Newsweek Changes its Image, But can it Change the Future of Magazines?

Newsweek is joining a list of other publications that are trying to reinvent themselves as it undergoes a major design and image change that includes a look that is similar to The Economist magazine. Many publications are making similar efforts, whether they will be successful in remaining economically viable is doubtful.

I love print publications. Any time I discuss the subject of the decline of magazines or newspapers, I always feel compelled to throw that in. I'm not exactly sure why I do it. Maybe it is to explain that I don't have an agenda against print publications, but I think it is to point out that I find its demise as sad as anyone else (with the exception of those who make a living from such).

I'm now largely old fashioned, I own a Blackberry, while my most of my friends are "clicking along" with their IPhones and GPhones. Yet my old Blackberry (which I am up grading in a few months) is more than adequate to find all the information I need on what is going on in the news and more opinion columns than I will ever use. Furthermore, the content I find is usually up to the minute. Weekly magazines, like Newsweek, are typically outdated before the ink even dries. I find it very funny that publications like this have a date from a week out on its cover. I know, it isn't saying that it covers what is going to happen (it covers how long it is suppose to be on the stands), but the whole thing seems ridiculous.

The New York Times recently wrote about the changes and noted that "a major change in its identity, with a new design, a much smaller and, it hopes, more affluent readership, and some shifts in content." In my opinion, it will be in this latter area if Newsweek makes a difference.

The Times also reports “There’s a phrase in the culture, ‘we need to take note of,’ ‘we need to weigh in on,’ ” said Newsweek’s editor, Jon Meacham. “That’s going away. If we don’t have something original to say, we won’t. The drill of chasing the week’s news to add a couple of hard-fought new details is not sustainable.”' I like this. because we are so deluged with the exact same headlines and the exact same stories on a daily basis. Something has got to give. "Giving" us a unique perspective, something not being offered by other news publications, would be refreshing. I'm delighted to read about the commitment, but will be more exciting if they can translate that into a reality. Talk is cheap and there is plenty of that online, in print, on TV, etc.

Part of changing its editorial approach should mean a serious look at philosophy. Currently, Newsweek has a reputation of being among the most "radical" among mainstream news publications. Inviting writers from a different perspective certainly couldn't hurt.

It is funny, because as Newsweek visually strives to look like the Economist, it is also trying to be more like it in content. The Economist has long been one of the most current, creative, and serious contributors to original content. I actually think that, in spite of the fact it has struggled like other magazines, that it will remain relevant. I am not so confident about the future of Newsweek.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business, the longest running show on AM 650 (M-F at 11 am) in Houston, Texas and on AOL Radio. Eric Bolling of Fox News and Fox Business says that Price’s Blog “is very influential and moves the blogosphere.” Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal calls Price the “best business talk show host in the country.” Find out why and visit his blog at www.BizPlusBlog.com and his show site at www.PriceofBusiness.com. You can also find Price on Strategy Room at FoxNews.com.

Are Vanity Numbers in Trouble?

Back in the good old days people typically only had to remember 7 numbers in order to complete a call. Those numbers began with a word emphasizing the first two letters found correlated to numbers on the keypad (mine began as "LIncoln", which was "54"). With the rapid growth in the population and the changes in telecommunications, virtually every city now has to use ten digits. Still, the smart business could make it easy for potential customers to find them through the popular vanity numbers.

An apartment complex might have a number like (333) 444-RENT, with that word at the end making it easier to remember. Recently I was driving along in my car and I heard an ad for an upcoming concert in town and I wanted more information. I pulled out my phone and began to dial away and the last five digits was a name. Unfortunately for me, and those who use Blackberrys and other more modern phones (I use the T-Mobile Dash), I couldn't find the numbers (since the keypad conforms to a keyboard, I would have to "guess", which wasn't worth the effort in my opinion). In a recent interview with Richard Sonnier, our Houston Business Show expert in IT, it was pointed out that roughly 10 percent of all phones fall into this category. This means about 10 percent of cell phone users will not be able to easily navigate using vanity numbers. This number will only grow.

So what will replace vanity numbers? Well, these new phones virtually always have web access, so the web sites will continue to grow in importance and prominence. For those interested in calls, there will be a move towards finding numbers that are easy to remember (e.g., no more than 2 or 3 unique numbers per phone number).

Being able to change and flexibility is important in our world of business, as we see vanity numbers are finding themselves, like so many other things in our world today, a victim of the Internet.

Some of the Odd Side Benefits of a Dash or Blackberry

I mentioned earlier in this blog that I recently purchased T-Mobile's version of a Blackberry called the Dash. I also sounded like a kid in the candy store due to the purchase. Well the rave reviews continue, though for very odd reasons. Here are a few new reasons why I love my Dash:

* My office computer actually feels fast after waiting for the Windows on my Dash. I haven't experienced that feeling in a long time.

* The Dash screen is so small it feels like I'm looking at a movie screen when I am in front of the monitor at my office (wow, look at the detail!).

* I really appreciate the ability to open multiple windows on my office computer, which is a dream on my Dash.

I won't even discuss the obvious differences in the keyboards (advocates of evolution, watch carefully the thumbs of future generations).

In spite of these odd compliments, I still love the Dash and am excited about my ability to keep in touch in a way I was never able to do so before. But it was also nice to be able to appreciate my old stand by in a way I hadn't in a long time.

Entering the 21st Century

It feels as though I have finally entered the 21st century. I purchased a truly modern cell phone. I thought about buying a Blackberry, but never really thought I would need it. It seemed like over kill, but I purchased the T-Mobile Dash, which has most of the same bells and whistles, but at a lower price than the Blackberry.

It has it all -- web access, multi-media, easy to use email, etc. It is almost like a mini-computer (not to mention a top of the line cell phone, video player, etc.). Like any new technology -- cell phones, DVDs, computers, etc. -- you eventually wondered how you got by without such for all those years. That feeling came within about 30 minutes of getting my hands on a Dash. In fact, I felt stupid waiting so long to buy a phone like it (and I'm now looking at even better equipped phones, but please don't tell my wife).

One of my biggest interests are the major technological and other trends that are changing the economy and society. I love to chronicle them in this blog. With the purchase of a Dash, I can safely say that old cell phones are history as the proliferation of such technology drives the price of these phones down and the envy spreads as people share their phones with others. Another victim of this technology will be the old media such as print (newspapers, magazines and probably even books). With this browser and its ability to make the pages conform to the screen (e.g., this blog looks great on my Dash), I will read what I want, when I want, and such technology will make print publications obsolete. With multi-media capabilities, radio and TV will continue to be challenged by technology like the Dash. It is truly a brave new world of technology.