It seems like every time I turn around, there is another magazine that is in peril or on the brink of folding. As many of you know, the magazine industry in which I work is being hit incredibly hard in the current economic downturn due to cutbacks in advertising dollars. As a result, thousands of people have been laid off and the future of some magazines are unsure, which makes me wonder if the state of magazines as we know it could be on its last leg?
What are some of your favorite magazines? Do you find yourself reading blogs and online magazines more often than actual printed magazines? Share your thoughts!
Here are a few of my all-time favorite magazines past and present:
Honey Magazine
Essence magazine
Ebony magazine
People Stylewatch
Suede magazine
Page Six magazine
InStyle magazine
41 comments:
Great post. I believe I do more online reading now than I would have ever predicted in years past. However, there are some magazine that have maintained such a high standard of quality that I need to have each issue. Essence is my favorite magazine but there are other good ones out there too.
Thanks so much for this post! Even though I do read online magazines, for me they don't take the place of printed publications. I'm way more excited to see my new issue in the mail or at the store than checking a blog. And maybe that's because I'm in the field. There is so much work that goes into every single issue. It saddens me to think that eventually it really will be the end of an era.
this is such a timely post. i do find that i'm reading blogs and stuff more but i've been a magazine lover for as long as i can remember and nothing can beat the feel of an actual magazine in hand.
my faves are essence, in style, and maire claire. i read those religiously. i also read tons of shelter mags like domino, canadian house & home, style at home etc. and then if a cover looks good i just can't pass it up - so sometimes i read stuff glamour or, very occasionally, vanity fair.
My fave magazines Glamour, Suede, JANE and Vibe Vixen. I am reading more magazines online, like Clutch and Glamour's website. Since I want to be a writer and journalist for women's magazines, it kinda worries me that the magazine industry seems to be folding magazines at every moment (which would limit my future internships and jobs). Great post BGG!
I personally love reading blogs and somewhat left physical magaizines behind As soon as a maagazine hits the newsstand, it's already dated material. Online magazines and blogs have the upper hand in always being current. Sure I have my staples magaizines that I love like, Sophisticatd Black Hair, Vibe Vixen and Honey, but everything else I go to is online.
The only magazine that I am subscribed too is Allure b/c I'm a beauty editor but even that annoys me b/c I very rarely see Black women in their articles/ads. Ugh. I've never read online magazines but still LOVE the Ebony and Essence of the world. I can see how blogs are taking place of magazines...it's not something I've really given much thought to. Hmm....
I like Essence and Vibe Vixen (which I think folded, but I'm not sure). I don't really love Ebony, the writing style and visual layout seem so antiquated to me.
I do read WAY more online than I used to. I just can't find the time to sit down and read a magazine anymore. It's also a money thing. When the re-subscription notices come I just can't justify spending my money when there's so many other things I need or want.
@T - Yes, Vibe Vixen folded a couple years ago. :-(
i am just sad. SAD.
saddest about nylon.
I love magazines. some of my faves in the past were Honey, Vibe (was a subscriber from 94-03, and Suede also. Back in my teen days I had seventeen, teen and sassy. I used to even collect the barbie mags as a child. Now I still am one of the few that prefers a in my hand magazine, even though I enjoy some of the online mags too. I subscribe to Essence, Elle and Marie Claire now. Marie Claire is my favorite. I'm renewed through 2011 so I don't think I'll stop anytime soon! I also plan to renew my black enterprise and I pick up the occasional Lucky, Ebony or Vogue on the newsstands.
Essence, The Vibe and Time are my top favorites... But I love to read and will read any magazine within my reach if possible, lol.
I really liked Suede magazine! The layouts were amazing and totally original. I was sad to see it end.
I've been a long time reader of Essence, Vogue, Instyle, Baazar, Domino, Oprah, Elle, Marie Claire. I'm not a big online mag reader I guess I never tried.
i loved suede magazine! i thought it went under?
My first magazine love affair began when I was 6 years old. It was the first issue of Essence Magazine in 1970. Then it was Right On, JET, Ebony, Mademoiselle, Glamour, Seventeen, People, TV Guide, Heart and Soul, Ebony Man, GQ, Honey, Upscale, Real Simple, Suede, Latina, O, Town & Country, Yoga Journal, Yoga Fit, and MORE. Does it show that I am a magazine girl? I love them. I subscribe to so many... and I use them with my collages.
Clutch is my all-time favorite online magazine now..... Love it.
I just want to add that I hope that you guys view BGG as a viable source of beauty, fashion, celebs, etc. similar to an online magazine because that is definitely my intention! :-)
If I had to pick a favorite magazine it would be a toss up between Ebony and Essence of course. Typically, I don't buy magazines unless the cover is irresistable. As for online interests, my one and only is BGG! Seriously, are there others? I get what I need right here BGG so keep it coming!
Brown Girl Gumbo,
I love, love, love magazines! I have loved them since I was a teen. I collect them now. Mainly I collect magazines with Black women on the cover. My collection goes back (so far) to the mid 80's with all of those incredible Elle Black covers with Karen Alexander and others.
As a magazine lover I am disheartened that magazines aimed at Black women are in such peril. And the ones that remain are often not even Black owned; Essence is the perfect example of that. I have noticed such a negative change in Essence since it was sold to Time, Inc.
For me blogs are becoming a good substitute for magazines in terms of content. But there is nothing like going to my local news stand and browsing and buying magazines!
Great Post BGG! I love to read print mags, my all time favorites were Honey, YSB, Right On, and Suede! Now I read Hip Hop Weekly and Essence. A lot of the printed mags have gone on overkill with the advertisements, and no substance to the few stories they have. I hardly ever read a mag online, but when I do they seem to have more info online than in the actual magazine. Many of our media outlets are scaling down, radio and newspapers as well. We should appreciate it all now!
Only read BGG's blog and no online magazines. I like having the flexibility to read wherever and whenever I want! I currently subscribe to Vibe, Ebony, and Jet magazines.
I miss Jane. I was really suprised when they folded. I used to read the celeb rags, but in the age of the blog, I figure why spend that money for a sugar-coated version of something I could get for free?
I am a certified magazine junkie. I read them all and am so giddy when I visit Barnes & Noble every Thursday to pick up the latest issues. It's such a relaxing treat to have my cup of tea and read my thick stack of magazines. I read online occasionally, but nothing can replace printed publications.
i grew up "reading" magazines like hustler, black tail, and playboy. lmao!!!!
now i love reading time, ebony, jet, xxl (hip hop), and the source
i hope things turn around in the industry sooner than later.
I collect magazines so that makes me sad. My favorites are the filmmaking ones, the Travel 'zines, Essence, Paste, Newsweek and Entertainment Weekly. But tell me why I can't find Latina magazine anywhere in my area? It makes me so frustrated because I wanted to buy the one with Rosario Dawson on the cover. I guess I'll have to subscribe in order to get them.
SolShine7,
I am a magazine collector too! I happen to have the Oct. '08 Latina with Rosario on the cover. I have about ten Rosario covers including Giant, BlackBook, Angeleno and marie claire.
I bought most of these on ebay so you might want to try there for the Rosario Latina cover.
I love reading magazines online because of the accesibility and freeness but a hard copy of a real magazine is not something that can be replaced. My fave titles are too many to mention.
nice post!! i still read magazines. si , sportng news & ew.
Very sad indeed!!!
But I know new magazines will appear as soon as the market goes up.
Something to look forward.
Honey, Suede, Marie Claire, Sassy, Jane, Coloures, Trace, Blackbook, Colures,Black Hair, Black Beauty and Hair, Allure oh, and Lucky!
I forgot to add that I collect magazines too! I have wayyyyy too many and my husband begs me to trash them, but I just can't!
I did purge a few, but I can't get rid of the ones with great covers. :-(
The days of me simply grabbing a magazine and tossing it in my grocery cart are over. When I get home, I find a lot of 'em are duds with pretty covers.
I still buy Essence, More and Oprah. Always buy Jet every week.
I trust bloggers more. The product reviews are honest and up-to-the-minute. Also, the FOTD aren't retouched.
I mostly spend my time reading books, however I go online to catch up mostly with BGG! The most recent mags I picked up was Time and People with Obama, and I can't remember anything before that!!
Domino is my all time favorite mag. I read Page Six cover to cover every Sunday. It's the only mag I read cover to cover, that might be cause it's only a couple of pages long.
right now all the obama fam mag covers are my fave!!!!
what else do i LOVE about mags?? the perfume tester strips! ;)
It really broke my heart when they cancelled Suede Magazine. That was the hottest magazine out for the urban girl whether professional, student,etc. I so wish they would bring that magazine back.
Not only were me and my friend talking about Honey mag. this week, but that EXACT issue. The one where Mekhi Phiffer told the whole world he was a jerk! But totally--I do miss black magazines--there are not nearly enough--Essence is not enough--and a bunch of hair magazines are not enough.
I miss Suede magazine. Honestly that was the hotest fashion forward magazine. I loved the articles, the address cards for salons in different cities...just the whole concept.
I love all of these mags.
There is nothing like a print publication. Even though online is easier, I can't imagine a completely empty newsstand. It is a difficult time for the industry and I pray it turns around.
I agree with some of the posters that blogs are big. I find myself browsing magazine websites and I will go to look through the print magazine if there is something I really want to read or keep.
Other than that I will browse and read the magazine at the bookstore. Honestly if I can read it online for free, that $3 or $4 for the magazine can go somewhere else budget wise.
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