UPDATE: I got something in the mail today — it’s from my former managing editor Alora Guerrero. She told me she’d be moving on to T3 after her career with MANUAL Magazine when it closed. I’ve moved on as well and Alora finally announces her position with T3 Online (she sent this on April 1 2009 and no, this is not an April Fools joke).
T3 will still be around but in a better online format. The magazine will still be around, but only for three times a year. So this is the first time in Philippine history where a magazine has claimed that the print edition will support the online edition 🙂
Original Post Follows:
If you’re reading this and you’re working in the same small circle that is the publishing industry, you might have heard the recent move of Summit to close T3, Marie Claire and Seventeen. Three really good foreign franchise titles closing down.
If you’re thinking that this is a “print is dead” piece, it isn’t. I’m not fond of writing posts of that sort. And truth is, it isn’t about print being dead — it’s about the cost of expensive franchise licenses, at least for the better part. This isn’t the first time it happened. Summit closed UK franchise Gamesmaster in 2006. Hinge Inquirer closed PC Magazine Philippines as well. Eventually of course, PC Magazine closed their print edition and are now purely online.
Such is life. As a contributor to several local mags, I’m not one to argue on business decisions. I will say this though — It is rare to see the opposite situation – where a local title becomes such a phenomenal hit that it qualifies for franchising (take our closest example, C! Magazine) and distributed regionally.
At the end of the day, the industry’s editorial circle is small enough that we’ve all probably done the rounds. Beyond the business decisions which us writers would rather not be involved in (leave it to management!), it will always be about letting a bit of blood (just a bit!) drip and mark the medium that we write for. A magazine is nothing but the mirror of the staff. 🙂
All is not lost however, for there are plans to move T3 to its proper local place — online. I know that this will be exciting for Vince, Ed, and other friends who were invited to join the team. As for Seventeen and Marie Claire, the female titles are already invested in Summit’s Female Network and GirlTalk forums. It’s just sad to see the glossy go.
Farewell T3, Marie Claire and Seventeen. Thanks for a great run. Especially you, Marie Claire — you had the most interesting features. I always looked for you in the barber shop.
9 replies on “UPDATED: Farewell T3, Marie Claire, and Seventeen: You will be missed”
Ohmigosh! Im a fan of Marie Claire and although not a subscriber, I buy the mag every month. I love how MC puts together beauty, fashion and social awareness all in one magazine. This is a sad day (for me). 🙁
I love MC, it’s the best franchise, for me…
T3’s gone??? That’s a bummer. It’s one of 4 Summit Magazines I buy monthly.
sad. :sniff sniff:
[…] from three glossies: Marie Claire (Philippines), Female (Singapore), or NYLON (US). Unfortunately, Summit Media stopped publishing Marie Claire. Double sad face: Marie Claire is only published in Arabic here in UAE (the US version is sky high […]
Very sad to hear about Marie Claire’s cancellation. I love it even more than Cosmopolitan 🙁
I can’t believe it! I love Marie Claire! i subscribe to them!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁
I love the 3 titles that have to ‘go’, but then again, change is always a good thing, because things do evolve quickly, and times are much diff’t today. Thank goodness online is here to stay.
Bakit? awww… Seventeen Reader ako since 14 ako and now 21 na ako 🙁 yung brother ko collector ng T3 and bago kami bumili ng gadget nagbabasa kami ng review, nakakalungkot naman wala na akong mababasang college mag, gusto ko ang seventeen kasi balance sya di puro fashion, talagang informative, may tungkol sa health, real life, pati yung mga product na nakikita ko dun binibili ko, From a regular magazine size to digest nasundan ko Seventeen. T3 & Seventeen 🙁
Yeah, I think it’s more of a business decision for Summit Media. Ever since they moved office everything has changed. The cover prices drastically increased. Take K-zone for example, a humble kids magazine from P85 in 2006-2009 to P100 since January this year, as well as GH from P100 for such a long time to P125. I always loved T3 since its first issue but were never to buy regularly since I was a high schooler then. In fact, it sparked my flair for tech, and led me to my well-loved IT career. That’s how T3 influenced my life.
I totally love all Summit magazines (except for FHM, really) and it’s hard for me to see them go as much as you do. Let’s face it, in today’s world everything just goes digital. But still nothing compares the print edition that we used to love.