#4: Goodbye to all that
#4: Goodbye to all that
On being nostalgic for what the magazine industry used to be
(Note: I’m writing this on a train ride to Amsterdam. It is my first time publishing via the Substack app so forgive me for any format changes!)
On the walk back from a doctor’s appointment, I passed by a magazine stall which invited me in with the latest editions of familiar titles. My eyes grazed past titles I once hoarded as prized possessions when I was a teenager, and then towards unfamiliar publications, mostly in French. I was hit with a wave of nostalgia and then asked myself, When was the last time I bought a physical magazine? A month ago? Maybe two? These days, I mostly consume media in the form of online subscriptions and following my favorite writers and editors on Substack or on their podcasts. Realizing this, I felt a sense of guilt for not being as loyal as I once was to print, and ended up leaving with a copy of Le Monde’s M Magazine in my hand, a subtle declaration to my neighbors—but mostly to myself—that print is not dead.
Working full-time in magazines from around 2017-2020 fulfilled a childhood dream of mine to work as closely as possible with creatives. Initially, the job seemed simple and straight to the point, working within a streamlined system that was organized around the release of the month’s issue: pitches during editorial meetings, producing articles and editorial shoots, interviews with notable personalities, a few events a week. It was great to work with some of the most creative, innovative minds in Manila and abroad. For a while, I believed that I could’ve worked there forever. (Of course, that thought only lasted a while.)
Around the same time, the industry’s digital pivot meant that Instagram influencers—a term that feels quite passé now—started to challenge editors as an authority while many publications started scrambling (some sacrificing the quality of their content) to keep advertisers happy. I also dealt with crippling impostor syndrome towards the end of my stay in the magazine. When people made comments on how cool my job looked, I was hesitant to acknowledge the not-so-glamorous paychecks and questioned whether what I was doing was ‘important’ enough. I would be invited to try new restaurants and the latest skincare facials, but they did not pay for my rent. Ultimately, I decided that writing and editing was what I loved doing the most, so I did it freelance while exploring other job opportunities.
There is still something different about flipping through the pages of a physical magazine. While I can’t help but indulge in this nostalgia from time to time, I also enjoy the relatively new mediums that are coming up. Besides, print is not going anywhere; its format is just slightly changing. The ‘mook’ (a slower publication that combines the magazine + the book) is a more sustainable format for publications to free themselves from sacrificing content for advertising—a topic mentioned by the owner of Bonjour Jacob when I interviewed him for an article two years ago. Substack is also a platform I am increasingly excited about. This Vogue Business article talks about how people have been turning to publications like Laura Reilly’s Magasin for well-thought-out shopping recommendations rather than the saturated visuals of Instagram influencers. Another favorite of mine, Emily Sundberg, talked about the origins of her marketing/business/culture publication Feed Me in this podcast episode of Throwing Fits. It is a nice reminder that there is not one linear path when it comes to media.
I’ve been asked a few times if AI is taking over my job. Sure, it can automate routine tasks and spot typos, but I still believe it cannot fully capture writing’s ‘human touch.’ You can train it to write in a similar voice as yours (although not entirely), but it does not account for the painstaking hours of writers block and the effort of forcing yourself to sit down and write. In short, it does not include the ability to persevere and honor the writing routine that is so important in the job of a writer. But what do I know? Maybe I am just being a sentimental girl.
P.S.
Some news and a few things I consumed in the last week:
Speaking of nostalgia, a friend and I visited Jeu de Paume last weekend for their exhibit on Chantal Akerman. Would recommend for any film enthusiast!
The gutsy Industry finale, which I am still not over
The collection of essays aptly titled Essayism by Brian Dillon, which is quickly turning into one of the best books I’ve read this year
This juicy podcast episode of Fashion People on the designer musical chairs happening in Europe right now
Because I had already mentioned her, here is a letter by Emily Sundberg on the old ways we used to date and how we can make modern dating feel more like it again
J.Lo on the cover of Interview
xx