These days, it seems every company is cutting back somehow - from service hours to packaging to staff. With that in mind, this month's Fidelity Investor's Quarterly issue is all about helping investors put their personal economy back in order and restoring financial confidence in the market, with headlines like "Don't let tough times derail your retirement," "Why the Democrats' Victory May Be a Win for Investors," and "Finding Shelter in Stormy Markets."
As I was flipping through a copy of it, I noticed that the magazine's pages were thinner than previous issues. A sure sign of the times. Cutting back paper costs conserves marketing dollars. One thing you have to be wary of with thinner paper, though, is how much ink coverage you have on the pages and show-through issues, as well as page creasing that can occur during freight when the pieces are stacked in boxes and delivered from printer to post office. Quite a few pages in the new Fidelity magazine had those creases. Oh, well. It's a small compromise for cost-effectiveness, I guess.
On the cover, I noticed a "Read us online" slug on the masthead. I wondered: how long had that been there? Was it on previous issues or is this something new? Onto the inside, the editor's letter elaborates ...
"Special note to readers: This will be the last print edition of this magazine. Beginning in May, it will only be available online. To receive the magazine electronically, please visit Fidelity.com/email and provide your email address. We look forward to bringing you a robust and engaging online reading experience."
Don't you just love those buzz words "robust" and "engaging?" And of course, it will be an "experience" to read the online magazine. Anyway, smart move on Fidelity's part. Environmentally smart and money-smart.
We've already seen the demise of Domino magazine last month. How many other publications will shut down? Going online is a paper savings to be sure, but there still are many costs associated with pulling together a "robust and engaging" online magazine - writers, designers, editors and more to pay. Still, it's nice to see that Fidelity isn't panning their Investor's Quarterly magazine altogether.
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