Editorial: I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie

I love to see fat magazines. It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. And when it’s this magazine, it also makes me feel secure. Looking around for comparisons, I see that recent issues of Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, and Smithsonian have been looking pretty healthy. A couple of others that Bob and I subscribe to are looking a little lean. But a recent issue of In Style—one of our publisher′s subscriptions—takes the prize, weighing in with more than 700 pages. Holy cats! It must be a collaboration between J.K. Rowling and George R.R. Martin. I’m not even sure how you would go about binding a 700-page magazine so that it would hold together long enough to be read. Maybe I can find out at PRINT 13.

In recent years, study after study has shown that people still want printed magazines. Even if they subscribe online, most want the print version as well. My own anecdotal evidence backs up that finding. I recently enjoyed attending the franchise conventions for Franchise Services Inc. and Minuteman, where I heard lots of positive feedback from readers. They also offered a bit of constructive criticism and a few suggestions for subjects they would like to see in QP. But the one thing that everyone agrees on is that they really like getting the printed magazine and they wish it was bigger.

Even people who take full advantage of our various offerings at MyPRINTResource.com still want the tactile satisfaction of being able to sit down with a magazine and turn the pages. In a world that is becoming ever more digital—and if you don't believe it, read John Giles′ prepress article on page 24—there is just something satisfying about a nice, thick printed publication.

So spend some time perusing this issue. Take it with you as you travel to PRINT 13 in Chicago so you can preview all the hot new technologies before you get there. You'll find a selection of them in the Showstoppers article that starts on page 32. Even if you can't get to the show, you can still follow all the news and announcements from the show by linking to the PRINT 13 Show Daily from MyPRINTResource.com.

As the mellow days of early autumn begin to emerge, sit back, relax...and read!

“A lot can be accomplished in an environment where people are taught to do their jobs according to policy, procedure, and expectations, then empowered to do those jobs with a minimum of oversight.” Dave Fellman