Magnifying the Magazine

On a report from Folio Magazine Online, titled "Folio: Show Keynote Roundup: Meredith Corp., Time Inc. Executives Weigh-In on State of the Industry," Meredith Corporation’s Editorial Director Mike Lafavore weighed in, admitting that, while he cannot properly predict the future of the magazine industry, he still believes the reader is in charge.

Stilll, Lafavore was willing to admit the danger that the Internet poses to the industry:

"On average, consumers spend about two and a half hours a day online,” he said, “and 34 minutes a day reading magazines. We’re not in the printing words on paper business anymore, we’re in the information business.”

None of this should come as a surprise. It tends to be common knowledge that Americans are going online more than, well... not. I do like his phrashing regarding the transition from the magazine world out of the "printing words on paper business." I just wonder what specific reactions the magazine world will take. If I were to guess, I would say readers will see a lot more content that is featured partially in the magazine's print edition and online. Other than that? Let's hope that they can figure out a way to remove the cardboard subscription teasers that fall out of the pages in droves. Just a thought.