Another print domino falls

Since DotDash purchased Des Moines-based Meredith publishing late last year, they have shaken up the magazine behemoth with a slew of changes, not the least of which was shuttering the print editions of six magazines so far this year. We can add a seventh to the list, as DotDash Meredith just announced that it would end print publication of Martha Stewart Living Magazine, with the May issue being the last print edition.

The magazine, which debuted over 30 years ago (1990), will continue as a digital-only publication. In an email to employees, Chief Business Officer Alysia Borsa said that the company will focus on growing the magazine’s associated website, marthastewart.com. The switch to digital only is not expected to result in layoffs at DotDash Meredith’s headquarters, although 20 New York City employees will be “impacted” by the change.

The other titles that ceased print editions this year include EatingWell, Entertainment Weekly, Health, InStyle, Parents and People en Español. The company’s magazines that will continue to exist in print format, according to announcement made by CEO Neil Vogel last month, include All Recipes, Better Homes and Gardens, Food & Wine, People, Southern Living and Travel + Leisure. A spokesperson later clarified that Midwest Living, Successful Farming, and REAL SIMPLE would also be spared from the chopping block. Vogel has stated that the remaining titles would be printed on higher quality paper to create a “luxury experience”.

Post a comment

10 Comments

  • dhogue  on  April 15, 2022

    Well, I sure am glad they recently allowed me to renew my subscription for two years. I probably won’t be offered a refund…

  • Nancith  on  April 15, 2022

    Disappointing to say the least. Digital magazines & books are not my favorite.

  • kaufmanap  on  April 15, 2022

    Boo! Horribly depressing trend. I love magazines.

  • tarae1204  on  April 15, 2022

    I’ve tried but I just don’t enjoy the digital magazine experience…

  • riley  on  April 15, 2022

    I gave a friend a gift subscription this year. Oh well. I dislike digital magazines. Sad over the demise of print magazines. It always brightened the day when a new issue arrived.

  • gamulholland  on  April 15, 2022

    I’m really sorry to see this trend. This was always a beautiful magazine, and I can’t imagine them duplicating that online.

  • raowriter  on  April 15, 2022

    I love digital magazines, so easy to read and to store for starters. But it’s also enabled me to subscribe relatively inexpensively to overseas magazines, avoiding the bankrupting international shipping costs. I don’t know what I’d have done without the UK magazines Kitchen Garden and Grow Veg when I started serious edible gardening here in Tasmania, Australia.i have copies stored on my iPad going back to 2010.
    The reality is many publications have in recent times, and will continue in the future, to go down the digital route.

  • Kinhawaii  on  April 16, 2022

    I am so bummed. I learned so much from Martha Stewart over the years. I prefer print over digital any day.

  • JaniceKj  on  April 16, 2022

    Sad news. I’ve downsized my subscriptions to print mags, not at all to MSL. I don’t do digital. And no notice from them yet. I could have had 10 yrs of a collection if I’d saved them all. I do with the Food Network Mag, but will be missing Martha for sure.

  • AmyDamey  on  April 29, 2022

    Looks like Meridith is also stopping publication of Fine Cooking magazine. I have had this magazine for over 20 years and love it. I am very disappointed! No notice in the magazine, but a postcard with the news.

Seen anything interesting? Let us know & we'll share it!