A better digital future

As newspapers and magazines panic at the sight of recession and their inability to come up with ways to make their cash-devouring websites make money, Monocle (Tyler Brûlé; issue 19) hits the nail on the head:

The problem with print … is that media groups were too quick to invest in magazine websites that weren’t backed by proper business plans; too hasty to trim production costs on their core print products (you downgrade a consumer’s favourite product and you expect them to pay more while you give them less?); and have been slow to realise that print products, in fact, need to be enhanced and reconfigured to compete with their digital siblings and same-sector competitors.

Couldn’t have said it better.

Monocle has also launched a radio programme on Monocle.com sponsored by Blackberry.

History of digital magazines