GRIND Magazine on Vorbe-n Tren, Ep. 10
As host of the show "Vorbe-n tren", Bogdan Menci invited the two coordinators of GRIND 3 magazine (Leonard Luția and Vlad Costea) to discuss the disappearance of print media and its importance in the context of digitalisation.
Before Google appeared, we looked for information in various magazines. With the popularisation of the internet, these publications began to disappear. To better understand the phenomenon, Bogdan Menci decided to create a show with Leonard Luția (a master of design and creator of several application interfaces that probably replaced printed materials) and Vlad Costea (producer of the Bitcoin Takeover podcast and co-founder of the GRIND project, currently the only gaming magazine in Romania).
To open, Vlad mentioned that physical gaming magazines still exist, but not in Romania. He believes that Romanians don't appreciate them enough and prefer the convenience of the internet. He expressed his disappointment with the decline of print media and the lack of independence and quality in digital publications. However, he is optimistic about projects like GRIND and other community-oriented magazines that continue to meet readers' needs.
The Decline of Physical Magazines in Favour of Digital Platforms
Leo shared his experience of looking for a gaming magazine during his trip to Copenhagen, Denmark. He mentioned that he couldn't find any such publication in the city, which led to a discussion about the decline of print media in favour of digital platforms. Bogdan highlighted the convenience of accessing digital content on smartphones and tablets, with their bright screens and constantly improving technical capabilities. These technologies have contributed to the shift towards digital reading. Bogdan Menci also mentioned publications such as The New York Times and Wired – which require subscriptions to access their exclusive digital content.
Loss of Information in the Digital Age and the Importance of Archives
We discussed the potential loss of information in a fully digitalised world and the importance of preserving printed materials in archives. Vlad mentioned the “right to be forgotten” in the European Union, which allows individuals to request the removal of certain information. We discussed the limitations of digitalisation and the bureaucracy involved in creating physical files and documents. Furthermore, we also mentioned the need for a simpler way to access information… with just the touch of a button.
The Role of the Community in Preserving Physical and Digital Publications
In the second part of the show, we discussed the importance of community involvement in preserving physical and digital publications, as well as the role of nostalgia and passion in keeping these publications alive. We mentioned the existence of online archives and the need for a community to give meaning and continuity to these publications. We also highlighted the challenges magazines faced in the past and the current availability of publications on the market. Finally, we announced the digital launch of the third issue of GRIND magazine – on 12 December 2023, at 12:00 (12.12-12:00).
GRIND – A Gaming Magazine for the Community
GRIND 3 is a glossy, thick, and super cool magazine, with a wonderful design, spectacular colours and approximately 210 pages. It focuses on gaming, but also contains articles about comics, board games, books, and films. It must be mentioned that all GRIND magazines are available for free to be read, downloaded, printed, and even sold.
Quality and Effort in the Digital Age
Vlad Costea mentioned that a consequence of digitalisation is that people no longer consider the quality and effort they put into their work too much, knowing that they can edit, modify, and make small corrections at any time. However, when people knew that material was going to be printed and someone else was going to hold and flip through the product (newspaper, magazine, book), there was greater attention to detail regarding grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and other elements related to writing.
Lack of Appreciation for Expertise and the Tendency to Rely on Others' Opinions
We discussed the abundance of translated materials from newsstands at airports and train stations, as well as the influence of foreign gaming magazines. Vlad acknowledged that he likes to read foreign magazines to find sources of inspiration and highlighted the emphasis placed in other countries on the experience, expertise, and reputation of veteran editors.
Community Archives and Content Segmentation
After the bankruptcy of LEVEL, PC Games, and Xtrem-PC, initiatives emerged from readers who decided to scan and create public archives for all published content. Among the most remarkable efforts is the CandApareRevista archive, which includes an almost complete history of magazines published in Romania. Furthermore, we also note that the editors who contributed to the creation of these materials have dispersed to individual platforms (blogs, forums, YouTube channels) that rarely intersect.
When Does GRIND3 Magazine Appear?!
Visit the GRIND website (grnd.ro) on 12 December 2023, at 12:00 (12.12-12:00). A surprise of about 210 pages awaits you!
Notable Moments from Bogdan Menci's Interview, Alongside Leonard Luția and Vlad Costea
00:02:35 – The increasingly pronounced disappearance of physical magazines and newspapers and the impact of digitalisation on them.
00:03:52 – The existence of print gaming media in other countries and its absence in Romania, as well as the importance of Romanians valuing and supporting print media.
00:04:34 – The impact of the internet and the emergence of projects like GRIND in maintaining print media in a form adapted to new technologies.
00:07:18 – About the lack of physical gaming magazines in Copenhagen stores and the transition to digital format.
00:08:19 – Debate about the advantages of reading materials on electronic devices, such as phones and tablets, instead of print format.
00:11:11 – Observations about the general decline in interest in reading and the disappearance of newspapers on trains, with the mention that digital information can be deleted or modified more easily than printed information.
00:14:51 – Discussion about bureaucracy and the difficulties encountered in the digitalisation of institutions.
00:15:45 – Debate about the importance of digital archives and the risks associated with information loss.
00:19:36 – The importance of community in maintaining and protecting publications in physical or digital format.
00:22:52 – Discussion about GRIND magazine, the only gaming magazine in Romania, with attractive design and diversified content.
00:23:16 – Presentation of GRIND 3 magazine's content, including interviews, articles about video game collectors, and sections on art and comics.
00:27:07 – The beginnings of the Grind project, which aimed to encourage other people to write and evolved into an artistic and different magazine.
00:29:42 – How digitalisation has led to a decrease in quality and attention to detail in written materials.
00:31:01 – Physical magazines and newspapers and their importance in terms of grammar, spelling, and sentence organisation.
00:35:11 – Discussion about the importance of quality and consistency in creating GRIND magazine, both graphically, visually, and in terms of content and information.
00:37:13 – Discussion about the disappearance of physical magazines and newspapers and their importance in the context of digitalisation.
00:37:48 – The passion and principles of Vlad, the founder of the GRIND project – the only gaming magazine in Romania.
00:39:00 – Discussion about the existence of gaming magazines in other countries and the differences in approach and appreciation of them compared to Romania.
00:44:39 – Discussion about the new games that appeared in GRIND magazine in 2021.
00:45:28 – About expressing honest opinions in the magazine and not caring about what others might think.
00:47:05 – Discussion about new and old games presented in Grind magazine, as well as the structure of the articles that review them.
