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 Replies: 22 / Views: 1,475 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1613 Posts |
Last week I received this months addition of the Numismatist which I finally found the time to read it. As an ANA member of many years, and receiving the monthly issues during that time, I've noticed a few changes. First, they are getting much thinner, as if short on articles and missing a select group of U.S. coinage series listing the current Greysheet values once found on the last few pages. This got me thinking of how most newspapers went. Smaller in dimension, much fewer pages and now no longer relevant. Is this an indication as to where magazines are headed? Are they only read by us old folk? Just like albums digital ain't the same thing. ANA member - PAN Member - BCCS Member There are no problems only solutions - the late, great John Lennon
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4587 Posts |
Most of the pages were adverts. People aren't advertising the same way.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
I am always a fan of reading materials I can hold and reference even when the power is out. I know all my kids look at me funny when I buy a physical book vs download to the kindle.
Edited by scopru
10/30/2025 9:00 pm
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Moderator
Australia
16804 Posts |
Most magazines today offer subscribers a choice of physical, virtual, or both. Virtual is almost always significantly cheaper, so there's fewer and fewer printed copes being made, even if the total circulation of the magazine is increasing.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
Publishers are also heavily incentivized towards digital. They sell ads and especially subscriber information and interaction with the website. You can't get that from print.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Quote:
Most of the pages were adverts. People aren't advertising the same way. I agree. That was my first thought. Which begs the question, how much longer can they last without that revenue?  Quote:
Most magazines today offer subscribers a choice of physical, virtual, or both. Virtual is almost always significantly cheaper, so there's fewer and fewer printed copes being made, even if the total circulation of the magazine is increasing. And there is my answer. Digital advertising requires almost no effort. No large sales teams trying to sell ad space. |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
I have also noticed all my medical/etc. waiting rooms no longer have them. I cannot remember the last time I saw them there, probably before the pandemic. I assume they were a good vector for spreading germs. I no longer read any physical magazines, but I do miss them. I used to live close to a newsstand and I preferred to get my regular coin and computer magazines there. Mostly because I liked the proprietors, but it was also next to a bakery I liked. Oh, I miss that metabolism, too.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
COVID 19 pretty much wiped out magazines in waiting rooms. Many doctor's offices now offer a QR code to read some free magazines on your mobile device.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
999 Posts |
Interesting observation. I just did a sample of the Numismatist: Nov. 2025 issue - 80 pages; Nov 2020 issue - 96 pages; Nov 2015 issue - 104 pages. I'm an ANA life member, so I get the hard copies in the the mail. I enjoy not always having to look at a screen to read. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7933 Posts |
I, too, prefer to read paper.
But as pointed out by others, the publishing model is increasingly moving away from paper.
I suppose there are environmental and other benefits benefits to that.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
I will admit, reading paper is better on my eyes than a screen. I have yet to give up real books for Kindle et al.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6448 Posts |
I am happy to read online articles, but I cannot (yet) abide a Kindle as a substitute for books.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
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I am happy to read online articles, but I cannot (yet) abide a Kindle as a substitute for books. Yup! You get it it.  |
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Valued Member
United States
216 Posts |
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I've noticed a few changes. First, they are getting much thinner, as if short on articles and missing a select group of U.S. coinage series listing the current Greysheet values once found on the last few pages. I believe the A NA cancelled their contract/agreement/JV with CDN. The latter's a business that's always been financially-oriented. Quote:
This got me thinking of how most newspapers went. Smaller in dimension, much fewer pages and now no longer relevant. Is this an indication as to where magazines are headed? Are they only read by us old folk? Yes. I don't think the vast majority of people under 40 read anything; rather, they consume electronic media. It's partly changing times & technology, and partly (okay, almost entirely) revenue-seeking. Producing physical things costs money, and that eats into margins & net income. It's more profitable to sell electronic content, and significantly more profitable to sell recurring subscriptions to electronic content. It's a strange shift, but I've found that second-hand books are cheaper than they've ever been since the printing press was invented. (But if you want an annual print subscription to the WSJ or FT, be prepared to pay.) Edited by samoth
10/31/2025 7:24 pm
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Moderator
United States
94586 Posts |
I don't kindle and I STILL buy first edition books and novels to read - although it is getting harder to that these days. BUT I TRY! |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
375 Posts |
I like reading the printed word. My monthly coin mag is never more than arms reach away from my favourite chair and I subscribe rather than just buying it from the newsagent cos they never stock many so I had to get in there quick at the start of the month. It's 96 pages and has been that size for ages. Mind you, there's LOTS of advertising. It suffered during Covid but seems to have recovered - like most of us!
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Replies: 22 / Views: 1,475 |
Posted 10/30/2025 7:38 pm
