Magazine publishing isn’t what it used to be. In the last 25 years, a number of long-standing and popular magazines ceased print production, including Teen magazine (1954-2009), U.S. News and World Report (1948-2010), and Field and Stream (1895-2015). Some of these magazines have shuttered completely, but many have shifted to existing solely in digital form. (Perhaps surprisingly, digital subscriptions didn’t surpass print subscriptions until 2023.)
But some of us still prefer to own a physical magazine, and it’s a highlight of the day to find the latest edition awaiting us in the mailbox. With a physical, printed magazine, we can read by the pool on a sunny day, circle important facts, write notes in the margins, and do the crossword puzzle in bed.
But we might be biased.
How many print magazine or periodical subscriptions does your household receive?
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Comments
I subscribe to 5.
Keep up your great work.
I love looking through magazines several times. Then, I start reading articles.
Friends have always wondered how much reading I do because I am always trying to give away magazines. When I saw your question in the Nov-Dec magazine. I decide to count them. From Smithsonian, Nat Geographic,Time,Readers Digest, Sports Illustrated and Sat Evening Post and many more I am totally shocked as I counted a total of 19 Wow.
I’m currently subscribed to 2 tried and true magazines, The Post and Collectible Automobile, both bimonthlies. At one time I also subscribed to Motor Trend and Car & Driver but dropped both years ago. The same boring trucks, EV’s, crossovers, endless SUV’s, etc., year after year. If I see one in the store, I can’t even be bothered to pick it up and look through it at all.
The weekly U.S. News and World Report I subscribed to through 2007, but soon after it became a monthly concentrating/alternating on America’s Best Hospitals and America’s Best Colleges. So no there also. One magazine I don’t care for that’s sent to me every few weeks with subscription offerings of $1, and even 75 cents per copy.
Why it’s none other than People! $6.99 at the newsstand, that’s $7.70 with tax. I’ve also noticed the once robust ad-filled weekly is consistently down to a mere 60 pages. The former cash cow may need to transition to online only sooner than later, ditching the economically unsustainable print version. They’ll likely keep the softcover books until they too (at $16 + tax) aren’t profitable either.