Wired is in tough shape these days, with ad sales down 50%. Joel Johnson was brought in a few years ago to revamp the online side of the publication, with decent success. He’s writing for BoingBoing now, but decided to weigh in:

Wired makes a fantastic magazine. The “puzzle” edition last month was just brilliant, and I skimmed it from cover to cover. But for technology and pop science reporting, the market has moved on. Tech magazines, now matter how well executed, are nothing more than a cute anachronism, with the same sort of boutique market as hand-made stationery.

I fear that may be impossible, not just for Wired but for all these old brands, because they can’t accept that the work at which they have excelled for years will be just as important when it’s online—and online only. Don’t skip the comments, as there are lots of Wired folks, present and former, who weigh in. Chris Anderson himself chimes in to blame Conde Nast’s decisions for the downfall and policies.