Presstime, the magazine of the Newspaper Association of America, has just published its last issue in print. Beginning in June, Presstime will cover its industry—including the painfully relevant story of how hard it is for publications to survive as hard-copy products—in a digital format only, on the association’s Web site. The New York Times has details.

While the perceived value of newspapers continues to swoon, the
magazine company Future US believes there’s a substantial pool of
potential readers out there who value pricey guitars—and cars, watches, wine, and “the deluxe life,” in general. The company has
just launched Guitar Aficionado.

This looks like a smart business move. Coverage of celebrities, investments, high-end lifestyle, and big-ticket travel is probably a magnet for advertising.

We take any launch these days as a hopeful sign. And we wish Guitar Aficionado well. Still, we can’t help wishing there were room in this economy not only for a magazine that serves up guitar porn and luxury but also for one that serves the people who put out the nation’s newspapers.

What do you think?