'Bleak House': The Story of 2009 Magazine Ad Revenues

If you were shocked that Mark McGwire used steroids and never saw the ax falling on Jay Leno's prime time foray, you may be surprised by the Publishers Information Bureau 2009 magazine revenues report that reflects a near 26 percent decline in ad pages and revenues plummeting by 18 percent compared to the previous year. Try visualizing the loss of 58,340 advertising pages and the pall cast over an entire industry.

Since 2007, when  PIB began its quarterly tracking of ad pages and revenues, 10 of 11 quarters have seen shrinking numbers. In fact, only 18 consumer magazines reported ad page gains in 2009, chief among them, People's Style Watch, Ok!, Bonnier, Saveur, and Family Circle. Hardest hit were boating magazines and Architectural Digest.

Read it and weep, but for Heaven's sakes, at least read it.