By Rachel on January 26, 2006 7:03 AM
More from Kyle du Ford at Big & Sharp: during an idle surfing session, he noticed that magazines long dead are still alive and well on the web, blithely humming away online with nary a nod to their real-world demise. His findings:
Radar (radaronline.com; traffic rank: 34,264): Frozen in time since its closure on December 15th, Radar hasn’t been updated since it posted the Sean McManus hooker story, which we’re sure he’s thrilled about. Otherwise, du Ford finds it useful and hospitable, with archives intact (though, regrettably, the 15 minutes box is blank, promising to be back soon in perpetuity).
Sync (syncmag.com; traffic rank: 125,204): Though it seems in working order, du Ford says it’s “hardly more than a shell.” The last blog update was in November, no more navigation buttons, and when you click to subscribe, Ziff-Davis tries to lure you into considering their other publications. Sneaky.
Breathe (breathemag.com; traffic rank: 667,134): Breathe is taking a – wait for it – breather, on indefinite hiatus while they try to drum up funding, according to Breathe editor-in-chief Lisa Haines. “The newstand sales were fantastic, but we were undercapitalized,” Haines told Fishbowl. “It really could go either way.” Readers could be forgiven for thinking the mag was dead, though; nothing on the webiste indicates its current status, and du Ford couldn’t even buy their calming, ayurvedic CD. Meanwhile, Haines is hopeful: the next issue is practically in the can (“It’s written , we have the art — it’s just the process of closing the issue”), and she’s optimistic that they’ll be able to put it out for March/April.
Perhaps that’s what the lingering websites are really about: hope. Radar, of course, is a veritable phoenix, and if anyone can pump new life (and cash) into it it’s Maer Roshan. And while an independent title has to work that much harder to keep it going, once a parent co. pulls the plug, that’s that (sorry, Sync). As for Breathe: “We really haven’t given up on the idea that this is going to work,” Haines told us, wistfully. Well, we haven’t, either. Here’s hoping worthy mags get to take another breath sometime soon.
When Magazines Hold on(line) Too Long [Big & Sharp]
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