Are Magazines Nearing The End Of Their Shelf Life?

March 3rd 2009, Lansons Communications, EC1M

· What Is The Future Of Magazines In A Web 2.0 World?

· Can Digital Magazines Pay Their Own Way?

· Speakers include Mike Soutar, ShortList, Ashley Norris, Shiny Media, Louise White, Incisive Media, Andrew Davies, Idiomag

After a lively ‘What happens to Radio’ event that drilled down to the relative strengths of broadcasting over narrowcasting, the third event in the series examining the future of traditional media in the digital age, sees NMK asks ‘What Happens To Magazines?’

If newspapers are having a hard time, then magazines – more expensive to fill, print and distribute – are really suffering. The need for innovation, new income streams and delivery of value has never been more urgent.

With readers now firmly engaged with the communication and interaction style of Web 2.0, current thinking would appear to be focused less on achieving higher print circulation and increasingly on serving readers with a mix of both print and interactive content that meets their needs.

So what do readers get from print magazines that they can’t get online, and what do they get digitally that can’t be replicated in print? And what makes an online magazine a ‘magazine’ rather than a collection of pages of content?

Can magazine publishers diversify their revenue streams to make digital publishing pay its own way? Does the consumer expectation of free online content ensure that the only way to make money is via ad-supported content or can new models be pioneered?

Are readers still attached to the beauty of ‘the object’ when it comes to magazines? Are blogs the magazines of the future? And what can be learned from the free-to-consumer model of Metro and other titles?

To answer these and many other questions NMK has assembled a panel featuring some of the prime innovators in the magazine market today including Louise White, Group Marketing Director at Incisive Media, publishers of over 100 different B2B magazines, newsletters and online content, Andrew Davies, co founder of Idiomag, an online magazine which can be personalised according to the tastes of the individual reader, Ashley Norris, Director at Shiny Media, former Guardian Journalist and founder of Tech Digest, and Mike Soutar, founder of ShortList, the market leader in the British men’s lifestyle sector.

What Happens to Magazines?

When: March 3rd, 2009 – 18:30 to 20:00

Location: Lansons Communications, 24a St John Street, London, EC1M 4AY

Price: £25.00

Panel:

· Louise White, Group Marketing Director, Incisive Media

· Andrew Davies, co-Founder, Idiomag

· Mike Soutar, Founder, ShortList, Director, Crash Test Media

· Ashley Norris, Director, Shiny Media

· More TBA

For more information, full panel bios or to book tickets go to www.nmk.co.uk

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About NMK

NMK is a learning and business information hub for companies and individuals working in UK digital media, launched by the University of Westminster.

NMK runs a website packed with articles, commentary and white papers and in turn produces a programme of topical and high-level events and courses. All events are offered at minimal cost to delegates to provide an accessible mix of knowledge and experience sharing combined with networking opportunities.

NMK actively encourages suggestions, feedback and requests from readers, delegates, companies and industry bodies – which helps shape its courses, events and online debate.

The University’s neutrality is a critical factor in the existence of a knowledge network that encourages adoption of best practice, new collaborations and evolution of creative ventures into professional success. NMK is a resource for the digital media industry.

www.nmk.co.uk