Mr. Magazine™ Talks With Bo Sacks About AI, Journalism and the Future of Publishing

Few people have spent as much time thinking about the future of publishing as Bo Sacks. For decades, the magazine industry veteran, consultant and publisher of Heard on the Web has watched the business evolve through technological disruption, changing reader habits and the ongoing reinvention of print and digital media.

In his latest Mr. Magazine™ interview, Samir Husni catches up with his longtime friend and colleague for a wide-ranging conversation about where publishing has been, where it's headed and what the industry still needs to figure out.

Artificial intelligence is at the center of their discussion. Sacks sees enormous opportunities for publishers but also raises serious concerns about the speed of technological change, the potential misuse of AI-generated content and the importance of transparency in journalism.

“We don’t have the capacity to understand what this technology is doing to us and for us,” Sacks tells Husni.

It's a particularly interesting perspective from someone who has spent much of his career anticipating technological change. Sacks recalls predicting the emergence of a personal electronic concierge more than two decades ago, long before today's AI assistants became part of everyday life. He also discusses how he uses AI in his own writing while maintaining his personal voice.

The conversation turns to the future of reading, the continued relevance of print magazines and the changing economics of publishing. Sacks believes that successful publications understand exactly who their readers are and what those readers expect from them. He points to the increasingly diverse business models across the magazine industry as evidence of just how dramatically publishing has evolved.

There's also a wonderful personal story behind Heard on the Web, the newsletter Sacks launched in 1993 and continues to distribute to approximately 12,000 readers. He explains why he considers his relationship with those readers a responsibility and how his commitment to what he calls “appointment journalism” has kept the newsletter arriving at a predictable time for decades.

Despite the challenges facing publishers, Sacks remains an optimist. His enthusiasm for the industry, his appreciation for the mentors who helped shape his career and his belief that there is always a way forward come through throughout the interview.

For CommPRO readers working across communications, media and publishing, this conversation offers an interesting perspective on technology, trust, audience relationships and the value of experience in an industry that never stops changing.

Read the complete conversation with Bo Sacks on Mr. Magazine™.