THE DESTINY OF PRINT MEDIA
Mirror Spectator
Editorial 2-28 Feb 2015
By Edmond Y. Azadian
When influential publications such as the Christian Science Monitor or
Newsweek decided to drop their print versions and survive in an online
format only, many people began writing the obituary of print media.
But when the New York Times released the global issue of its
200-plus-page weekly magazine (by “reimagining a magazine”) one is
reminded of Mark Twain’s famous quote, “the reports about my death
have been greatly exaggerated.”
In the February 22, 2015 issue of the “reimagined magazine,” we read:
“This magazine is 119 years old; nearly four million people read it
in print every weekend. It did not need to be dismantled, sawed into
pieces or drilled full of holes. Instead, we have set out to honor the
shape of the magazine as it has been, while creating something that
will, we hope, strike you as a version you have not read before …
ideas about the relationship between print and digital and animating
it all, a new spirit of inquiry that is subversive and sincere.”
We at the helm of Armenian publications have faced the dilemma of
going digital or continuing still with the print version of our
publications. When we approach potential donors to solicit funds,
we are often told that Armenian publications are still in the dark
ages and they have to be propelled into the digital era. Yet, when
publications like the Times still explore “new ideas about the
relationship between print and digital,” it means that Armenian
publications are not out of pace with the new technological
developments. Many weeklies or dailies have already stepped onto
a stage where they provide a kind of amphibious exposure to the
readership, both in print form and online. Technology has helped to
enhance the print media and will continue to do so for some time.
There is also an unmentioned truth about the Armenian publications. No
matter how much they try to appeal to the younger generation,
the majority of the readership is mostly older in age, and tend to
be those who have missed the digital fever. (Of course, like many
diasporan publications, we do have a website []
and a presence on social media.)
The definition mostly relates to diasporan publications. Two recent
examples were AIM and Yerevan magazines, which decided to be exceptions
to the pedestrian traditions of Armenian newspaper business, but did
not survive, for reasons that have yet to be fully analyzed.
The dizzying pace of technology has emancipated the printing business
from its dark ages, when 30 or 40 years ago, the Armenian publications
were being typeset letter by letter with lead typefaces.
Armenian newspapers are published for the public good. They have not
been created for profit. They are enterprises that exist for public
service. That is why they remain vulnerable and sometimes they suppress
their independence not to offend potential financial sources.
Publications in the US and Europe are mostly business ventures and
the moment they begin to operate at a loss, they discontinue their
existence. But there are some rare examples which pursue a specific
goal, like the Armenian publications and they persevere in adverse
conditions. Recently, Joe Nocera was writing a Times opinion piece
(“New Republic’s Rebellion,” New York Times, December 9, 2014): “I
asked Marty Peretz the other day whether his goal during the nearly
the four decades that he has owned the New Republic was ever to make a
profit. ‘Absolutely not,’ he bellowed.” Further down, Nocera continues,
“Strange as this may seem, this has been the ‘business model’ for
policy and political magazines. Harper’s Magazine is published by
Rick MacArthur, and its losses are covered by the J.
Roderick MacArthur Foundation. For years, Mort Zuckerman, the real
estate mogul, picked up the Atlantic losses.”
Coming to Armenian publications, the “business model” has consistently
been the same, with unsung heroes covering the losses day in and
day out.
The functions of Armenian publications include informing the public
on matters that concern Armenia and Armenian life; building bridges
between individuals and communities and above all, shaping public
opinion focusing on issues that impact Armenia’s future.
The digital era was introduced in Armenia by Azg daily, which along
modern equipment was able to recruit the best of the crop of the
journalists. The daily not only pioneered the new technology in
publication, but also Western standards of reporting and journalism.
Many journalists were also trained by Azg to take responsible positions
at other papers and television stations.
Today, many newspapers, sites, TV stations crowd the media space. The
well-funded ones are sponsored by foreign agencies, which serve little
news but much brainwashing. And indeed, why would foreign agencies
support newspapers, websites and TV channels if the latter would not
help push forward their agendas?
Some newspapers and websites are mostly dedicated to scandals, doing
a disservice to the news business.
Magazine publishers have caught up with the new technology. Magazines
and books uphold world-class standards. A young man in his early 30s,
Pavel Sargsyan, began publishing a youth-oriented magazine called Menk
Mer Massin, which has since broadened its scope to cover history and
culture. He also undertook a medical monthly, PharmaArmenia. Many
outstanding (and aspirational) magazines have sprung up competing
with each other in design, content and pizazz. The most popular ones
are Elle Style, De Facto, Ardin, Luxury, New Mag, among others.
Truly Armenia has been ushered into the splendor of the 21st century
publication art and business.
Contrasting the proliferation of new magazines with Soviet-era
publications, one can create a true caricature.
Print media, supported by new technology, seems to have a new lease
on life.
It is interesting and reassuring to read the London Times Literary
Supplement (January 30, 2015), whose back page editor JC writes,
“The editor of the TLS Freelance column tells us that guidelines are
issued to prospective contributors. They include: ‘no laments about
the death of reading.'” The chief executive of the American Society
of Magazine Editors, Sid Holt, stands a chance of making it into the
column. “Many believe magazines are dying,” he writes in the foreword
to Best American Magazine Writing 2014. “Magazines are not dying. Yes,
the business of magazines is changing as it has changed before … but
despite uncertain times, magazine journalism is thriving.”
Technology is a force and a force is neutral in and of itself. Only
human beings can convert it into a blessing or a curse. Technology
can land a probe on Mars or hack the emails of Sony and likewise,
nuclear power can illuminate an entire metropolis or annihilate it
such as Hiroshima.
It is hard to predict who can harness it properly and what direction
the runaway technology may take. Predictions may even misguide us, as
JC continues in his column: “The arrival of television sets in every
living room in the 1950s was predicted to kill off radio. Result? More
radio. In the 1970s, television was on the point of annihilating
newspapers. Result? Thicker newspapers. We were warned in the ’80s
that video spelled oblivion for big-screen movies. Outcome? The
extinction of video.”
After all, the zigzags in the development of technology when we hear
any prediction of the demise of print media we can always remember
Twain’s statement that “the reports of my death have been greatly
exaggerated.”