With the economy in the state it is, it’s hard to believe any company out there is actually thriving. Magazine publishers are one of the industries that are feeling the effects and making any changes necessary to earn a profit. A tactic that seems to be popular for publishers and companies, alike, is cross-promotion. Recently, Conde Nast announced their launching of travel packages through their publication, Conde Nast Traveler, in an attempt to increase revenue.
Among others are Time, Inc.’s shopping search engine, Stylefeeder, and Hachette Filipacchi’s Woman’s Day, CookVook. These developments of cross-industry promotion are not new, but with the onslaught of increased web use, technological innovation, and social media tools the magazine industry has jumped at the chance to break down industry barriers. Do you think this is a good idea for publishing companies? Or is cross-promotion threatening the magazine industry?
Jet Magazine, Feb. and Mar. Issue, Gabrielle Union
Some magazines have opted to redo their entire look and focus instead of turning to outside industries for increased profit. For example, Jet Magazine has turned toward revamping to appeal to a younger audience. Although it is hard to say whether this strategy is effective, at least it maintains the prime focus of the magazine industry: magazines.
I can’t help but wonder about those who take a career in magazine production because they are passionate about it, whether they be journalists, designers, photographers, etc.. With such drastic changes coming about, what do you think the implications will be for those professions specific to magazine production?
Amy Morawitz's Blog 