Is Print Dead?
Updated: May 16, 2024
Image Credits: The Gentlewoman, Dazed, Polyester Zine
Thumbnail Design: Bethany Hutchison
As an individual who is looking to progress into the publications sector it is important to consider the viability of print media. Print media refers to newspapers, magazines and books. Artefacts which are, slowly but shortly, becoming increasingly more digitised. So, is print dead? This is a question which I aim to explore within this blog post.
According to an article by bigwave marketing print media remains one of the most effective marketing methods of the twenty-first century. Prior to the twenty-first century individuals were using print media in order to learn about the world and society. In fact, the first book dates back to around 868AD in China. This book is known as the ‘Diamond Sutra’ and was founded in the northwest of China in a holy Buddhist site. Since its discovery the ‘Diamond Sutra’ has become widely recognised as ‘one of the most important sacred works of the Buddhist faith’ (Unknown I, 2023).
In 1454 the first printing press was created by Johannes Gutenberg followed by the first weekly newspaper, ‘The Boston Evening Post’, in 1770. This was swiftly followed by the ‘Golden Age of Print’ in 1841. The ‘Golden Age of Print’ denotes the time period in which adverts first began to appear in print publications- a marketing tactic which was incredibly successful for businesses (Unknown II, Unknown).
Fashion magazines first originated in the 1600’s as evidenced by the publication ‘The Treasure Hidden Secrets’ and have remained into the twenty-first century. However, despite its longevity, fashion publications have undergone many changes. Whether this be the use of photography as opposed to illustration on Vogue’s front covers in 1932 or the first black model to grace the cover of the publication in 1974. It appears that publications are continuously developing. However, it may be argued that we are experiencing our most dramatic development yet- the transition from print media to digital media (Unknown III, 2023) (Unknown IV, Unknown) (Borrelli- Persson, 2024).
The first example of digital media can be evidenced between the late 1990s and the early 20th century where news websites, blogs and digital magazines first started to pave the way. These digital resources undoubtedly appealed to individuals; they were quick, and often easy to access, they had a global reach and they were constantly updating. From here E-Books and digital libraries started to emerge alongside mobile publishing. These factors have, in turn, altered the way media is consumed. However, for older Gen Z’s and Millennials these individuals have not necessarily been bought up during the time of digital media and they may therefore still remain loyal to print media (Unknown V, Unknown).
However, individuals born from 2005 onwards have only ever known the internet and are increasingly relying on digital media in order to source information. In a study conducted by BBC Education nearly half of young people aged 11-16 believe all the news they see on social media to be factual. Whilst, in some cases, news is in-fact reputable the rise of digital print/media also brings the rise of disreputable sources, clickbait and the ability to edit an article after it has been published (Suciu, 2022).
According to an article by Tommy Shek digital media does, in fact, have some advantages. Digital media not only allows for increased connectivity allowing us to connect with people worldwide but also grants us greater access to information. Shek argues that digital media can make content more engaging as through digital media we are able to utilise elements such as videos which are unable to be used in standard print media- subsequently allowing for ‘greater opportunities for creativity’ (Shek, 2022).
Despite these mixed opinions in regard to digital media it appears that this way of delivering information is nevertheless forming headways. So, how are fashion publications adapting to this change? In many instances fashion publications have now become both a publication and an online platform with publications such as Vogue offering both a print and digital publication alongside leading community based content on platforms such as instagram, Youtube and TikTok. Vogue has truly become a hybrid publication. The same can also be said for publications such as Dazed. However, other publications (such as W.ICONS and Polyester Zine) have completely removed themselves from the physical scene whereas publications (such as The Gentlewoman) remain firmly within it.
So, what is my opinion of the rise of digital media? This is a question which leaves me rather conflicted. As mentioned previously digital media is convenient and easily accessible. It is also incredibly beneficial for those who are disabled and/or visually impaired due to assistive technologies such as dictated text and audio described images. For publications such as Vogue who are increasingly moving towards the digital scene their work is always going to be deemed as reputable due to the publications long standing history within the industry however, the same cannot be said for smaller, start-up publications.
I personally believe that digital media also has its drawbacks in terms of geographic accessibility as some individuals do not necessarily have access to the internet. Print media is therefore incredibly vital for these individuals in order to ensure that they do not become shut off from the rest of the world. Physical publications also tend to be cheap and are therefore accessible in addition to being more appealing to the elderly. There is also a market for collecting magazines which cannot truly be replicated digitally. In addition, creative elements of a physical publication, such as tactile images, and paper stocks cannot be replicated in a digital format.
According to a statistic by Statista magazines are the third most used forms of print media as of March 2024 (21%) after books and daily newspapers (Bashir, 2024). It is therefore evident that print magazines are still desirable and, as of yet, are not dead. However, as the digital age continues to grow and develop I believe it is inevitable that print will come to an end. As long as publications exist somewhere this is not necessarily concerning to me. I acknowledge that as a world we are constantly shifting our way of life including the way we consume media. In order to prepare myself for this inevitable shift I will remain open to the notion of digital publications and research the differences between the two, subsequently allowing me to educate myself on future advancements and better my skill set for once I enter the industry!
Bibliography
Bashir, Umair (2024) ‘Print Media Usage In The UK as of March 2024’. Available at: https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997927/print-media-usage-in-the-uk (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Borrelli-Persson, Laird (2024) ‘Beverly Johnson Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Her History-Making Vogue Cover with a One-Woman Play’. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/article/beverly-johnson-one-woman-play-interview#:~:text=Remember%20that%20famous%20Blackglama%20advertising,the%20first%20Black%20model%20to (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Shek, Tommy (2022) ‘8 Major Advantages And Disadvantages of Digital Media’. Available at: https://tommyshek.com/8-major-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-digital-media/ (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Suciu, Peter (2022) ‘Not Exactly News- Younger People More Likely To Trust What They Read On Social Media’. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2022/06/28/not-exactly-news--younger-people-more-likely-to-trust-what-they-read-on-social-media/?sh=85bbd38677d8 (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Unknown I (2023) ‘Discover the Buddhist Diamond Sutra, the World’s Oldest Surviving Complete Printed Book (868 AD)’. Available at: https://www.openculture.com/2023/08/discover-the-buddhist-diamond-sutra-the-worlds-oldest-surviving-complete-printed-book-868-ad.html (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Unknown II (Unknown) ‘A Brief History of Print Media’. Available at: https://bigwave.co.uk/blog/a-brief-history-of-print-media/#:~:text=Early%20Print%20Media&text=The%20first%20book%20was%20printed,Boston%20Evening%20Post%2C%20in%20America. (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Unknown III (2023) ‘The History And Evolution Of Fashion Magazines’. Available at: https://glamobserver.com/the-history-of-fashion-magazines-how-they-operate-and-what-has-changed/ (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Unknown IV (Unknown) ‘Object Photo- Vogue’. Available at: https://www.moma.org/interactives/objectphoto/publications/788.html#:~:text=Horst%20joined%20the%20staff%20in,photographs%20that%20were%20less%20conventional. (Accessed: 15.05.24)
Unknown V (Unknown) ‘The Evolution of Digital Publishing: A Retrospective and Forward Look’. Available at: https://www.prenly.com/blog/the-evolution-of-digital-publishing-a-retrospective-and-forward#:~:text=The%20Digital%20Revolution%3A%20Birth%20of,update%20content%20in%20real%2Dtime. (Accessed: 15.05.24)
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