For many of us born before the digital age, magazines hold a special place in our hearts. They’re not just publications; they’re time capsules of nostalgia. Not that I don’t see magazines nowadays, but it is a reality now that magazine readers are declining fast.
So fast that within 10-15 years, we may see the closure of most magazines in print format.
You might be thinking, “What about e-magazines?” Sure, they exist, but can they convey the same feeling as print magazines? It’s like comparing a virtual hug to a real one.
I might probably convey the same story about newspapers but there are some substantial differences in the way I see newspapers and magazines. A newspaper is almost bound to follow a trend of the most important news to cover (and hence print).
A magazine has no set of rules for which story should be written. The Editor has way more freedom to decide what is most suitable. It is more niche and hence has more scope for creativity in magazines.
This freedom is what makes magazines so special – and potentially, so weird and wonderful. When I was in my teenage, a magazine helped to invoke my scientific interest.
From 2010 to 2016, I was an avid reader of a magazine named Science Reporter published by CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) in India and Readers Digest. All those creative science writings, puzzles, and stories shaped my curiosity in Science.
I believe the key thing to make a career successful is growing infectious curiosity about the domain of interest. Working hard is important but not enough. I have seen many people who work very hard but still do not achieve greater success. It is often the lack of genuine interest/curiosity in a subject that hinders people from reaching greater heights.
For most people, this interest does not come organically. It comes while growing up from parents, teachers, books, magazines, etc.
I genuinely feel that had I never read Science Reporter for an extended period, my scientific perspective would have been less developed or would have taken a longer time to develop.
But What explains the almost death of good magazines?
You might think it is only because of the rise of digital mediums. But then there are still people (like me) who still want to read good writing in the print format of good magazines.
The story of profit over professionalism prevails even here. Most publishing houses who have magazines want to maximize their profit. Profit is where people’s attention is. And people’s attention is on their digital screens scrolling reels, posts, photos, etc.
Many publishing houses are chasing clicks and views, prioritizing short-form content over the engaging long-form articles that niche audiences crave. On the other hand, magazines are also less willing to hire and pay good writers.
The results that when people want to read interesting long-form content these days, they are more likely to turn to personal blogs, Medium, or Substack than to buy a magazine.
Magazines like Science Reporter have survived (so far) because they have a different model than others. They create content with almost no cost. Anybody with a good knack for writing (and understanding of the subject they are willing to write about) can write in their magazine. They also have a set of academic writers (mostly people working in academic institutions and industries who are interested in scientific interest) who write regularly for them.
Since CSIR is a government-funded organization, people are willing to write content free of cost (at least in most cases). While this model works for government-funded organizations, it’s a tough act for private publishing houses to follow. After all, they need to generate profit to survive.
I remember one of my aunts used to say-
“The best way to induce curiosity and growth in a young child’s mind is to fill their room with interesting books and magazines”
While books are like marathon runners, demanding extended focus and endurance, good magazines are like sprinters – quick bursts of curiosity that anyone can enjoy in a matter of hours.
I still remember those days when every 5th day of the month, I used to feel a bridge of excitement for the new magazine edition I could get my hands on.
The next time you see a stall somewhere full of magazines, buy one of your interest. You never know how one good writing might inspire you for the course of your life. Plus, who knows? In a few decades, you might find yourself explaining to your kids or grandkids what a magazine is, as they become artifacts in museums around the world
