The Fading Print

Why is print fading away and digital distribution growing? Pat Law of Blankanvas believes that is simply a lack of value as Law states in

With technology enabling online publications to push content out faster than a FA artist can adjust his kerning with a print layout, and at a ridiculous fraction of the cost, it is inherent that offline publications start thinking of increasing their value proposition before they lose their readers completely.

[. . .] I think it is safe to say that unlike print-based magazines, there is hardly any romance with online publications. That said, how many print-based magazines out that are worthy of paying for the content anymore?

Instead of whining about the crap going about in the online publications, people from the offline publications need to wake up and sort themselves out. It’s not that we don’t love you. It’s just that we don’t see value in you anymore.

Most publications need to move to a digital distribution model offering print versions only to their print dedicated enthusiasts. Despite initial resistance to this I see many magazines moving to an almost completely digital distribution model by the end of 2010. I think that the lead in this will be local news papers, which may surprise some, but with their limited budget and decrease in subscribers to their print publications they will be forced to move online to decrease costs and increase readership.

Which publications do you see moving to primarily digital distribution?