Samir Husni, Mr Magazine, is the subject of an interview with Mark Glaser at PBS’ Mediashift. It’s interesting reading.
This will be music to newsagent’s ears since we crave to be the magazine specialists.
Samir Husni, Mr Magazine, is the subject of an interview with Mark Glaser at PBS’ Mediashift. It’s interesting reading.
This will be music to newsagent’s ears since we crave to be the magazine specialists.
Magazines have a great future, the problem is that they are having their margins squeezed, and the magazines of the future will be very different to the magazines of the past. There are a few publishers smart enough to realise this and are making the changes. The problem is Mark, that you will make it very hard for new magazines to launch with your belief that magazines need to be paying you more money to be born. Don’t ark up. I understand your position, but the industry you are trying to shape will very much stifle innovative publishers. Just my thoughts for what they are worth.
BTW – I own a magazine and I read your blog regularly. I see your points, but in some ways you want newsagents to be more like woolworths in their retailing attitude – (stop top titles only, charge rent etc). That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but be careful that you don’t lobby to become what you despise. It’s a fine line.
Carroboblin,
It’s a fine balance between being the magazine specialist and having a profitable small business. Once or two titles is okay but when you are supporting, say, 100+ at this end the cost becomes high.
I am not sure what th answer is – for all sides.
Mark
Looking at this in context with your push for a “magazine csar”, how and where would the line be drawn? 80 unprofitable magazines, 50 unprofitable magazines, 10, 5?
Ted,
First up I’d note that my push for a czar will go nowhere as I see no support from the associations representing newsagents.
If a czar did exist, however, we’d have to see what happens as they would operate in unchartered territory. I;d expect guidelines to be developed to support new titles, especially Australian titles. I’d also expect to see at least the bottom 10% of titles newsagents current receive to disappear from supply. This would be an excellent start and add several million dollars direct to the bottom line.
mark
Ted
How many unprofitable magazines should newsagents stock? ZERO. Newsagents are in business to make a profit from what they sell. This includes magazines.
C Stephens, CEO and magazineophile