The Significant of Paper

As magazines evolve with today’s media trends, the necessity for using paper in the future tends to dwindle. When you ask someone what they think what will happen to paper in the future you frequently get the same response “paper will no longer be in existence because digital technology will overtake.” So, how significant is the paper for the publication industry? Can we live without paper if we continue to live in a digital technology world? Today you have books, magazines, and documents all available in digital media. On the other hand, you have some industries that are anti-digital and are still using paper. Clearly paper has been a significant invention and has been a great contribution for publishing industry. And moving on to digital and leaving paper behind will have a great impact on the way we advertise, how we profit and of course, our content.

When you look through the pages on a print magazine you observe many advertisements. Some you scratch and sniff, some have di-cuts as part of their advertisement, and others you lift to see underneath. These previous examples are the many wonderful flexible things how you are able to control and use paper. In comparison, you have SPIN magazine that has uploaded their magazine online, where you could link to your advertisement’s websites and start shopping. But is that a better experience than print advertisements? Of course both have their disadvantages and advantages.

Economically, digital is cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Today print production prices are increasing and not everyone uses recyclable paper. After all, the world surely cannot afford to keep loosing trees at the rate it’s going.

Reading content on paper is different from reading content on digital. One example could be the length of the content; you have more freedom to extend your content on paper than what you do on digital. Another example is the type of content; you feel more obligated to use content that is easy to the eye on screen than when you are reading on paper.

These previous examples are few of the disadvantages and advantages of how paper is significant. Whether, you would like to believe it or not paper does make a difference. So, are we ready to let paper die out?

Magazines' Attempt at Going "Green"

“The Green Issue”. Many major consumer magazine publications have published one. The one issue a season that is supposedly wholly dedicated to saving the environment and living with a “green” consciousness. According to Frank Locantore, director of the Magazine Paper Project for Co-Op America, only 100 published magazines are currently printed on recycled paper. In all reality, just how “green” are these magazines?

As I was flipping through the March 2008 “Green Issue” of Outside Magazine, I noticed the vast array of advertisements featuring oversized Chevy trucks and cheap airfare to exotic destinations. While the articles were based on everything from the climate crisis to stackable electrical cars, the coinciding ads were sending a mixed message to the readers’ eye. Tree Hugger, a company dedicated to making sustainability appeal to the mainstream market, found that Outside is printed on only 10% recycled paper.

Vanity Fair, a leading consumer fashion magazine has now published three “Green Issues” and have been widely criticized for merely “talking green”. Their green edition contained absolutely no recycled paper as previously planned before the issue was printed. While it may be argued that producing recycled paper still uses a lot of energy and contributes to deforestation, as long print magazine exists, more environmentally friendly paper is a small stepping stone forward rather than backward.

As pointed out in these special edition issues, the pressures for everyone to take environmental responsibility has become extremely evident these days, but hardly do the magazine publication houses actually practice what they preach. I would personally hate to see print magazine vanish completely, but in this age of advanced technology and the world wide web, digital magazines are on the verge of completely changing the face of the magazine industry. Several leading magazines, Spin, Relix, and California Home & Design, have already taken the leap on digital issues and have been hugely successful. While encouraging sustainability through mass media is greatly appreciated, seeing major publishers follow their own advice may give them more credibility on the issue of the climate crisis.

The Fashion Magazine and its Place in Society

Woman’s magazines have taken on a life of their own. No longer are magazines something to read in quiet, for they are now proudly centrally placed for all to see. The fashion magazine adorns the home of young woman, and the topics included are eagerly discussed amongst friends. Magazines are becoming the leisure domain for today’s young as a means of exploring new ideas and attitudes. However, is a fashion magazine worthy of this lofty position in today’s society and its classification as a valuable tool in disseminating knowledge? This essay will outline the arguments regarding the validity in society, of fashion and female magazines such as Marie Claire, Vogue and Woman’s Weekly.

Positive aspects of magazines

Magazines are a woman’s best friend, with no interruptions; a reader can choose topics to suit individual interests and provide answers to life’s demanding questions. Such an attitude reflects women’s thoughts towards this form of mass media, thus promoting one of the most popular means of leisure activities. In today’s society, woman would much prefer to indulge in their favorite magazine and read up on the latest gossip, the best way to diet and the hot shopping spots than read a newspaper or a novel. It can be argued that fashion magazines have become one of the fastest growing forms of mass media.

It can be seen that fashion magazines have become integral in today’s dissemination of information. This is demonstrated by the growth of magazine publications. The various magazine types such as cultural, fitness, gardening, leisure health, fashion and life style can be observed in the numerous rows displayed in news agency however there are more than two rows devoted to woman’s fashion magazines. The diversity of one genre thus has the potential to create an imbalanced view on reality.

The potential to create imbalance is reflected in woman who feel their favorite magazine has the ability to reach them in emotional, social and business areas of life, thus creating the belief magazines are helping them to have a better view on life. This belief that magazines can reach inwards and be apart of a person’s decision making may have more sinister effects. Thus it needs to be explored how much power the mass media extends into society and if this power creates negativity.

Negative impacts of magazines

Magazines as acknowledged are a popular form of communication and by being popular, the issue to be considered revolves around the question does this form of dissemination negatively impacts upon its readers. It can be argued that many women by accepting their weekly magazine is serving them with all the answers to life’s problems, they are in fact ignoring various aspects of life thus creating an in balance in decision making.

It must be stated that fashion magazines do present images to the reader such subjects that they associate with: such as international clothing, latest make up methods, issues that absorb their social and sexual life. However, what must be analyzed is the incongruity in the images and words sent out in magazines such as Cleo, Vogue and New Woman.

The negative imbalance inflicted upon magazine readers has arises from three generic configurations. Firstly, the substantial array of advertising which can take up to 60% of each edition has the potential to negatively affect the reader’s view of the real world. Secondly, the fashion magazine industry has created the belief that the images is the life all woman should have, and if you do not have this life style then you are not a suitable member of the female gender. Finally, the propensity of ultra thin models throughout all magazines publications has created a large percent of younger woman readers to develop negative feelings towards their own body size.

In conclusion, the fashion magazine has a role in today’s society. Further more it would seem strange to consider the removal of this form of communication thus it is unlikely to occur. However what is needed is a re think to create balance in future publications to ensure tomorrow’s readers have a more realistic perception of the society in which they live thus removing the negative impacts which are currently in place. Further more the fashion magazine of tomorrow must avoid continuing with a “fairy Tale” world and become a representation of reality.