As MySpace Looks At Offering Magazines, Teen Magazines Ditch Paper For Online

from the perhaps-the-timing-isn't-so-good dept

Remember just a few days ago when there was all that buzz about the possibility of MySpace starting a paper magazine for their users? It definitely seemed like "old media" thinking. However, even those who are in the "old media" business of magazine publishing seem to think it's a bad idea to offer teens a magazine these days. Less than a decade ago, every publishing house was coming out with "teen" versions of their popular magazines. It worked well for a few years, but now many of them are shutting down their paper versions to focus just on websites. Both Elle Girl and Teen People have realized that teenagers don't really read paper magazines any more, preferring instead to get their teen culture news online. So, while MySpace hasn't officially made the call on their magazine plans, it seems like a little bit of quick market research in the publishing world would suggest that going the dead tree route isn't the best idea.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    Some guy, 29 Aug 2006 @ 11:43pm

    As if the internet isnt already clogged with enough useless junks.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    fsckr, 30 Aug 2006 @ 12:10am

    bad myspace!

    The boffins at myspace should realize that while it may make money in the short term due to its novelty, a myspace magazine will eventually fail because:
    1) its audience is used to a more dynamic medium
    2) there's no such thing as a 'typical' myspace user (as untrue as that might seem)

    Conversely, I consider myself a New York Times reader yet I've never (ever) bought a paper copy of their newspaper (maybe, I've fished one out of the recycling once). The same can be said of many people and I applaud what Teen People et al are doing.

    bad myspace! the world is going digital, and you should know better than to go analog, no matter how cool you think it may be.

    fsckr - fsckr.com

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    MySpaceIzGay, 30 Aug 2006 @ 1:54am

    MySpace Is A FAD!

    MySpace is a fad, my opinion is that its just a gay project from Rupert's global media stronghold that just worked.

    throw a bunch of shit against a wall eventually something will stick. but the shit allways -after it sticks eventually slides down the wall and on the ground.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      TriZz, 30 Aug 2006 @ 4:55am

      Re: MySpace Is A FAD!

      The myspace fad has stuck for over two years now...that's a fairly good fad in today's "online world".

      ...despite the shitty design of the site, it's the only place that give people full customization (I say that with a grain of salt). It allows people watching in still time, and it's worked.

      A magazine though? I'm not so worried about paper media as I am about the content. There's such a huge marget that there's no way they could concentrate the material to appeal to the masses.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 6:41am

      Re: MySpace Is A FAD!

      Ummm....Ruperts global media stronghold company didn't come up with the idea. They bought the company.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Reginae, 30 Aug 2006 @ 6:28am

    And what, may I ask, would grace the pages of this magazine? A bunch of cell-phone camera self-portraits and art1clez wR1tT3n lIkE tH1z?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    brad, 30 Aug 2006 @ 6:49am

    who are they fooling?

    Maybe they should concern themselves with making the damn site run before they start a magazine about how people get on computers.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Kane, 30 Aug 2006 @ 9:34am

    So...

    Will "Tom" come to my door to deliver the first issue?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 30 Aug 2006 @ 9:39am

    Its an extension of the paperless office paradigm. I was there:

    "We're going paperless!" my boss at the time yelped with glee. That was in 1995. Going a bit further on with the process various departments would cry out that they couldn't get anything done for other departments without a 1067-C form. 5, 6 years go by and the office wasn't paperless. Since then I have worked for smaller companies. The one I work for now in fact. Before I came on board employees came in whenever they wanted, so after hiring me I he asked me if I could install a timeclock software package he was looking at. Paperless (well, cardless).
    It doesn't happen when product/service producers declare "Now is the time!"
    It happens slowly, organically, when consumers get used to the idea and people realize it makes sense for them.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jessica "Mz Shorty P" Abraham, 13 Aug 2009 @ 7:11am

    Online Shopping Retailers are also Using MySpace

    Hey, was just adding to this blog post and letting those fashionistas on a budget know about BeverlyLane.com. Beverly Lane has some of the hottest fashions around for under $25!!! Many of these styles are worn by some of the hottest celebrities, such as Alicia Keys and Rihanna. Beverly Lane allows women to be sexy without appearing too provocative by embracing every woman's femininity. Beverly Lane reminds you that every girl is a Beverly Girl! Check out our latest releases at http://www.beverlylane.com

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.