Magazines That Never Stopped Printing

In a world where screens dominate our daily lives and digital content feels almost infinite, something remarkable is happening. Print magazines, those tangible relics we were told would disappear, are not just surviving but thriving in unexpected ways. While many publications made the leap to digital-only formats over the past two decades, a determined group of magazines never abandoned their presses.

These resilient publications have weathered the digital storm, adapting and evolving while maintaining their commitment to the printed page. Some have even discovered new audiences who crave the physical experience of reading. So let’s get started with our journey through the world of refused to give up on print.

Scientific American: America’s Publishing Pioneer

Scientific American holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States, with its first issue appearing in 1845. This prestigious publication has published articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners, making it a cornerstone of scientific communication for nearly two centuries.

What makes Scientific American particularly fascinating is how it has maintained its mission throughout the decades. Throughout its history, this monthly publication has featured scientific articles aimed at the educated general reader. Rather than becoming increasingly academic, the magazine has consistently balanced scientific rigor with accessibility.

The publication’s longevity speaks to something deeper than just successful business practices. There’s something for every reader in each issue, hence why it’s the longest-running magazine in the US. In today’s age of specialized content, Scientific American proves that broad appeal combined with expertise still resonates with readers.

National Geographic: The Visual Storyteller

National Geographic is an American monthly magazine founded in 1888 as a scholarly journal, nine months after the establishment of the society, but is now a popular magazine. In 1905, it began including pictures, a style for which it became well known, with its first color photos appearing in the 1910s.

The transformation from scholarly journal to visual masterpiece happened gradually but decisively. Starting with its January 1905 publication of several full-page pictures of Tibet in 1900–01, the magazine began to transition from being a text-oriented publication to featuring extensive pictorial content. By 1908 more than half of the magazine’s pages were photographs.

A beacon of exploration and discovery since 1888, National Geographic takes readers on journeys to the farthest corners of the earth, deep into history, and outwards into space. Its blend of breathtaking photography and rigorous science has made it a beloved publication.

Today’s National Geographic continues to win prestigious awards and maintain its reputation. In May 2006, 2007, and 2011, National Geographic magazine won the American Society of Magazine Editors’ General Excellence Award in the over two million circulation category, and in 2011, National Geographic Magazine received the top-award from ASME – the Magazine of the Year Award.

Harper’s Magazine: Literary Endurance

Harper’s Magazine began as Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in New York City in June 1850, making it the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States. This literary giant has maintained its presence for more than a century and a half, weathering countless changes in the publishing landscape.

The magazine has published works of prominent authors and political figures, including Herman Melville, Woodrow Wilson, and Winston Churchill. Its historical significance cannot be overstated, as it served as a launching pad for some of America’s most celebrated writers.

The magazine faced a significant crisis in the early 1970s that nearly ended its run. In 1971, editor Willie Morris resigned under pressure from owner John Cowles Jr., prompting resignations from many of the magazine’s star contributors and staffers, including Norman Mailer, David Halberstam, Robert Kotlowitz, Marshall Frady, and Larry L. King: Morris’s departure jolted the literary world.

Despite these challenges, Harper’s survived and continues to publish today. Harper’s Magazine has won 22 National Magazine Awards, proving that quality literary content still has a devoted audience willing to support print publications.

The Atlantic: A Monthly Renaissance

Since 1857, The Atlantic has been a respected source of long-form journalism, commentary, and cultural criticism. The magazine has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, recently making a decision that surprised many industry observers.

More than two decades ago, The Atlantic decided to reduce the number of print issues published each year, dropping from 12 to 10 and thus ending the run of what had been previously called The Atlantic Monthly. For years, it seemed like the magazine was following the typical pattern of reducing its physical presence.

However, 2025 brought unexpected news. The history of our magazine is filled with improbabilities, and today, more people subscribe to our print magazine than at any time since its birth, in 1857. Which is why we’ve decided to restore The Atlantic to monthly print publication beginning with the issue you are currently reading.

The editor goes on to tell us that The Atlantic crossed the million-subscription threshold in 2024. This remarkable comeback story demonstrates that print magazines can still find new life when they focus on quality content and build genuine reader relationships.

Time Magazine: Weekly News Stalwart

Founded in 1923, Time magazine has been a leading source of news and analysis, covering a wide range of topics from politics to entertainment. Despite the rise of instant digital news, Time has maintained its weekly print schedule for over a century.

The magazine’s approach to news coverage has always been distinctive. What makes Time popular is its reputation as a trusted source of news and information. In an era of questionable sources and rapid-fire updates, Time’s measured approach to weekly news analysis has found renewed relevance.

Complete full-text access to the entire archive of Time Magazine exists from 1923 to the present, showing the magazine’s commitment to preserving its historical record. This extensive archive represents nearly a century of American and world history captured through weekly publications.

Time’s staying power demonstrates that there’s still an audience for thoughtful, comprehensive news analysis delivered in a physical format that encourages deeper reading rather than quick scrolling.

Vogue: Fashion’s Forever Magazine

Since 1892, Vogue has been a fashion authority, showcasing the latest trends in clothing, beauty, and lifestyle. The magazine has not only survived but has become synonymous with high fashion and luxury publishing.

Vogue’s approach to its archives demonstrates the value it places on its printed heritage. Vogue puts more of a premium on its archives than any other magazine. After a massive scanning project, the brand made its 122-years of content – 425,000 images, 300,000 ads and 100,000 articles – available to consumers in 2011. The price tag? $1575.

This premium pricing strategy reflects how Vogue has positioned itself as a luxury product rather than just a source of information. Art magazines like Juxtapoz are gaining ground as collectibles, where design and print quality are treated with care, and Vogue leads this trend among mainstream publications.

The magazine continues to attract younger readers despite its long history. Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar are seeing younger subscribers, proving that print fashion magazines can bridge generational gaps when they maintain their commitment to visual excellence and quality content.

The New Yorker: Literary Excellence Persists

First published in 1925, The New Yorker is known for its literary content, cartoons, and commentary on politics and current events. The magazine has become an icon of American literary culture, maintaining its distinctive voice and high editorial standards throughout its nearly century-long run.

The New Yorker is among a unique breed of publications whose revenue from readers is greater than that of its advertisements. Its subscription prices are a bit pricier than other popular US magazines, with a year of digital-only access costing $120.

This reader-supported model has allowed The New Yorker to maintain editorial independence and focus on quality rather than mass appeal. Long-form journalism, literary criticism, and essays on a wide range of topics make it stand out as a leading voice of the people. The magazine attracts a well-educated and sophisticated audience, with a readership including intellectuals, artists, writers, and other cultural elites.

The New Yorker proves that there’s still a market for intellectual content delivered through traditional print media, especially when that content maintains consistently high standards.

Reader’s Digest: The People’s Choice

With a history dating back to 1922, Reader’s Digest has been a household name for generations, offering a mix of articles on health, humor, and inspiring stories. This magazine has survived by maintaining a formula that resonates across demographics and generations.

Reader’s Digest represents a different approach to print publishing, focusing on condensed, easily digestible content rather than in-depth analysis. Its success demonstrates that there’s room for various styles within the print magazine ecosystem.

The publication’s longevity suggests that sometimes the simplest approach works best. While other magazines chase trends or specialized audiences, Reader’s Digest has maintained broad appeal through consistent, family-friendly content that speaks to universal human experiences.

The Economics of Continuous Print Publishing

The financial reality behind reveals interesting insights about sustainable publishing models. Globally, 80% of consumer magazine revenues still come from print, and even in the B2B space, print accounts for about half of total revenue.

The Association of Magazine Media has reported that, even though digital revenue is still growing, print revenue has stabilized and is even growing in certain niches. Lifestyle and fashion magazines, in particular, are expected to see revenue growth of around 5% by 2025.

In the U.S. alone, print ad spend is expected to reach up to $9.6 billion in 2024, showing that advertisers still see value in print channels. As publishers diversify to reduce their dependence on digital platforms and big tech, investments in print are poised to resurge, emphasizing its ongoing relevance.

Print ads give you as an advertiser a lot more control over how your ad appears, over how obtrusive it is to people, and ultimately, more control over what they might think of you as a result. So, there’s a lot of upsides for advertisers.

The have proven something remarkable about the power of consistency, quality, and understanding their audiences. From Scientific American’s nearly two-century commitment to accessible science to The Spectator’s unbroken weekly run since 1828, these publications demonstrate that print media can thrive when it serves genuine reader needs.

What makes these survivors special isn’t just their age but their ability to evolve while maintaining their core identity. They’ve adapted to digital supplements, enhanced paper quality, and found new revenue streams without abandoning the physical format that defines them. The recent revival of previously digital-only magazines only reinforces the lesson these continuous publishers have always known: there’s something irreplaceable about the tactile experience of reading print.

What do you think about the enduring appeal of print magazines? Tell us in the comments.