504 - Design for Screen - Digital Based Media

With the constant advancements of technology and the digital age, many print based medias have become transferrable to these more digital based platforms. With pro points supporting it such as reducing environmental impacts from the print process and easier and more efficient viewing you can see how the developments are starting to replace traditional techniques of life. I don't think print based media will ever completely be replaced, as there is nothing quite like having a finished bookbind with all the graphical elements considered, like foiling, stock, etc to flick through. But this will become more of a rarity, more of a collectors item in some branches of the industry. Whereas some things will always be more suited to being print based. I read through some current articles which address the matter of digital magazine subscriptions and their growth, and this inspires me with the incorporation of more interactive layouts and animations to better communicate a message and interact with audiences. 
This idea is portrayed perfectly by an animated cover for the digital copy for the MIT Tech Review Mag, which focuses in this issue on 'what you need to know before you get in a self-driving vehicle' - an article reflecting our futuristic world, with a 'futuristic, complex looking' take on a magazine cover. It really captures how some bright and attention-grabbing colours that can be expensive and more difficult to access through print, are easily available on-screen, the same layout principles can be applied but they can feature the interactiveness of an animated GIF. 

"2016: It's make or break time for digital magazine" - http://www.fipp.com/news/features/2016-its-make-or-break-time-for-digital-magazines

In digital edition terms - it really is a numbers game - yes, engagement and dwell time is a key factor in showing if a reader is enjoying a product - but publishers mainly want two things: subscription growth, and digital ad revenue growth. For this to happen, advertisers need more substantial numbers, and subscribers need to see the value in taking up digital, and this is the challenge. From my point of view - it has to come down to two main elements: effective marketing and - most importantly - is the product actually any good and worth the extra cost?

Effective marketing within a publisher needs an experienced team who are willing to take a risk, try new methods, capitalise on social media and know where to find the eyeballs - and also take full control of the creative over a prolonged period of activity.

We've finally seen the end of Apple Newsstand, so magazine apps can now sit on device screens instead of hidden in a folder - a positive - if your users actually work this out. Its a privilege to be on someone's home screen - and it means your app is probably being used!

Most magazine brands actually have far larger communities following them and taking an interest online, compared to whoever buys the print edition, and this is the value of social media and a strong online presence. We are now living in a digital world and this should be reflected in the ABC circulation reports.

Readers want simplicity, and quality. They want good stories, entertainment, access to all editorial content across a range of devices and channels. They want value, and speed of delivery. And they want consistency. You need to be accessible, easy to locate, easy to use and share, and easy to purchase - from a variety of places. Do they want to buy products on the page? There is a definite move towards article-based publishing - but there is still a whole mass of people who like their magazines curated, and placed in an order, and given a pacing they are familiar with. Why can't a magazine app do a myriad of things? Radio, Video, Social, Chat, Shoppable and Editorial content?

In 2016, we'll see magazine publishers adding news feeds to their apps, and giving the reader a reason to return on a daily if not twice-daily basis. We're up against Apple news, Facebook and Instagram, and instead of twelve publishing points throughout the year to market and promote, we're now potentially looking at hundreds per day. It makes sense to provide more value, and keep them coming back for more.

Knowing your reader is vitally important - so integrating the right analytics and listening to your audience is vital. And providing a bespoke experience in return for loyalty is a must-have feature. Tailor your product for various situations - and make your customer relationship a personal one. Watch for trends within your readers, stay nimble, and act fast when you see a change in habits and market forces.

"Reasons Why Digital Magazine Publishing is a Smart Move for Publishers" - http://www.mequoda.com/articles/digital-magazine-publishing/reasons-why-digital-magazine-publishing-is-a-smart-move-for-publishers/

The current growth in digital medium usage portrays the increasing value of digital magazine publishing..
In 2015, our Digital Magazine Market Study study showed that people read an average of 2.37 digital issues and an average of 2.91 print issues every month, which puts digital magazine consumption at 43% of print magazine consumption and climbing rapidly.

Going digital means that you’ll attract a larger audience and–in turn–engage a pool of that audience to become actual subscribers. Whether you fully convert to digital (or decide to use it in addition to printed publishing) you’ll optimise and profit from a new audience.

Ways to use these growing digital mediums..
Internet: Propagate your portal with free content, optimized for both search and social media. Use freemium downloads to build a free email subscriber list, and promote your digital magazine to these digitally savvy audiences later on once they’ve gotten to know you.

Tablet: Prepare a tablet publishing strategy that focuses on generating revenue through premium digital products, builds audience and brand recognition with free content, or a combination of the two. Retail partners in the tablet market (Apple, Kindle, Google, etc.) are a great way to find new audience members. Look into web magazines, not just magazine apps.

Mobile: Optimise your email content for mobile because more mobile users are checking their email on the go. As email is a viable medium for sales, this can help keep your customers around.



















Considering one of my already stated problems, aimed at the people who are unable to or may struggle to, because of location or whatever reason, have easy access to a local shop to get a newspaper everyday. So instead they have a digitally sent version of the paper. This idea is already in action with many news companies, one I've looked at online is The Guardian / Observer. There website displays this clear aim to shift over to the digital based realm, boosting the statistics discussed previously, with many offers and incentives to making the switch. Including 2 weeks free, then 50% off first 3 months, and also a £10 gift card plus the various features listed below..