PC Magazine Goes Fully Digital

By Alina Popescu on December 08th, 2008 in IT & Technology, News & Trends

This is the kind of news that makes all those predicting the end of print media go “Aha!”. Starting February 2009, we’ll have to say goodbye to the print version of PC Magazine. It will be changed into a digital format, with similar subscription options. I’m looking forward to see how advertising options will change, but even more curious to see how many of they readers switch from paper to downloadable format.

How did they announce it? Well, it’s all posted on their site, the CEO emailed their contacts and, just in case that email was lost among others, account managers also contacted their clients. From what my contact shared with me, before this move, a large part from the magazine’s income was generated by their digital branch. This leads me to believe the complete switch was a pretty smart move.

What do you think? Any predictions you’d like to share? Will other magazines follow the same pattern? Is this easier for a tech magazine? I’d love to read your thoughts.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Tags: journalism, magazine, media, news, online, print, trends

This post has 4 comments

Brad Shorr
December 9th, 2008

Alina, in a sort of related story, The Tribune, a major U.S. newspaper/media company, just filed Chapter 11 (bankruptcy). This is a big psychological development – The Chicago Tribune is one of our oldest and most revered newspapers. It’s another indication that print media is deeply troubled. It looks to me like PC Magazine is ahead of its time, but only slightly.

Brad Shorrs last blog post..Cellphone Users and Abusers Contest Roundup
Alina Popescu
December 9th, 2008

Hi Brad! I’ve seen quite a few articles on the Tribune and it is indeed sad. But this is the reality we live in. Given by the declared numbers of visitors and everything else surrounding PC Mag, they might just have a chance and do very well in the future.
Deb S.
December 9th, 2008

I think the move by PC Magazine is a very smart one. As for the Tribune Company, it’s unprecedented that a news giant like Tribune would file for bankruptcy. The corporation went private last year.

I have a lot of colleagues who work at newspapers, and I’ve been monitoring news of layoffs for months across the U.S. The scenario is very depressing.
Alina Popescu
December 9th, 2008

Deb, I also think it was the best thing to do. As for the Tribune, it’s sad indeed. I’ve read at least the last two owners had no idea of how to run a newspaper.