CULTURE
Is Scrolling The New Vogue? Talking Print with Fetch Editor, Rezi Ubogu
By: Elliana Gallagi Edited by: Rezi Ubogu
Everywhere we look—in newsstands, airport gift shops, or your local bodega—the world of print magazines surrounds us, whether we realize it or not. There’s a unique thrill in flipping through the latest issue of Vogue, grabbing a copy of The New York Times on the way to work, or returning home after a long day to find the latest Harper’s Bazaar waiting for us in the mailbox. We’ve all heard the warnings: journalism is dying, digital platforms are taking over, and AI will soon make print obsolete. But the real question is: What kind of society will we become when print no longer exists? Print is the foundation of news and current events in our nation, the medium through which we digest and share information. It keeps the thrill of reading alive in an age dominated by screens. But why does print matter in a world where digital content is king?
From a young age, we've all been surrounded by People, US Weekly, and Architectural Digest, whether it’s in a waiting room at the doctor's office or while sitting in the chair at the salon. Print is ever-present, shaping how we access education, how we trust information, and how we develop an appreciation for the impact of content and art. Rezi Ubogu, an editor for Fetch Collective and a passionate collector of vintage magazines, helps us understand the continuing importance of print in today’s world. Through Ubogu's perspective, many of us—particularly younger generations—are reminded of the enduring power of print as a source of inspiration and as a critical form of communication across all media..
Elliana Gallagi: “What does print magazine mean to you?”
Rezi Ubogu: “Print magazines are arguably both the beginning and the end. I immediately think of how print is set in stone—it can’t be edited or altered in the same way digital content can, like posts on social media or news websites. The date on a magazine serves as a marker of the time it was printed, capturing what was happening at that very moment. Print means having something concrete to look back on for inspiration, nostalgia, or to learn from. It is real, and it has the ability to be preserved in a way that digital representations cannot.”
Gallagi: “Have you seen print evolve over time?”
Ubogu: “My journey with print began outside of school. I have always been a visual person, but I also love to read. The combination of words and visuals in magazines has always drawn me in. That is part of why I collect vintage catalogs and fashion lifestyle magazines. I was born in the early 2000s, and seeing media become from something you would receive in the mail to something broadcasted online on social media, emails, and the Internet was a quick shift. I went from getting catalogs from Justice to buying magazines older than me to connect with a time I never fully experienced. Today, people often see physical magazines as a chore, but for me, they offer an experience that does not end when you turn off your phone.”
Gallagi: “What do you get out of print?”
Ubogu: “Beyond nostalgia, print gives me inspiration. Though I was born in 2005, I came into the world as a fashionista. Flipping through pages of things I remember is much more meaningful to me than mindlessly scrolling. Sure, space can be an issue with physical items, but I would rather have something in my hands to refer to. Print magazines are almost like artifacts, and given the track record of digital magazines, they might soon be considered as such. In short, I get inspiration, nostalgia, and information from print magazines. I do not easily believe everything I read, so having tangible sources that can be backed by facts, and that can only be altered by physical deterioration or human intervention, means more to me than many articles and information assessed digitally.”
Like Ubogu, I urge young readers, writers, and creators to embrace print—go out and buy that magazine, feel the power of the paper as you flip through its pages. Stack issues of Vogue, Elle, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Time, and Sports Illustrated to build a tower of inspiration, reference, and knowledge. Let these magazines serve as both a pillar of creative influence and a testament to the power of storytelling. As we challenge the misconception that print is a dying medium, we must engage with it, preserving its relevance and celebrating its contribution to culture. Print has always been a place of vulnerability, originality, and human connection—qualities that digital platforms often fail to deliver. So, take the time to read print. Explore the worlds that came before us, for they will continue to shape the worlds ahead.
