PRINT IS DEAD! That’s what they said. Reading from physical books has become a thing of the past. Everything is digital and electronic. 

According to Moneypop.com, print magazines such as O magazine, Seventeen, and Nylon will no longer be printed in 2020. After 30 years, Marie Claire UK decided to end their print publication to “better serve the changing needs of their audience.”

From books to magazines, everything is online and in the cloud. 

But there is something about holding a book in your hand. Think about that moment when you finally had your hands on your first cd from your favorite artist. Do you remember the first time you touched your first book? Can you recall the feeling you felt touching the pages and tracings your finger across every line?

There is nothing like the real thing. Yes, you can read online, but to have it in your hand, if you don’t have that experience, you won’t understand. 

I still have magazines from my teenage years stacked in my room when I wanted to be editor in chief of a fashion magazine. My love for magazines was birthed from the “Devils Wears Prada,” and every creative fiber that made me, me. 

With digital, there are so many distractions. But with the physical magazine, it’s just you and paper. 

I still read magazines because I want to touch it. I want to feel it. I want to see the images jump out at me. I want to see who is on the front cover of this month’s Vogue and Allure. I want to smell the “try me” perfumes and see what new ads are scattered around in this month’s edition. I want to feel the weight of the paper in my hand and look at it again and again. 

I still read magazines because the book inspires me. YouTuber Katie Steckly once said that you should think of your Instagram as a magazine. In a magazine, every page tells a story. Therefore the content, you put out on your social media (if you’re an influencer, starting a business, etc.) should tell a story. But the reason why this quote stood out to me was because Katie was right. Magazine’s tell stories. I use clips of magazines for inspiration boards. I am inspired by the imagery, clothing, photography, and the food I see. As someone who interned for a fashion magazine, there is behind the scenes work in getting that magazine from draft to print. After that internship, my respect grew for print publications. 

I still read magazines because I learn something new. A guy once told me that every time he travels, he purchases several magazines at the airport. He then reads articles from all of them to keep himself well versed in what is happening in other industries. While reading Good Housekeeping, I learned about various DIY projects for every season. I learned how to keep my herbs fresh and how to take better care of my skin. In Essence magazine, I learned about Naomi Campbell’s modeling career. There are so many nuggets in magazines that you might not find in a 3-minute video. You get to read at your pace and circle, draw, or cross out whatever you want because it’s yours. 

I still read magazines because my grammar improves. The more you read, the better writer you become. If you struggle with your writing or you’re not the strongest in grammar, reading magazines helps. From political to dog lover magazines, watch your writing improve the more you read. I would find words in magazines I never heard of before and incorporate them into my writing. By reading, I grow. 

I still read magazines, especially food magazines, because I love food recipes! At this moment, I am circling recipes right not in Eating Well that I plan to make in the coming days. I am inspired by the food I see, and it’s fantastic. I love to read about how you can take a tomato and puree, saute it, or bake it. I learn about different cultural foods and three-ingredient recipes for a Friday night. Food is a passion of mine, and anything to feed it, I welcome it. 

I still read magazines because you can’t erase print. Some of you may say, ” I do read magazines. I read online.” But throughout this entire piece, I’ve been referring to print magazines. Many people say its more comfortable to read on your phone because they’re on the go. But print is permanent. With digital, people can change whatever they want, and while it’s faster to make a retraction when there is an error, there is still a beauty in print. I know when I read, no one can take away these words. No one can eliminate the existence of this paper in a matter of seconds. It’s mine, and no one can take it.  

So I stand with print magazines. I stand with print newspapers. I stand with the printed word. 

I still read print magazines because I see the value in it all and hope you see it too. Pick up a magazine today and be honest, doesn’t it feel good?