A look at the world of magazine media - Issue #5
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the dog days of summer are just around the corner. The “Dog Days” are supposed to be from July 3, to August 11 and be a time of great heat and humidity. But here on the western side of Lake Michigan, it feels like we’ve been there for since early June.
What’s new this week? Let’s take a look...
#1. In which old fools are apparently fooled less than young fools:
The Young Fall for Scams More Than Seniors Do. Time for a Warning. - The New York Times — www.nytimes.com Stop it with the ageism and delusions of invincibility. Young adults often don’t recognize the bad checks coming at them, or fake job offers, either.
OK, so color me shocked. The NY Times and BBB report that the younger generation isn’t falling for Nigerian prince scams or rescuing the grandson from from a lost wallet. They’re being taken in online shopping scams.
So, don’t click the link. Go to a trusted website or app. Did I really have to say that? Apparently so.
#2.Guess what? Another celeb is partnering with a major magazine publishing house and launching a new magazine.
Drew Barrymore is launching her own magazine — nypost.com Bauer Media -- the German publisher that sold its stable of pop culture and teen magazines three years ago -- is jumping back into celebrity rags in a new venture with Drew Barrymore.
While out last week, I found a premiere copy of Drew live at a Target check out. I clicked a pic, as I will do, but it was terrible and I need to go out and get a live copy. In any event, a google search for “Premiere issue Drew Magazine” revealed the cover.
But Google also revealed several other Drew Barrymore covers. Sadly from long gone and long missed magazines. Check out Drew on the premiere issue of “Jane” Magazine:
#3. Live! From the retail apocalypse. It's slowing?
Here’s something that while not surprising, is still remarkable. According to Retail Dive, store closures are down 5.7% to “only” 4,626 store locations closing. Even more remarkable, store openings are up (at this point in time) 41.8% to 4,311.
Check out the story for info on who is opening the most stores:
Report: Store closures decline for the first time in 2021 | Retail Dive — www.retaildive.com Retail industry news, voices and jobs. Optimized for your mobile phone.
4. Blood on the newsroom floor. Dollars in the board members pockets...
This one was painful to see. Dozens of Chicago Tribune reporters and columnists have taken a buyout offer from new hedge fund owner, Alden Global Capital.
On a personal note, over the years we’ve gone from 7 day a home delivery paper readers to almost all digital with only the Sunday paper delivered. The Chicago Tribune is not even a ghost of what it once was. The loss of these columnists and reports makes me wonder, in spite of the pleas of those who are leaving, to give up on the paper.
A list of Chicago Tribune staff buyouts - Robert Feder — www.robertfeder.com Here is a list of the 40 Chicago Tribune editorial employees who left under the June buyout offer of owner Alden Global Capital, based on information from
#5. Does your streaming app suck? It probably does.
Speaking of the Chicago Tribune, entertainment writer Nina Metz makes an excellent point: “Streaming is great - unless you want to rewind. Or skip to a different episode. Or the app crashes altogether.”
She is spot on in this article. Much of it covers the vagaries of trying to use HBO Max which we also have and which is, in fact, generally terrible. In fact, our experience across the board with a wide variety of streaming apps is mostly terrible.
And don’t get me started on the cable providers.
Streaming is great — unless you want to rewind. Or skip to a different episode. Or the app crashes altogether. User interfaces are terrible across the board. — www.chicagotribune.com It's counterintuitive when companies like HBO Max and others are forever trying to prevent churn.
#6. Magazines on Instagram. Yes!
What to see some interesting magazine stores on instagram? Check these out:
Magazine Brighton: https://www.instagram.com/magazinebrighton/
Ideas on Paper: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBu12k2A6Os/
Bye Bye Neighbor: https://www.instagram.com/bye_bye_neighbor/ <-They’re mostly digital but have very cool pop up stores all over Brooklyn!
Magalleria: https://www.instagram.com/magalleriabath/
Magazine Cafe: https://www.instagram.com/magazinecafe/
Casa Magazines: https://www.instagram.com/casamagazinesnyc/
Here's hoping that you have a very good week!
Circ Pros (@newsstandpromos) | Twitter The latest Tweets from Circ Pros (@newsstandpromos). Marketing and circulation consultant for magazine publishers specializing in circulation management, retail distribution and audience development. Chicago, IL
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From the Foredeck of the Titanic – Because I am not interested in going down with the ship. — newsstandpros.wordpress.com Because I am not interested in going down with the ship.