How ironic it was to be reading an article about how DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace founded Reader's Digest, when Reader's Digest Association filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time.
The advancing technology is definitely the magazine's undoing. It's obvious how the magazine was unable to compete with the Internet/mobile device combo in this modern world, losing out in both speed and flexibility.
Another reason for the decline of RD (I'm purely guessing here) was perhaps that the general interest magazine is too general. Unlike other magazines that specified in fashion, business, geography etc, Reader's Digest has a little bit of everything, a mix of general information and some non-fiction stories. There's no specific target markets that the magazine could aim for.
But then again, that's what me and all RD fans like about this petite magazine. A bit of everything. I'm not into reading magazines as much everyone else, but RD is an exception. There's always some cool stories to read and information that I may not know or pro-actively search for. And the jokes are always a plus. Not to mention the easy-to-bring-with-you-wherever-you-go size. Some magazines out there were the size of a telephone directory, no way I would carry that around with me.
So please, read more RD! Subscribe, buy it from bookstores or convenience stores, whatever floats your boat. Keep all of them and pass it to your children. I'm sure that if they'll appreciate it.
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