Come 2012, Catholic readers will have fewer print publications to choose from. Economic changes that have rocked the publishing world in general continue to whittle away at the Catholic publishing universe, resulting in additional shrinkage and consolidation.
As of January 2012, Ignatius Press will no longer be publishing Catholic World Report or Homiletic & Pastoral Review in print. Similar to the changes made to Crisis magazine, both publications will continue to be available online only.
Today, publisher Bayard Inc. announced that it will cease publishing Faith and Family magazine, which it acquired from the Legionaries of Christ earlier this year. Faith and Family was acquired by Bayard not long after EWTN acquired the National Catholic Register from the Legionaries of Christ. Instead of continuing to publish Faith and Family, Bayard is re-booting Catholic Digest, with editor Danielle Bean, as more of a faith and family periodical.
In other Catholic publishing news, Sophia Institute Press acquired the Catholic website Catholic Exchange in November. In 2008, Sophia became the publishing arm of Merrimack, NH-based Thomas More College, and later became the publishing arm of Atlanta’s Holy Spirit College.
Belmont Abbey College made a similar decision through its acquisition of Envoy magazine, which it makes available as part of its Envoy Institute. Nearby St. Benedict Press acquired TAN Books.
In other news, St. Anthony Messenger Press is rebranding itself. The publisher has changed its name to Franciscan Media. Servant Books continues as an imprint under Franciscan Media.
Fewer print publications, however, does not necessarily equate to less material to read. The growth of online publications and blogs has attracted readers far surpassing the number of subscribers of most print publications.
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I am so sad to hear that Faith and Family will be no more. This was really a great magazine for Catholic families. It’s so hard to find great resources like this to help in raising Catholic children.
While the loss of any Catholic publication is in itself sad, let’s be honest who really reads magazines of any kind much anymore? Unforunately news is 24/7, up to the minute and the time/talent it takes to publish a magazine is not fulfilling the needs of most readers. I’d like to think that book publishing maybe a little different since they differ from magazines in their relative timeliness and quantity of information.
Wishing Danielle Bean all the best with Catholic Digest! Don’t worry there will always be a need and hunger for material on our faith. We just have to accept that it’s largely digital now and not the print of our past. :(
Cathi D.
cathid@thecatholicgiftshop.com
I gifted Faith and Family magazine subscriptions to two families… and neither received them - not a single copy But I guess bilking me didn’t save them financially.
bah
Catholic News and World Report was my favorite publication. The opinion articles were excellent as were the interviews. Reading news from all over the world was very enlightening insofar as so little is covered outside the US in US publications. I will continue to read on-line but it won’t be as convenient. Alas.
Full disclosure: I am a Senior Writer for Faith and Family Magazine. I’m just responding from a personal point of view, though, and nobody asked me to write this comment.
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It’s really not a case of shrinking options when Danielle Bean took the helm at Catholic Digest! Catholic Digest was a more main-stream publication which reprinted pieces which had already run elsewhere. Faith and Family was a very well-produced magazine with fresh content—but only four times a year. Catholic Digest comes out NINE times a year, and will now include all the talent and energy that Danielle has brought to Faith and Family, as well as broadening the range of issues it covers (while still retaining popular CD features like Patrick’s Corner).
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I see this move as nothing but gain for the readers who have enjoyed Faith and Family AND Catholic Digest. In addition, the Faith and Family Live website will continue as is.
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@TRS, I encourage you to contact F&F’s customer service at 1-888-295-6979 so that this situation can be cleared up. From Danielle’s announcement: “Faith & Family subscriptions will be transferred to the new Catholic Digest. All subscribers will be receiving a letter explaining the changes and their options.”
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http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/features/news_from_faith_family_and_catholic_digest
All—It is true that print publications are going the way of the dinosaur. That si the way is should be. Digital Books are, finally, here to stay. What is REALLY needed is Kindle versions and similar digital versions of EVERYTHING with an Imprimatur, just for starters. Information is managed more efficiently, cleaner, easier, and etc, and etc, MUCH better in digital format. While I am sorry that the change may be painful, I must recommend as strongly as possible to those in the “print media” move quickly and completely to “digital media”, which is not a tricky transition to make. HTH. God Bless you.—Mark Kamoski
I’m a 46 year old curmudgeon holding out for the eventual re-emergence of print, whether books or magazines. Having a digital version just doesn’t seem real to me.
It is, of course, nice to have the digital option when finances don’t allow the purchase of the actual material. For example, my son enjoys reading all the comic books he likes, from the 1960’s to today, for $40/year at Marvel Digital Comics.
In general, though, I would never go without physical copies of favorite books. As for magazines, though, unless an EMP destroys the electrical grid, I would sadly have to presume that print magazine readership will continue to dwindle.
Most of these magazines had circulations in the 8K - 10K range, which is hardly larger than the circulation of the parish bulletin of one or two large suburban parishes. They were subsidized publications, with miniscule readership. I’ll miss them, but I"m generally out of touch with the mainstream anyhow. If you really want to buck the trend, send 5 or 10 gift subscriptions to the National Catholic Register to friends and family for Christmas!
I will surely miss HPR. I met Father Kenneth Baker at a Cardinal Mindszenty Conference more years ago than I can remember. I was impressed by his presentation, and have been a subscriber ever sense. His editorials ere always so concisely written – He can say more in a single page, than some editorials could cover in two or three. Writing was my profession for over 40 years, and writing letters to editors mostly to praise their efforts is still my hobby. They have graciously printed so many of my letters over the years. I am glad to know that it will continue on line.
I grew up in a home where Catholic magazines were always present. Even as a young child, I read them cover-to-cover. As an adult, I have gotten print copies of numerous Catholic publications for many, many years, including Catholic World Report and Homiletic & Pastoral Review. After reading the magazines myself, I always leave them on the coffee table for family members to peruse, which they often do. I take my Catholic magazines with me to doctor’s offices, hair salons, and airports, and have been engaged in conversations with complete strangers when they ask me “What are you reading?” or, “Are you Catholic?”. Twice I have even given away the periodical to a fallen-away Catholic! Alas, with Catholic publishing houses quickly following Ignatius’ lead, my small means of evangelization are quickly being thwarted. After all, do you ever ask strangers what they are reading on their computers? Also, is it even clear that Catholic World Report and Homiletic & Pastoral Review will be even available to download onto your Kindle, Nook, or IPAD, or will you be stuck sitting in front of your computer to read the magazines beginning in january?
Catholic Faith and Family always seemed to me like the Catholic Martha Stewart mag. Just never did appeal.
Two points—Some people I have discovered are like me—I can read print all day long and not have it bother my eyes. But the more I read from a screen, the more trouble I have with my eyes—like chronic bloodshot eyes. Also, friends of mine who spend large parts of their day at a computer screen tell me what a relief it is to be able to read print on paper when they get home.
So I hope this driving paper and print from the market comes to a halt at some point.
I don’t mind Catholic World Report going online, but its much better having a magazine in your hand (and having back issues). I remember some of the good Catholic magazines from the 50’s like “The Sign"which was very good. I was disappointed that some good magazines, like St.Anthony Messenger seemed to take a more liberal view, so I stopped subscribing to some of these.
It would be nice though to have Catholic World Report on the Kindle. I just purchased my second Kindle—Kindle Fire—and it adapts very well to magazines. That way it would save on paper, postage, etc. In fact, I’d like to also see The Register being able to adapt to the e format. It would be a lot easier then going online to read the articles.
And yes, I see the electronic media as the face of the future. I’m a senior and thoroughly enjoy the e books format—have got a lot of Catholic books that way and they’re not cluttering my bookshelves.
I, too, am very sad about Faith and Family magazine. Never have been a fan of Catholic Digest; too touchy feely and not enough Catholic. Very sad. They say our subscription will be continued with the Catholic Digest. I hope it is good, otherwise we will ask for a refund.
Also, ready on line takes away a very “tactile” sensation I love, about books and magazines, and also causes much eye strain, and does not relax one, as holding and reading a book does.
Yes, alot of consolidation. Here is one magazine that is still available in print, called Catholic Hearth, with lots of articles that can appeal to young folks as well:
http://www.neumannpress.com/cathearfammo.html
I am glad. I am not going to make any bones about it: F&F does not rep the population. I have been in the business of publications off and on since the 80s and well, it is about homeschooling for those ladies, not covering what happens in reality. Only 1 to 2% homeschool in the USA. About 30% of them do so. That is skewed. Most families send their kids to school and both parents work.
Not them. They are too good for that.
Sorry, but in the real world these ladies needed a real dose of reality. Women need to do more than just stay home. God did not make everyone in 1950s box.
For me, reading them is a serious waste of time and argument. I live in a warm place and cannot relate to their life in a cold 1950s box. Sorry but this was a Christmas present in a way. They believe that unless you do it THEIR WAY, YOU ARE GOING TO damnation. I think from the sounds of the readers who comment and gossip about their husbands having dead end jobs, they already live there.
Sorry to hear about the loss of all these great publications. Technology is taking over in so many aspects of our lives, it’s at least good to know that these publications will be available online. BUT why must we make our lives more complicated with more electronics? I have a hard enough time patiently waiting for my internet to finally load a page. One reason I never use my e-mail. Some things are just better left alone and simple. I have my faith, my prayers, church, family, friends to keep me well informed, inspired and close to God. I am dismayed by the fact though, that most of the publications are run by lay people. I find it much more near the cause of helping our faith by spreading the word of God by purchasing publications that most of the money goes toward the cause, not fattening the wallets of those representing to be something/someone they are not. That’s where our world has gone wrong.
I feel sad to say that the media is all about the almighty dollar.
Jeanne, sorry you do not like homeschooling.I am a grandma now, but we home-schooled fro about 10 years, and not because we wanted to, but because of what was happening in the schools. Too many treated us as if we had the plague, as not many were doing it in those days, and the public school was a “god” in this rural community. It was very hard for me to do, but it had to be done. We certainly did not think we were better than anyone. Faith and Family never struck me as you describe. .It was a beautiful, faith filled magazine for every family It is hard for the families where the wife stays at home with the family, and many that do do not home school. Choices have to make and material things have to be sacrificed, yet staying home and being with the kids is well worth it. It seems you are more upset that you can not do the same….do not take it out on those that do. As I said, many sacrifices have to be made.
We also have not received any magazines, and we had paid for a couple years in advance.
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