Magazines Try Many Different Internet Approaches
By: Sandy Berger Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2002-07-02 17:01:21
Magazines Try Many Different Internet Approaches
By Sandy Berger
The Internet has welcomed the magazine world with open arms. Almost every print publication has an online version or entry point of some kind. Yet each magazine seems to offer differing amounts of information in different formats. The magazine publishing industry is testing the Internet waters with a wide variety of approaches.
The method taken by a publication can vary from having only an ordering page online to posting the entire print magazine on the Web. Some magazines share special selections from the printed edition. Others only preview future articles and attractions. Some make their online version really unique by presenting information that is completely different from that offered in the print version. Other magazines restrict information; a non-subscriber cannot access articles, which are reserved for print subscribers.
Because no standard approach has developed, online publications continue to feel their way trying to find out what business plan works for them. Consumers rejoice! This exploratory phase of online magazine evolution is offering plenty of great free stuff. Many of the magazines and much of the information that readers previously paid for is now available for free. Yes, readers of all ages can benefit. All they have to do is a little research to find out what is available, what is free, and what is fee based.
In an effort to reduce that endless flow of printed magazines to my mailbox and shorten the stack of magazines piled on my coffee table, I took a look at several of my favorite magazines to see how their online editions differ. I was truly amazed at the variety of online publications.
Consumer Reports
The Consumer Reports Web site offers complimentary articles, or free highlights as they call them, which are written specifically for their Web site. These special features include information on everything from housecleaning strategies to chain saws. Free information is available including details about manufacturers and helpful selection hints. Yet this Web site is stingy with their free information. Only Consumer Reports subscribers are given access to any of the popular Consumer Reports ratings. Articles from the print issues are available online only to subscribers.
PC World
The approach taken by PC World is much more generous. To see the entire print publication online, all you have to do is click the Magazine tab. This online publication is a real bonanza for great free information and extras. As a bonus, readers can access 4,000 software program downloads. Each day PC World posts approximately one dozen new stories pertaining to technology, free to online visitors. Often the site will highlight special features written exclusively for the online version.
Some things like the Top 10 and Top 100 charts, which PC World is known for, look much better in their print version, but all of their print information plus many extras are available online.... a plethora of free information.
Discover Magazine
Another magazine that has its entire magazine content online is Discover Magazine, one of my favorite scientific journals.
Online articles at the Discover Magazine Web site are grouped so you can use the table of contents to check out the current issue or archived issues. You can also search for articles and select articles by featured topics. Thanks to Discover Magazine's easy-to-follow indexing, you can peruse the magazine's entire database based on your interest, from archaeology to technology. Another exciting find for free information.
TIME
One of America's all time favorites, TIME, has developed an impressive presence on the Internet. At TIME.com , readers will find a list of the current cover stories as well as copies of articles in the current edition. The full content of each weekly issue is posted on the Sunday after its publication and is fully accessible and searchable. You can read the past two week's content for free but will need to purchase access for any archive articles older than two weeks. The current cost is $2.50 for a single archive article, $4.95 for a twenty-four hour pass, and $9.95 for an archive pass that is good for one month. If you are presently a TIME magazine subscriber, you can read the past fifty-two weeks for free and even receive discounted pricing on articles older than fifty-two weeks. If you are TIMEly in accessing this magazine, you can get a lot of current content for free.
PC Magazine
Yes, I admit it. I'm a technophobe, so I'm going to tell you about yet another technology magazine, PC Magazine. Like PC World, this magazine gives you plenty of free information. You must scroll down the page and to find the Current Issue listed on the left menu bar. Right under that is a link to Previous Issues. Click on either of these and you will find that all the information from the print version is available for free.
PC Magazine has taken their online version one step further. They recently instituted an exciting new digital format. Once downloaded, the digital magazine looks just like the print magazine. Just flip through the pages instead of playing around with the Back and Forward icons. The digital version has expanded search capabilities and provides instant interaction with advertisers. See a product you like? Just click on the ad and you'll be at the manufacturer's Web site where you can get more information. This digital version is not free. PC Magazine offers a subscription to the print version only, the digital version only, or a combination of the two for a reduced rate. While not a freebie, this new format is so cool, that it may just catch on. With a fast Internet connection and a flat panel monitor (easier on the eyes), it has many advantages over the print version.
List of Online Magazines
Why not check out your favorite magazines to see if there is an online version (I bet there is) and find out what information is offered via the Internet? Try typing in the name of the magazine in your browser address line. There is a good chance you might find it easily. If you need more help, use this convenient site, Magazines A to Z, that offers an alphabetical list of over 1,300 online periodicals.
By using your computer and the online edition of your favorite magazine, you can keep up with the world's happenings, the fashion world, or a special interest. You might even find that you can save some money on magazine subscriptions and make some room on your coffee table.
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