BoSacks Speaks Out: A Toast to Turning the Page: A New Year's Message for the Magazine Industry

As the final whispers of 2023 fade out and the promise of a fresh New Year beckons, it's time to raise yet another glass, not just to new beginnings but to the indomitable spirit of the publishing industry. In a world saturated with fleeting digital waves, you, the stewards of the printed page, stand tall as pillars of the enduring stories we tell with beautiful design and insightful perspectives. We publishers trust curation over the algorithm. That is one of our core strengths.

Yes, the winds of change have swirled around us. Ink-stained fingers have given way to the tap-tap-tap of keyboards, and news cycles spin faster than a runaway printing press. But amidst the digital deluge, the thirst for something tangible, something that lingers beyond the glow of a screen, has only grown stronger.

That's where you come in, the architects of tactile experiences. You weave words into tapestries that ignite imaginations, curate images that speak a thousand unspoken truths, and bind them all together in a physical vessel that whispers, "Hold me, savor me, let me linger in your hands."

Importantly, in an age of information overload, you offer curation, not chaos. You delve deep, unearthing stories that deserve to be savored, not scrolled past. You champion voices that need to be heard, not muted by the algorithm's whims. You stand as a defiant testament to the power of slow journalism, of narratives that unfold at the pace of turning pages, not the frantic swipe of a thumb.

And your canvas is boundless. From the glossy heft of fashion bibles to the newsprint grit of investigative journals, from the whimsical charm of children's magazines to the intellectual heft of literary quarterlies, each publication is a unique universe unto itself, a portal to worlds waiting to be explored.

So, as the new year dawns, let us celebrate the magic you weave. Let us raise a toast to the ink that stains your fingers, the paper that whispers under your touch, and the stories that take flight from the pages you create. May your pens dance with inspiration, your layouts sing with visual poetry, and your words ignite the minds and hearts of your readers.

For in a world forever chasing the next headline, the next tweet, the next fleeting trend, you offer a sanctuary of depth, a refuge of beauty, and a testament to the enduring power of the printed word. And that, dear friends, is something to raise a glass, and a magazine, too.

Happy New Year! May your pages turn with brilliance, and your stories leave an indelible mark on the world.

As my long-time readers know, Carol and I have hosted a New Year's Eve 7 Course sit-down Tastings Dinner now in its 22nd year. Of course, with wines paired for each dish. This year, the menu is a mixture of fan favorites over the years and a few new dishes thrown in, resulting in a feast of seven fishes.

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.

Mother Teresa