folding. Hopefully after some time they will come back better than ever. I would have hoped they would try to do a little in house restructuring, possibly cut down issues to every other month or quarterly rather then quit all together.



In the high tech digital age, e-zines seem to be the way to go. Who do you write for Julie, I'll add them to my favorites list.

[GRACEpunches5]

I have no idea but I miss all of the magazines!!

ME TOO!!!

[CallieJean]

I only get one scrappy magazine and wonder if I am even going to renew that one....not sure it is worth the money anymore...it is very true that you can learn somuch from the computer and i learn so much from my scrappy girlfriends...


What is this kindle that many of you have mentioned??

[JulesinParadise]

The economy and our changing needs seems to be at the core of this plus some other factors. It still defies though that magazines like O and Living to mention two have great readership. And I love any of the Somerset publications which seem to increase in number and variety rather than decrease at the sb ones are doing. Perhaps it is the variety of the publications and that sbing ones were/are so specialized. Somerset ones are anything but cheap but sell out monthly at my B&N and BAM stores. Any ideas anyone?