In the first week of April 2020, Kiwis were stunned at the news of the sudden and immediate shut down of New Zealand’s largest magazine publishing company Bauer Media. Although not entirely surprising, the closure and later sell-off is a stark reminder of the global magazine industry’s struggle to remain relevant and viable in an increasingly digital world. The buyout of Stuff by CEO Sinead Boucher from parent company Nine for $1, also another reminder of the challenge newspaper publishers face in remaining viable in the current digitally driven market.
However, during those dark days of the first Lockdown, Kiwi’s engagement with the magazines they love soared, despite magazines being deemed non-essential. In June, July and August – in and out of various lockdown stages – talented people bravely launched brand new magazine titles and digital platforms, saved legacy titles, and Bauer returned under new ownership and name. Newspaper titles are a somewhat different story with many major titles still suffering a decline
