Reflecting on news earlier this week that publisher Conde Nast will close several magazine titles, including that of luxury food mag Gourmet, Martin Cloake asks whether those commentators now predicting the death of magazines are overstating the case.
“Among my favourite comments are ‘how is a cooking magazine ever going to compete with a good cooking website?’ (try using your laptop on the same work surface as you’re boning a side of beef on and you’ll find out),” writes Cloake, as he flags up an obsession with the delivery mechanism away from the quality of the content.
Using the example of Reed Business Information (RBI), Cloake goes on to explain how some magazine titles are using the web and print editions not as competitors, but to offer different things and to drive readers between mediums.