After worked in magazines for more than 20 years, I’ve got a soft spot for them. Particularly the weeklies. I don’t want them to go the way of the dinosaur and vinyl records. Sometimes a girl/middle-aged woman needs to flick paper, bugger the trees. So I’m doing my bit and buying ONE weekly magazine every Monday. My criteria for purchase is based purely on cover: the one that catches my eye and interest most.
This week’s winner is … OK
WHY: Because – deep breath – I didn’t actually watch the Oscars this year (don’t have a TV antenna, not sure I would even if I did). But I’m vaguely interested in what the stars wore and any gossip from the night. Even a week later. Life moves slowly in suburbia. And I’m a bit shallow. OK also promises me an OSCAR’S FIGHT NIGHT. I’m intrigued. I hope it means famous couples have been brawling, as it will make me feel better about bickering with Husband whenever we go out. Finally, the cover looks pretty. Did I mention I’m a bit shallow?
housegoeshome 
I honestly don’t remember the last time I bought a magazine. I had subs to a tonne of the buggers here, but lost interest due to, yes, the immediacy of the internet. They piled up and piled up, unread, and I just didn’t renew. But weeklies! Old news before they hit the ground. How are they going to work in the future? How does OK compete with thesuperficial.com, for example? I just don’t know.
Not everyone is as internet obsessed as you. Especially outside the metro areas of Australia. Well, that’s what I reckon. Weeklies need to evolve so they’re not about being “first” with stuff.
Yep, totally. I guess weeklies need to expound rather than present. I was thinking about this today, at the checkout at Safeway, when I scanned the mags. I’d seen ALL the images and the coverlines were old.
Still a massive number of people buying them. Can’t give up on that.
I love Madison. It is so gorgeous.
Don’t think I can afford to do monthly mags too 😦
Monthlies are as cheap as chips here, as you know. They essentially bribe you. Still, I don’t get the weekly sitch.
What is going to make me buy old news? (devil’s advocate)
I love mags. I like online gossip and pics of celebrities but it’s not the gossip itself I think I find interesting it’s talking about the gossip, the bad outfit, the good and usually it’s just me and my apple mac if i’m online. or with husband or doesn’t really care how skinny Demi Moore is. (not that i’m not thankful for that tip on thesuperficial.com, which i hadn’t heard of). mags are also handy in a cafe, sitting in a car waiting for a child’s activity, sitting on a plane. (on the other hand i despair of weeklies and all that they perpetuate but i’ll leave that for now). The one I always buy is Grazia (apparently I’m one of only about 10). As for monthlies, at last look you could fulfil a whole bunch of your new ‘fabulous and 40’ objectives for just the cover price of Madison (free tank top), Harpers (free lipstick) and another unremembered titile had an eyeshadow.
No future in buying your readers. And I agree, it’s not the gossip that’s most interesting. For me, it’s the story behind the gossip. What’s really going on. The games being played.
oh and a $50 Mimco voucher with Marie Claire. Sort of like buy petrol and we’ll throw in the car for free.