Magazine Decay

[FortKnox]

Magazines, much like television networks, usually start out pandering to one or a few interests: video games, movies, human-interest stories, the list goes on. Publishers like the brisk sales, and people in the demographic groups like the fact that they're getting a magazine for their interests.

But then along comes Magazine Decay.

Some exec at your magazine realizes that he could attract more people in your demographic by, say, adding some dirty humor to your video game magazine. Or adding celebrity gossip to your housekeeping magazine. After all, housewives like housekeeping, housewives like George Clooney, so why not combine them?

Much like Network Decay, the magazines will usually succeed regardless, but there will always be that contingent that misses the good ol' days.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph.../MagazineDecay

[Donald M.]

Um . . . okay.

[Lance]

Thanks for the link... and the quote from it.

No need to add anything to it...

[Lance]

And allow me...

From the forum rules:

* 11. Don't start a thread with just a link to an article. Add some commentary of your own. There's no set limit, just add something of substance besides just a link - three sentences is a good start. I will make an exception if it is just a "wacky" news story posted to amuse people, not to spark any discussion.

[Donald M.]

Apparently, FortKnox really wanted us to know about the concept of Magazine Decay, which is interesting.

Not the concept, the fact that he really wanted us to know about it.

I'm a bit confused honestly, but that's nothing new.

[K'Nort]

I'd say combining this with the post on TV/Film qualifies as spamming.

[Puma]

Originally Posted by K'Nort

I'd say combining this with the post on TV/Film qualifies as spamming.

weird, pointless spam but yeah, spam.

[K'Nort]

Originally Posted by Puma

weird, pointless spam but yeah, spam.

I don't know about pointless.

There has been a lot of similar spamming on the library industry blogs lately and the whole point is to drive up the website's placement in a Google search. Ie, the more people who click on the link, the higher they appear in a related search. Which then increases what they can charge for ads.

[Puma]

Originally Posted by K'Nort

I don't know about pointless.

There has been a lot of similar spamming on the library industry blogs lately and the whole point is to drive up the website's placement in a Google search. Ie, the more people who click on the link, the higher they appear in a related search. Which then increases what they can charge for ads.

ah, did not know that.

[K'Nort]

Originally Posted by Puma

ah, did not know that.

They've 'evolved' out out selling a product. Now it's just page views.


The library thing was a fake blog list of the top 100 library-related blogs. Well, they were real blogs. But just randomly cobbled together. From one of those fake online degree programs. A few big name sites posted it until the word got out. Library Journal wrote up a thing.

[Puma]

Originally Posted by K'Nort

They've 'evolved' out out selling a product. Now it's just page views.


The library thing was a fake blog list of the top 100 library-related blogs. Well, they were real blogs. But just randomly cobbled together. From one of those fake online degree programs. A few big name sites posted it until the word got out. Library Journal wrote up a thing.

I have a foot high stack of LJs I haven't had time to read.

It is weird though that someone with a history of actual thread participation would suddenly spam- account hijack perhaps?

[Phoenix_Force]

I'm not sure if this link/"article" (it's more of an editorial) is discussing the decline in content or the decline in magazines themselves, but here's my two cents:

Magazines will last longer than newspapers or periodicals in this age of digital gratification because of their pass-on value.

Meaning that if I read something in a magazine that I like, I'm more likely to pass it on to a friend or talk about its content with someone.

I'm also more likely to keep that magazine lying around the house for a few months.

As far as content goes, attempting to appeal to new sections of readerships by shifting content focus isn't necessarily a "decay" or decline of content, its called market penetration. Any respectable individual involved in marketing or advertising will tell you that its absolutely necessary to convert the "incremental customer (or reader in this case)" in order to keep your product afloat. Your base customer will always be there, but to make any sort of profit you have to appeal to those outside of your readership/market and bring them in with content that might appeal to them.

Lastly, what the hell is that article doing on the "TV Tropes and Idioms" site?

[Charles RB]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Force

Magazines will last longer than newspapers or periodicals in this age of digital gratification because of their pass-on value.

Magazines are also better for more in-depth stuff. Newspapers do long articles too, but I dunno how often people read them; if you get a mag, you want this stuff. How many people want to look at long, long articles on the Internet, spawner of that bloody "tl;dr" thing?

[Royal]

Shut Up FortKnox.

Be Champions.

[dupont2005]

Originally Posted by Charles RB

Magazines are also better for more in-depth stuff. Newspapers do long articles too, but I dunno how often people read them; if you get a mag, you want this stuff. How many people want to look at long, long articles on the Internet, spawner of that bloody "tl;dr" thing?

nice magazines are good for lobby's and waiting rooms. and coffee tables and bathrooms. i leave nice magazines out for company