Per amore dei magazine: futuro dell’editoria tra orgoglio analogico, pregiudizio digitale ed esperienze di lettura multicanale

Abstract

The paper investigates the transformation of contemporary periodical publishing through the hybridisation of analogue and digital reading experiences, positioning multi-channel editorial design as a critical response to the cultural, technological, and sensory shifts affecting magazine consumption. Moving beyond the binary opposition between print and digital media, the study frames contemporary magazines as multisensory, narrative ecosystems in which physical artefacts and digital interfaces coexist, interact, and mutually enhance one another. Through the analysis of indie publishing practices and recent editorial design experiments, the paper examines how layered narratives, interactive platforms, and tactile materiality converge to redefine the act of reading as an experiential, emotional, and participatory practice. Particular attention is given to the role of analogue print in preserving sensory engagement, slowness, and material intimacy, while digital environments contribute accessibility, interactivity, and narrative expansion. This multi-channel logic is contextualised within a broader historical and technological evolution of print media, tracing the progressive convergence of typography, hypertext, multimedia, and platform-based communication. Mapping emerging editorial strategies and case-based evidence, the paper argues that hybrid publishing models foster deeper reader engagement, support plural modes of access, and expand the cultural relevance of magazines in the post-digital era. Ultimately, the study positions multi-channel editorial design as a strategic and cultural opportunity for periodical publishing, capable of reconciling technological innovation with the enduring values of print culture, while redefining magazines as adaptive, community-oriented and emotionally resonant communication systems.