What Newspaper Publishers Can Learn from the Magazine RevivalBack to News

By Kelli Bultena

I recently read the Inside the Print Revival Report from Media Voices, and it really struck a chord. While it’s geared toward magazine publishers, so much of what they uncovered feels just as relevant to newspapers. The renewed appreciation for print, the push for quality over quantity, and the focus on building real connections with readers — it all feels very familiar, and frankly, very encouraging.
As we all know, for decades, the narrative around print has been one of terminal decline. However, this Inside the Print Revival report by Media Voices makes one thing clear: print didn’t die; it adapted.
Here are some takeaways for newspaper publishers from the 60 page report:

A Revival Rooted in Purpose
Magazine publishers are finding renewed success by repositioning print not as mass media, but as premium, collectible, and passion-driven. Time magazine’s Taylor Swift issue, with three collectible covers, sold 837,000 copies, which was a 365% increase over standard editions.¹
What can newspapers take from this? Think special editions, high-quality formats, and audience-specific content. The report shows that people are still willing to pay for print that matters.

Digital Disillusionment
Some of the conditions fueling the magazine rebound, like digital fatigue, mistrust in online platforms, and craving for tactile experiences, can apply equally to newspapers. Edelman’s 2025 Trust Barometer shows that only 42% of people trust social media as a news source, while 58% trust traditional media, including newspapers.2

Print Vs. AI
With AI-generated content on the rise and platforms like Google assigning zero monetary value to news content, owning the full print experience becomes a strategic advantage. “Print is kind of a counter-AI move,” says Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson, who recently increased print frequency to strengthen direct relationships with subscribers.3
Of course, we all know AI will likely touch these print articles too — shoutout to ChatGPT for proofing this one for me. Still, there’s something about holding a printed product in your hands that just feels more human.

Leaner, Smarter Print
The shift is not about going back to bulky daily editions. It’s about doing more with less: shorter runs, special interest sections, premium materials, and direct-to-reader distribution. Print’s power today lies in trust, focus, and physical presence; not in mass reach.

Key Stats at a Glance:
• The global print magazine market is still valued at $60 billion.4
• For many magazine publishers, print remains a top-three revenue stream, despite the digital shift.5
• Over 75% of respondents in a FIPP survey reported print revenue as rising, steady, or only slowly declining.6

Takeaway for Newspapers
Invest in what print does best: build trust, create impact, and deepen relationships. Whether it’s quarterly review editions, collectible historical retrospectives, or niche community inserts, newspapers can still make print work, just not the way they used to.
For those wanting to dive deeper, the full Inside Print Revival report is available at https://voices.media/printrevival/

Footnotes:
1. Inside the Print Revival, Media Voices, 2025, p. 10.
2. Edelman Trust Barometer 2025, as cited in Inside the Print Revival, p. 15.
3. Nicholas Thompson (CEO, The Atlantic) interview, as cited in Inside the Print Revival, p. 23.
4. PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook, 2022–2026, cited in Inside the Print Revival, p. 6.
5. AAM CEO Richard Murphy via Press Gazette, as cited in Inside the Print Revival, p. 21.
6. FIPP 2023 ‘Future of Print’ survey, as cited in Inside the Print Revival, p. 20.