Here's the thing - I frigging love Anthology Magazine. Not only for its scandalously brave foray into recession-jaded print media at a time when iPad-toting young'uns are quizzically asking "what's a magazine?". But for its commitment to merging the traditional format with online mediums in a digestible fashion. The consummate quirky interior lover's go-to, prior to Anthology's launch in 2010 the brains behind its operation released a drool-worthy stop motion (STOP MOTION!) trailer, announcing their unwavering dedication to ink on paper. I think if you want a pretty goshdarn good example of what it looks like for a publication to embrace the digital era without losing its printy integrity, come hither! While its enthusiastic audience await each quarterly issue, they intersperse regular vimeo/blog/social media updates in the mix to keep us all hooked. And they do it reeeally well. The drawback? Unfortunately for those of us not residing in the continental US, Anthology, as I have discovered, is a rather expensive habit. At an airfreighted NZD$31 ish apiece, I feel like this could be like my New Yorker obsession saga all over again, yet even less justifiable. (And yes, I realise this quandary would seemingly add weight to The Case For Digital Subscriptions, but then THERE'D BE NO PAPER involved, would there? Why does no one understand my plight?)
On the other end of the publishing spectrum, at a friend's recommendation for an insight into the progress of online magazines, I cannot get past blatantly girly, yet ultimately addictive, Matchbook. It's monthly, it's interactive, and you can click through relevant links instantly. It provides an interesting example of what the future of digital glossies could look like, and despite my stubborn, bordering-luddite insistence on bound paper, I'm nevertheless excited for further online incarnations if this one's anything to go by. As we have all conceded, iPads have irreversibly affected the way we consume magazines, and Matchbook's user-friendly, convenient, highly bookmarking-conducive tablet experience makes the future seem brighter, albeit a little less page-flickingly tangible.
Anthology; Matchbook; I like you a lot. And I still say there's room in the print-o-sphere for the both of you.
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