Reader's Digest Is Bankrupt as Iconic Magazine Falters

9 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
  • |
Reader’s Digest Is Bankrupt as Iconic Magazine Falters

I can't say I didn't see this coming...
  • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
    Years ago we used to buy that or get a subscription, but we stopped buying it a long time ago. It went from being a very thick magazine to a rather thin one and I'd bet a lot of other people got disgusted with it, too, the thin magazine wasn't cheap, either. I'm sure the Internet had a lot to do with it, but obviously the company failed to keep up with what its customers were doing instead of buying print magazines.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7756533].message }}
    • Originally Posted by AprilCT View Post

      Years ago we used to buy that or get a subscription, but we stopped buying it a long time ago. It went from being a very thick magazine to a rather thin one and I'd bet a lot of other people got disgusted with it, too, the thin magazine wasn't cheap, either. I'm sure the Internet had a lot to do with it, but obviously the company failed to keep up with what its customers were doing instead of buying print magazines.
      I have been reading this and getting a subscription for Christmas ever since I was a little kid from relatives - (subscription since 18, it's one of those Grammy presents you can't refuse ) it always seemed to be a little slice of 'Americana' to me...but you are right - most if not all print mags now rely so heavily on ads they all look like Vogue (just with different ads)

      These days, as always...I just read it for the jokes, life in these United States, etc...the anecdotes.at the end of an article..
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7756562].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    The last time I looked at a Readers Digest, All in the Family was still creating new episodes.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7756589].message }}
    • Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      The last time I looked at a Readers Digest, All in the Family was still creating new episodes.
      It still gets good ratings...except now it's from "Nick at Night" and "TV Land" :p
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7756602].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I haven't seen a copy for years but long ago I used to enjoy Reader's Digest because they covered such a wide range of interesting subjects.
        Signature
        Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
        ***
        Please do not 'release balloons' for celebrations. The balloons and trailing ribbons entangle birds and kill wildlife and livestock that think the balloons are food.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7757071].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    When I was 13 or so, my family moved to a small town in Oregon; we lived at the local airport. Half the house was the airport FBO office, the other half we lived in. My brother and I got rooms in the attic, where in a secret compartment - actually, it was just storage behind a wall panel, but wth - I discovered a treasure I still have to this day: 100+ issues of The Reader's Digest (yes, 'The' was part of the name then) dating back to the late 1930s, through the early 60s.

    It is still a treat to go back through those and read the articles of the times - World War II, Korea, the very real and very scary Cold War, commentary on racial, social and economic issues. It's like a time machine without the DeLorean.
    Signature

    The 2nd Amendment, 1789 - The Original Homeland Security.

    Gun control means never having to say, "I missed you."

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7757415].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by SteveJohnson View Post

      I discovered a treasure I still have to this day: 100+ issues of The Reader's Digest (yes, 'The' was part of the name then) dating back to the late 1930s, through the early 60s.
      Hang on to them and bequeath them to your grandchildren. Could be worth a shiny penny or two for them. If not, they'll have something good to read and an insight into what life was like back then.
      Signature
      Why do garden gnomes smell so bad?
      So that blind people can hate them as well.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7757609].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author John Rogers
    I was a ravenous reader as a kid and devoured Reader's Digest when I wasn't able to get to the library. The internet is killing much of the print periodical business. My daughter has been delivering newspapers in the wee hours of the morning for a number of years, and the newspaper industry is dieing. She says most of her subscribers now are elderly people and coupon clippers.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7758623].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MrFlippy
    The only time I read RD was when I was in hospital a while back. Also when my father was in hospital. And the final medical tie-in, there's a whole heap of them in my Doctors waiting room. Is there some sort of medical conspiracy going on here?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7794724].message }}

Trending Topics