The Death of Print?

Out with the old, in with the new is how the saying goes. With the recent demise of GFW magazine, some people are speculating on what this means for print media. With the unstoppable reach of the internet these days, some wonder why anybody would even bother with a magazine subscription. Their argument is that all the breaking news can be covered as it happens by online publications. By the time the magazines hit store shelves, a lot of what is included is relatively old news. This is particularly frightening for aspiring video game journalists that want to write for magazines. It's not a good feeling to have when current trends tell you your dream will be snuffed out because it's no longer marketable. Well, I say fear not. GFW may have gone online, but there are reasons for this other than magazines are not worth the paper they're printed on anymore. There may be hope for us yet.
GFW magazine, or Games For Windows, was a publication that in essence, has been around for well over twenty years. It covered PC gaming and really hit some strides since its inception. However, that streak obviously came to an end. Why is this? Are we so wired into the interweb that we can't be bothered with physical media anymore? Maybe. But maybe GFW Magazine went under because of the PC as a gaming platform. In the past, the PC was the place to go for the best graphics and online play. Consoles now have come so far, that many games rival their PC counterparts. GFW's fate is the result of a market that can't find a reason to upgrade to a PC worth thousands of dollars just to play Crisis. Next gen, or current gen (for some who hate the first term) consoles are cheaper, just as reliable (unless you see red rings), and much more portable than high end PC's. Those consoles are what make the news headlines at Christmas. Video game magazines barely touch on PC gaming anymore because the same technology has been adapted to more convenient platforms. I think this is the main culprit for GFW's death. It's not prints problem, it's the content it covers.
All in all, magazines are not on their way out. Think of it like newspapers. It's timeless media. As the times change, print media will have to revolve around the current trends to remain a viable source of information. And there is nothing like picking up a magazine, kicking your feet up, and reading it all the way through. You can't really do that on a PC. Besides, have you ever tried to read a whole book online? It's not very fun. So for all of you who want to get a job in magazine journalism, I say stand tall. Don't take the mags behind the barn and shoot it just yet. You've still got work to do.