Sony NEX-6, Sigma 19mm f/2.8
Flipping through a magazine this
morning made me think; Was there a point in time when magazines had the
financial security, integrity and backbone to be able to dictate how
and who advertised in their magazine? I am thinking of two particular
aspects here. One is the miserable "advertorials" magazines like
Outside run. Shouldn't magazines be clearly delineating content and
advertising instead of blurring the lines?
Currently content is more dictated by the advertisers than the
magazine. Companies who advertise in the magazine expect content
related to their product to get run. Ever wonder why certain pieces of
gear get reviewed? It's more likely that the producer advertises
in the magazine than it's actually revolutionary gear. Ever notice how
content just so happens to have a relationship to advertisers? Big
North Face ad and the image section has an image of a North Face
athlete. Coincidence? Not at all.
It's a strange dynamic to say the least. Being an idealist I'd like to
imagine that at some time in the past magazines would choose the best
content
they could get their hands on, regardless of what products were related
to it, and because they were so good advertisers were attracted. Maybe
I'm just dreaming.
