Readers in food and travel categories prefer inspirational content of print magazines

Both food and travel magazines are showing staying power because they each offer vicarious and inspirational content that the internet can't or doesn't deliver, according to two stories in MediaDaily News out of the American Magazine Conference.

"Readers who want to enjoy gourmet meals or get tips on presentation might find more value in the professional photography and high production values of a glossy mag, rather than a utilitarian Web site for searching recipes," said one story.

"...readers who use the [travel] mags aspirationally, for vicarious getaways, may simply get more pleasure from luxuriant photo essays about the jet-setting good life than online directories of travel agencies or Web booking services--which still tend to have a utilitarian, stripped-down feel," said the other story.

Both categories are doing well in both circ and ad dollars, despite the online frenzy that is moiling the magazine world in the U.S. and elsewhere.