Print media is in a precarious place. Publishers are struggling and some mighty magazines are either doing their best to keep going or are falling by the wayside.
What isn’t helping is that retail is struggling too. Shops that once stocked rows upon rows of magazines have either closed or have seen a significant decline in sales.
Should this be something to worry about? Heck, yes, print magazines are catering for readers in a way the internet isn’t.
I know this because I currently read one monthly movie magazine and one monthly sci-fi magazine, and they are entertaining and informing me in a way the net simply isn’t. So, if the mags go, then something special goes too.
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The golden years
For decades, glossy movie magazines were one of the best sources of information for film and sci-fi/fantasy. My local newsagent would be stacked full of them, and each month I would pop in and pick up various titles including Empire, Total Film, and SFX.
The magazines tended to cost around £3 to £4, and for less than a fiver I’d have a full-colour mag, filled with captivating content. I’d also have enough change left over to grab a cheeky fizzy drink or a bar of chocolate to enjoy while reading.
But then a number of things happened. The internet started to become the main source of information for geek content; print started to make way for digital; and the cost of the magazines began to rise beyond a fiver.
Over time, I admit the appeal of a printed magazine began to drop off. Buying something for a few pounds that was loaded with exclusive content was a great proposition, but once it tipped over my own personal price point it started to seem kind of redundant.
As far as I was concerned, I was done with magazines. I didn’t necessarily want to be done with them, but what could they offer in the digital age and with an ever-increasing price tag?
Well, as it turns out, they are still great value, and in recent years I have completely changed my stance on picking up magazines. In fact, I currently subscribe to two titles: Empire and SFX.
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Clickbait free
Sure, magazines are not what they once were, and they are never going to compete with the immediacy of the internet, but they still offer great value. In the case of the aforementioned Empire and SFX, these magazines are put together by passionate people who have an interest in their field, and this comes across on every page.
Perhaps more importantly, unlike many of the leading entertainment/movie news websites, magazines aren’t filled with endless clickbait nonsense. The editors and writers of magazines understand readers and subscribers need decent material to sink their teeth into, so they work damn hard to get readers on board and keep them invested.
Following a bunch of entertainment websites via social media is fine for getting some quick news bites or watching trailers etc, but you don’t get the same depth you get from a movie or sci-fi magazine staffed by genre fans. These people care!
Magazines have imaginative features and articles, and when you become a regular reader of a particular title you become part of a select group. You’re not just a casual reader drifting about the internet, you’re someone who is saying “hey, I want something good to read.”
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Making room
Empire and SFX have become my-go to titles because a.) I adored them during my teens, and b.) they are the best in their field. Until it closed its doors in recent times, Total Film was a great read too, and if it was still around it would have my support as well.
At present I dip in-and-out of each issue of the mags at various points throughout the month. It’s usually when I have a spare few minutes here and there, but there are times when I set aside a couple of hours to lock myself away somewhere quiet (without my phone – or social media) to devour the pages.
In between times, copies sit on my shelf amongst my Blu-ray and DVD collection, where they are always within easy reach. I have built up a physical media hub within my home, and it’s great to be able to include movie and sci-fi magazines amongst this space.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: How does anyone have room for endless copies of magazines? The whole world appears to be decluttering these days, so surely multiple magazines are a dust gatherer.
Well, the simple answer is, I don’t hold onto every issue. When I was a teenage magazine reader I would hoard every copy for future reference, but that’s not what adult me does.
I now adopt a fast and firm rule: There will only ever be eight magazines on the shelf.
Why eight? Why not – it’s as good a number as any!
When I add a copy to the shelf I remove a copy, which either gets passed on or it is recycled. It doesn’t have to be the oldest issue – simply one I am happy to part with.
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Use it or lose it
Since moving back onto print magazines I feel better connected to my love of film, cinema, sci-fi, and fantasy. The internet and streaming has changed the landscape considerably, and not always in a good way, and I need a reminder of the good times and the best ways to connect with the things I enjoy.
Movie and sci-fi magazines, and their extensive overview of cinema past and present act as a great reminder there are so many wonderful films and TV shows to enjoy, we just need fans and good writers to point us in the right direction each month and get us energised and excited.
So, if you feel like you’ve lost touch with the films and shows you used to love, or you’re fed up of the constant clickbait nonsense on social media, maybe you need a print magazine in your life (or even a digital edition). At the moment, it’s not too late to pick one up or to subscribe and show the writers your support.
If we lose them, we lose out. Let’s try not to lose out.
Alex
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