Jane Magazine Folds: Who Cares?

In July, publishing giant Condé Nast announced it was folding Jane magazine after 10 years of production, for financial reasons. The final issue hit the racks last month, leaving a slew of 19-34 year old women who identified with its irreverent style devastated.

Borne out of Jane Pratt's Sassy magazine, which folded in 1994, Jane offered readers an edgy -- and at times sarcastic -- approach to a women's magazine, running articles such as Katy McColl's "Young, hot and divorced" and "If two white girls had been butchered, there would have been arrests that night."

Today, visitors to the Jane Web site, www.janemag.com, are redirected to its sister publication, Glamour, while Jane print subscribers were sent copies of either Glamour, Allure, or Lucky in an attempt to wean readers off their favorite read.

But a magazine as unique as Jane has a readership equally unique. So how do those readers feel when something they have become attached to is taken away? What fills the void? Are readers as fickle as the industry itself?

"I will miss it," said Lisa Tabet-Chavez, a former subscriber. "I liked that it was different from most of the mainstream fashion magazines. The jokes were more snarky, and the stories a bit edgier."

A reader for years, Jessica Wirth appreciated the "more interesting spins on the typical magazine topics" and the "sometimes socially or environmentally relevant exposés." But when asked if Jane was replaceable, Wirth's response was indifferent.

"It was nice while it lasted," she said. "I already subscribe to The Week, Entertainment Weekly and Ok!, so I think I'm set."

But those titles won't cut it for some former-Jane readers. Tabet-Chavez said a friend suggested Bust, which promises "an attitude that is fierce, funny, and proud to be female," while "BUSTing stereotypes about women since 1993." This month, the magazine's Web site urges visitors to "get your hands on our BUST!"

Another reader said she'll "honestly not" miss Jane, as it never really lived up to her expectations of "edgy and intelligent." Identified only as "Jen" in an anonymous email exchange, she suggested her ideal magazine doesn't yet exist.

"I will rip out the trashiest articles from Cosmo, blend it with the snarkier pieces from The Believer, and cut out pictures from Paper magazine to make my ultimate ideal rag," she said, before -- perhaps unwittingly -- exposing that very void left by Jane's demise.

"If you know of a magazine that's similar to Jane, let me know," she added.