The Scary Truth...Glossy fashion mags threatened by online publications

For me, the beauty of my Elle and Vogue subscription delivery every month will never cease to excite me. The bookcase in my room is an archive to this collection that I have been building upon over the years and will continue to do for years to come. There's nothing like browsing a hard copy of a fashion magazine and seeing the shoots and trends in glossy print.
However, Business of Fashion blog has recently reported on the apparent change in the success of printed magazines in comparison with the ever-growing online industry. The article states that many highly powered magazine executives at companies such as Conde Nast (publisher of Vogue, Harpers etc..) are leaving to be a part of the new online phenomenum - whether it be with a retail brand or an online publication such as that of Net-a- Porter.
While the Great Recession cut traditional advertising spending dramatically, the internet has also given brands and retailers a cost-effective way to circumvent publishers and engage consumers directly with their own editorial content. Back in January, David Carr nailed the implications of this trend in a piece entitled “Publishing, Without Publishers.”
"For the new breed of retail sites, where content is built around commerce, establishing an independent editorial identity, without impinging on the brands that drive a significant portion of the revenues that ultimately pay the bills, is a significant challenge. It’s a conflict that’s familiar to veterans of traditional ad-supported editorial, with one important distinction: at the end of the day, an advertiser is far more passive than a retail partner. This makes the balancing act of driving the bottom line while creating the kind of independent editorial content that consumers want to spend time with (and not just thinly-veiled advertorials) all the more difficult."
Alongside retailers, a number of brands are also creating and publishing their own editorial-style content. In a much-cited quote, Joanna Shields, EMEA Vice President at Facebook, pointed to British luxury brand Burberry as leading this trend. “Burberry is producing its own original content,” she said. “Burberry is no longer just a fashion company — today they are a thriving media enterprise.”