Is Print Media Dead?

Just to prove I'm still around, here's a little assignment I had to do that some of you might relate to/agree with:

In the ever-evolving world of social media and web-based marketing, traditional print media has been fighting to stay afloat. Record numbers of newspapers have been going out of business and many magazines have been experiencing similar threats. While many marketing "experts" have jumped on the bandwagon of embracing new media and neglecting the old, the truth is that the two, electronic and print media, can have a successful symbiotic relationship.

Many consumers (myself being one) still find joy when a new issue of their favorite magazine shows up in the mail and leafing through it at their own leisure. At the same time, many also enjoy the convenience of searching the web for relevant content or simply checking something quickly. A good brand needs not choose one or the other, but should realize the benefits of utilizing both. Print media offers a unique content consumption experience that a cell phone or computer screen can’t, while the lightning-fast interactivity of the web allows for participation that would be impossible with a strictly print publication.

One brand that has embraced this idea is Transworld Snowboard Magazine/TWSnow.com. The seasonal monthly publication starts inspires the conversation with stunning full-page photographs, tear-out posters (which my own bedroom is practically wallpapered with) and all fascinating stories about the adventures of snowboarders across the globe. Stories are then referenced on the TWSnow.com website with accompanying message boards that allow readers to voice their opinions and interact with other readers. The magazine also drives web traffic by advertising photo albums and videos for the stories in the physical magazine, while the magazine offers in-depth articles of headlines featured on the site.

While both Transworld Snowboarding Magazine and TWSnow.com could easily survive on their own, together they create a unique experience for readers that ensures brand loyalty to both.