Discussion

By David Dodd on Apr 16, 2010

So, let's see, Graphic Arts Monthly closing, Heidelberg not exhibiting at Graph Expo, and magazines to be mostly digital in less than ten years.

Do we need more evidence about how the printing industry is changing?

By Dr Joe Webb on Apr 16, 2010

I will always have a warm spot in my heart for GAM. In 1986, publisher Dick Vinocur let me use their list for the mail survey that was the basis of my dissertation. GAM published my first industry article, based on my dissertation, in its May 1988 issue. I later had a business relationship when I tried to start up a data base of digital color printing businesses, which they published for two years. There were many high hopes when the TrendWatch business was purchased by them for a combination of the Blue Book Data Base, GAM and its business relationship with Graphic Design USA, Packaging Digest, and other publications in that "family" to create a comprehensive industry information resource. Alas, it was not to be.

And as far as the Blue Book is concerned, that one hurts the most. Harrie Lewis (now 94!) taught so many things about research and the industry, and especially, about using data bases for industry analysis.

To have both of them disappear is to truly feel the extent of industry change. It is a disappointing day, for sure.

By Eric on Apr 17, 2010

It is a sad day indeed. I hate to see another trade publication fade away - I would have much rather seen it consolidate/merge with another -- most appropriately probably would have been American Printer.

It seems to be the trend, what with various large printing companies and trade associations that have merged (IPA/IDEAlliance)and those that should (PIA/NAPL), I only wonder who is next.

By Peter Haskett on Apr 17, 2010

It's sad to write about it in the past tense, but the problem wasn't GAM--the problem was the multi-title B2B publishing operation that GAM was part of and ultimately was smothered by. That business model hasn't worked for years, and if you doubt it, go to the Folio: web site (foliomag.com) and read the threads about Penton, Advanstar, and (in particular) Cygnus. Where B2B trade media for the graphic communications industry will come from in the future is anybody's guess. But don't look for longevity from most of the traditional B2B publishers, as their day is almost over.

By Dr Joe Webb on Apr 18, 2010

Peter -- to support your comment, all that has to be seen is the monthly tracking of ad pages in the B2B space by American Business Media. It's been difficult for years. The effort to develop non-advertising media among these publishers has been a very rocky road. Some have gone the trade show route, and that got hurt by travel budgets being cut over these past couple of years. The efforts to monetize through podcasts and other events has been tough because the older fixed cost structure that was built to support print publications still demanded support.

There will always be a need for B2B communications. The formulaic approach that proved so lucrative for B2B publications and their advertisers and their printers, for decades, is proving to be very hard to replace for some time ahead.

By Ken Lee on Apr 19, 2010

Print will not die as there are still many applications of Print in the commercial market and other communication channel. Only Print Magazine will be replaced by electronic that serves not only the readers but the advertisers better. I support the transition of the Graphic Arts Monthly to a digital format. The change is inevitable and we are just the witnesses only -- just as we saw hot-metal typesetting, letter press printing, photographic typesettings being elimiated in the market many years ago. There is no need (and in fact no time) for us to feel sad.

By Chris on Apr 19, 2010

There was a huge change over the past several years among the trade magazines. Printing Impressions is really the only one that I read and actually looked forward to. GAM and American Printer really lacked any substance and their editorial always read like an ad. It is sad what became of GAM but I can't say I will miss it.

By Claudia Kreiss on Apr 19, 2010

I'm sorry to see the publication close. I valued the service and wish everyone there the best of luck.

By Sara Young on Apr 19, 2010

Reply to Dr. Joe Webb from a B2B publisher in Canada. Yes, I agree that there will always be a need for B2B communications, in print and online. As is visibly evident in North America's printing industry- the time right now, is shake-out time. We see a visible change in the amount of printers who are retiring and closing down, companies being forced to close, and a larger number of M&A's being done. The landscape is changing for all, could be strengthening for the future. Therefore traditional advertisers are also re-evaluating their ad budgets. Perhaps the need for three major graphic arts publications, plus regional publications, servicing the industry, in reality does not exist today.

By Chuck on Apr 19, 2010

Clearly, the news source for the industry is whattheythink.com, and has been for sometime. And WTT continues to get better, and invest in exciting new content. I won't be missing GAM. I think I looked at their web site twice in the last few years, whereas the first thing I do every morning is go to Whattheythink and then to TechCrunch, then the rest of the news.

By Jean-Marie Hershey on Apr 19, 2010

The closure of Graphic Arts Monthly is an event to be mourned by the entire industry. GAM’s intelligent analysis, editorial integrity and revealing insights reflected values that are shared by both American Printer and Printing Impressions magazines, and ought to be shared by every one of our surviving publications, online and off. The fact that this is not universally the case makes GAM’s loss all the more unfortunate.

By Howie Fenton on Apr 19, 2010

I agree 100% its a sad day. When I was writing and editing a prepress magazine called Pre, I looked to GAM industry greats Earl Wilken and Roger Ynostroza as the gold standard for editorial and publishing excellence. That was the reason I was willing to start my blog on the GAM website.

For me personally the end of GAM is the end (temporarily) for my blog. This Saturday was the first time in or 988 days or 2 years, 8 months, 15 days that I didn’t sit down in front of my computer at 5 AM to think about what I should blog about.

But more importantly there are still two great publications that cover our industry: Printing Impressions (PI) and American Printer (AP). I have a great deal of respect for the staff at PI and AP and it will be interesting to see how the competition for ad dollars is redistributed as a result of GAM's closing - between these two traditional publications and Whatheythink. One thing is sure - we are living in interesting times.

By Chuck on Apr 20, 2010

These magazines are valueless and irrelevant. For a publication to be important, its readership must look forward to its arrival in anticipation, and then it must deliver on the promise with great editorial and in-depth coverage of its subject matter. Forgive me for being somewhat idealistic, but even a decent trade mag shoulddo this. These printing industry rags do not do justice. When was the last time you were looking forward to getting one of them? When PI or AP shows up, my reaction is more akin to, "Oh... surprise, they are still publishing this?"

By Chris on Apr 20, 2010

Chuck - I see your point on AP. It really is just editorial that massages the advertisers. PI, I think is still relevant to printers and I think the best news source in the industry. WTT is good but more for manufacturers and vendors compared to the actual printers. In PI, you read from a printers standpoint which gives a good read on the industry. Obviously the landscape is changing for all these trade mags.

By Rachael on Apr 20, 2010

I couldn't agree more, Peter.

By Megan Chichester on Apr 20, 2010

I am going to miss perusing the issues of GAM. Although I browse the net, I still prefer to flip through a magazine. There are times that I have gone back to my magazine stack so I could show the article to someone or re-read an article several months later that I had tagged for future reference. Contrary to those who believe printed industry journals are a thing of the past--they are a time piece we can physically refer to in the future. I hardly see anyone antique hunting for electronic print materials. . .it is awesome to have the printed reference in my own hands. We can be affected by what we see every day. All I have to do is look over my left shoulder at my book shelf. Good luck to those "others" when the power goes out.

By Charles on Apr 20, 2010

I am a huge advocate of WTT. The one and only complaint that I have is why don't they PRINT? Immediate answer is that Print does not provide added value. One idea!, could be to utilize their Premium content that charged for to formulate some type of niche publication for print to the audience interested. Sorry, didn't mean for this reply to be focused on WTT, but I have high-regard for WTT as I did for GAM and if your going to write about the industry, might as well support it with a printed publication.

By Dennis Beck on Apr 20, 2010

As we all know our industry is in a great deal of flux. Significant changes have and will continue to take place. Where we are going is the subject of much speculation and pontification. One thing is certain we will gain and lose things along the way. We must learn to adapt and embrace change-and do it quickly-or we will be passed on by. GAM did not adapt-and probably could not-and it is time to say good bye. A sad good bye but a good bye nevertheless. Hopefully, our other trade mags will take head of the passing of GAM and adapt their publications accordingly.

By John S. Favat, Jr. on Apr 21, 2010

While attending On Demand I learned of the demise of GAM and of GABB. Not being involved in print publishing for a few years, I was at first shocked to hear the news although we all knew it was coming for some time. And then I became reflective, then sad and finally thankful. Once the leading magazine in the industry, GAM was a formidable competitor for my Dad and me. With Ron Andriani and Dick Vinocur at the helm, Roger, Earl, Lisa, Bill and so many others provided the appropriate & necessary editorial for all of us to grow and prosper. Rather than be remorse with its passing, let’s celebrate its success. For so many years, GAM provided assistance for printers and manufacturers and I, personally, was a better publisher because of Ron and Dick. We, as an industry, are better (albeit smaller) because of the contributions made by all involved. So on this sad day I wish those involved “good luck” and to the rest of the industry, we have lost a significant resource that can never be replaced.

By Cathy (Stanulis) Austill on Apr 21, 2010

I echo John's sentiments. I too, cut my teeth in the printing industry in 1989 as Editorial Director of three trade publications published by the Innes family, which finally closed its doors in 2007. It's amazing so many publications have been able to sustain themselves. As new publications in the industry began targeting specific segments, and non-print venues grew in popularity, there were just not enough ad sales to support so many print and graphic communications vehicles. This is the new face of the communications industry. I am proud to have been a part of the history, and I am proud to be part of its future. Best wishes to all of my journalist friends - we had some great times in this business!

By Ian Mackenzie on Apr 21, 2010

This may not be simply (yet) another indication of the widespread contraction of our beloved industry. GAM was part of a HUGE multi-national, European-based company: Reed Elsevier. RBI (Reed Business Information), under which GAM "fell", was one of four divisions. The US subsidiary, RBI US, was a geographic region of one business unit of a $10B company.

In the US, RBI (the old Cahners Publishing)is based in Oak Brook, IL. in the old OAG (Official Airline Guide) building. I have been there many times over the past 3 years as the ex-President of RBI US is a good friend. (Our sons are on the same hockey team.) Heck, it was a morgue there in 2007. Yes, the publishing/magazine biz is under stress and, yes, the printing biz is also under stress. Combine these two issues with a lousy economic enviornment and one can easily see how GAM was a victim of basic big company "right sizing" to match current market conditions.

It is sad, however, that GAM is soon to be no longer as it was a wonderful source of info. Bill Esler is a terrific guy who loves this industry. I bet he will soon be back in the saddle and we will all be better for it.

By Adam Dewitz on Apr 21, 2010

Here's an interesting article from FOLIO: http://www.foliomag.com/2010/did-reed-ever-really-plan-sell-titles-it-closed" rel="nofollow">Did Reed Ever Really Plan to Sell the Titles it Closed? - Sources say shuttered titles were never actually brought to market.