27 Print Media Killers (SUPER GALLERY)

The print media industry is hurting, but as most magazines and newspapers struggle to survive, a select few are innovating to keep ahead.

Over the last few years, Trend Hunter Magazine, who has chosen to publish in an all digital format, has seen the closure of magazines like Business 2.0, expensive marketing campaigns like printing quadruple covers for a single magazine issue, and the move to offering entirely free issues by publications like Wired magazine.

The internet has become the predominant source of information for most people in the western world, making the content in newspapers and magazines stale and outdated. When September 11 happened, everyone knew long before the September 12 newspaper made it to their front door, thanks to broadcast media like TV and radio, and the large supplementation of citizen journalism on the web.

Another factor contributing to the fall of print is the unethical environmental havoc it wreaks due to the need to cut down trees.

Worse, advertisers have realized they get far more views on the internet, so many have abandoned the spaces they once occupied in magazines and newspapers all together.

How will print media publications continue to make money? Is there even a possibility of them surviving? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, here’s a look at some of the print media innovations and news items posted on Trend Hunter.

Print Media Endangered (Follow Up) - Business 2.0 Closes (VIDEO)

It was a sad morning for this Trend Hunter. Time Inc. reported that they would be closing Business 2.0, one of the most excellent magazines for breaking new technology and up-and-coming trends. The second-to-last… [More]

Death of Paper Magazines - Life Magazine Shuts Down

A number of print magazines have stopped printing in light of rising print costs and a shift to online mediums. However, one of the suprise announcements is that Time Inc. is shutting down Life magazine.… [More]

FHM US Bites the Dust - Americans Say no to Strategic Nudity?

One would often assume that most western world countries pretty much follow similar trends. Australia’s number one mens magazine is FHM- originally a popular UK magazine that really made its mark as the… [More]

Endangered Print Media - The End of the Newspaper? (Follow-Up)

Do people read the newspaper anymore? That is the question many newspaper publishers across America are asking themselves on an ever more frequent basis. According to a recent article published in PRWeek… [More]

Free Publications

Free Digital Newspapers - Earth Day Initiative Saves Trees

If you’re looking for a way to take part in Earth Day this year, but don’t have time to do participate in an urban cleanup, why not sign up for 600 free newspapers on PressDisplay? Switching to digital… [More]

Free Magazines 3 - V Magazine Goes Digital, FREE (GALLERY)

V Magazine, one of the biggest and most influential fashion magazines, embraces the future of media by going fully digital, for FREE. That’s right, all content of the magazine is now available to you… [More]

Freeconomics - Wired Gives Out Free Magazines

We’ve seen magazines get creative in their efforts to save their print editions. As the internet threatens print media, some publications have realized they must give up news stand revenue in order to… [More]

Rolling Stone Magazine Now Free - Entire Issue Available Online (GALLERY)

Rolling Stone Magazine is now completely free. In order to keep up with the popularity of the internet, print media publications are doing all they can in order to stay afloat. Rolling Stone announced… [More]

Ad Campaigns

German Magazine Marketing - Fairytale Campaign

Germany’s biggest publishing house, Gruner & Jahr, has launched a fantastic campaign in which promoters dressed in fairytale costumes invade the streets of some of the country’s major cities. The decline… [More]

Scent Marketing - Cake Scented Newspaper (GALLERY)

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times will be distributing the world’s yummiest smelling newspaper. In an effort to pick up the recent advertising slump in print media, the Times will be printing a full-page… [More]

You on a Magazine Cover - MagMyPic

Always dreamed of being on the cover of your magazine? Now you can be thanks to, MagMyPic, a fun new site that lets users upload their favourite photo to be featured on the front of several top magazines.… [More]

Trying new approaches

Politicians in Gossip Magazines - Publications Shift Their Focus

People love celebrity gossip magazines because it “humanizes” the stars to them. That now includes political candidates. “But not since John F. Kennedy posed for Life magazine during the 1960 campaign… [More]

Innovative Magazines To Compete With New Media - ‘Missbehave’ Has Attitude (GALLERY)

When is the last time you read and editor say, “Those guys can go f*ck themselves, because I’m the editor and they are not.”? Thats how Mary H. K. Choi, the editor of Missbehave magazine, responded when… [More]

American Media Embraces Nudism - V Magazine’s Naked-Model Spread (GALLERY)

While it is a non-issue and pretty common occurrence in European magazines, it’s very rare for mainstream American publications to show bare breasts or frontal nudity. However, that seems to be changing… [More]

Ethnic Cover Models - All-Black Italian Vogue Revealed (GALLERY)

In reaction to the lack of ethnic models on the catwalk, Vogue Italia will feature black models almost exclusively in the July issue.  For context, Vogue is often regarded as the most influential fashion… [More]

If Men Edited GLAMOUR - GQ Does Women’s Mag (VIDEO)

UK women’s magazine, GLAMOUR, had the editor of men’s magazine GQ contribute to the magazine’s September issue, giving him an entire category titled, “If Men Edited GLAMOUR.” Dylan Jones was given 16 pages… [More]

Multi-Covers

Magazine Cover Battles - Batman vs Joker on Empire (GALLERY)

The July issue of Empire magazine has a battle of good vs. evil between the heroic Batman and the villainous Joker. The dual covers were created to further build anticipation for The Dark Knight’s July… [More]

Dual Cover Duels - Carrie or Charlotte? for Marie Claire (GALLERY)

Sex and the City stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis will star in a double cover face-off on the upcoming issue of Marie Claire UK. At least that’s how the magazine is promoting the special issue,… [More]

Quadruple Magazine Covers II - reFRESH 50th Edition (GALLERY)

Multiple magazine covers are becoming an increasingly used marketing niche to sell more magazines by tempting readers with multiple options. However, in the case of the new issue of reFRESH magazine, it… [More]

Controversial Covers for Attention

Controversial Fashion Parodies - Vogue Cover Spoofed (GALLERY)

The cover of this month’s Vogue has gotten a lot of buzz, but just as the hype began to fade, a spoof has been created with none other than the much gossiped about Anna Wintour, the editor in chief of… [More]

Marketing to Bloggers Over Traditional Journalists

Free Trips for Bloggers - International Invites (GALLERY)

Companies, tour operators and event makers are realizing how powerful the blogosphere has become. Despite what many people still think, it’s not just bored mommy bloggers ranting and raving about their… [More]

GM Invites Trend Hunter To Detroit - Embracing The Power Of Blogs (VIDEO)

This past week I had the luxury of reviewing GM’s 2008 line-up of in Detroit. Can you believe they handed me the keys to a 2008 Corvette, then let me loose on their testing track? The company is more than… [More]

Inviting Bloggers to Boost Exposure - Sony Foam City (VIDEO)

We’ve seen a number of bigger names embrace the power of the blogosphere, from General Motors to Chanel. Now Sony is testing the influential powers of the blogging world with the release of Sony Foam… [More]

Designers Embrace Blogs - Oscar de la Renta joins Chanel, Gucci

Last year, Chanel invited a group of fashion bloggers on an all-expenses paid trip to Paris, Gucci flew them to the launch of the Manhattan flagship from places like London and Japan, and now Oscar de… [More]

Bloggers Go Behind-The-Seams - Chanel Viral Marketing (VIDEO)

Coco Chanel may have been the first person to launch a viral marketing campaign when she debuted the infamous Chanel No. 5 fragrance. The company is still creating a buzz today. Staying true to her pioneering… [More]

Books: Digital & Free Books

Interactive Digital Fiction - Penguin’s We Tell Stories

Story telling is being taken to a whole new level of modern with a digital fiction project from Penguin! The new form of story telling will be found on We Tell Stories over six weeks and will involve six… [More]

Free Textbooks - Sponsored Ads Help Students (VIDEO)

One of the hardest parts about being a student is the cost of education. Textbooks alone cost hundreds of dollars, adding up to thousands throughout their schooling. So how about eliminating that cost… [More]