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Thursday, 05 November 2009 13:35 Written by Aaronique Powell

The Publishing Industry Lives
The Publishing industry as we know it is changing before our eyes.  The days of magazines and newspapers, in their traditional sense, are rapidly coming to an end. 

On October 5th, Condé Nast Publications, one of the leaders in the magazine publishing industry shut down Gourmet, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, and Cookie (a parenting magazine) due to declining revenue and subsequent loss of profits.

In another blow to the industry, On October 20th, The New York Times announced their plan to eliminate 100 newsroom jobs (8% of their total staff). While some would flag these incidences as yet another reminder of our poor economic climate, the implications are greater for the industry that serves as an outlet for so many seeking to be published.  It is nearly impossible to note this as a glaring indicator that the industry is changing.

Although some would like to mark this shift-- this break down of the traditional system, as the death of the industry, others would mark it as a rebirth.  The break down of the traditional structure has provided room for growth, and a resurgence of independent publishing across all genres.  More and more readers turn to the internet for news updates, and to blogs and other online sources for lifestyle content that was once housed solely on the shelves of news stands and bookstores.  Sites like mediabistro.com, provide writers seeking to be published with seminars and tutorials on how to capitalize on this historical shift. With talent, content, and marketing, the opportunities for success are plentiful.

Yes, we mourn the death of some of the staples of American journalism, but it is important to celebrate the birth of giants to come.  The passing of these few will create a space for budding entrepreneurs who no longer have to navigate the sea of red tape commonly associated with the publishing conglomerates.


Source: huffingtonpost.com, nytimes.com