UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR MAGAZINES: FITCH

Here are some sobering words from Fitch Ratings for anyone involved in magazines, but they will come as no surprise to those in the industry.

Fitch remains skeptical about the ability of magazines to profitably make the digital transition. Fitch believes the larger players will seek to rationalize available print advertising inventory through consolidation and closing down titles. The remaining players will have scale through portfolios of top brands in demographics that are attractive to advertisers, but sustainable profitability remains uncertain as advertiser sentiment is likely to continue to shift away from print mediums.

And there you have it in black and white. Forget the readers, magazines must be attractive to advertisers, and advertisers that are shifting away from print all the time. These words are a summary of the U.S. industry but they apply no matter where in the world you are.