The latest bad news on the traditional journalism front has just about ruined my day. Make that week. No, it’s just about ruined what’s left of the year, as far as the media go anyway. National Geographic Adventure magazine announced today that it is ceasing publication of its print edition, effective immediately. The December-January issue currently on the newsstands will be the magazine’s last, as the magazine becomes the latest major consumer lifestyle magazine to succumb to financial difficulties.

Adventure was one of the best magazines of its kind out there. Launched in March 1999, Adventure was published eight times a year and featured stories designed to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts and adventure travelers. As a loyal subscriber for many years, I looked forward to the arrival of each issue. Some of the articles were about trips I would have loved to take myself or destinations I would like to visit someday. Others told of adventures that could conceivably be replicated, though I couldn’t possibly imagine wanting to do so. Still others were profiles of fascinating individuals, often with outsize personalities to match their daring spirits. No matter what, Adventure’s stories were always well-written, compelling, and enjoyable to read.

The magazine’s folding comes as a result of severe losses in advertising revenue, which was 44 percent lower for the first nine months of 2009 than for the corresponding period last year. In the third quarter of this year alone, the number of advertising pages was down 59.1 percent compared to 2008, according to industry data.

The National Geographic Magazine Group assures us that Adventure will continue in other incarnations, including books and a vibrant website. I’m sure the new formats will continue to offer high-quality content, but things just won’t be the same without the print magazine.

So it’s goodbye, National Geographic Adventure. Though you lived for only a little more than a decade, you were one of the greats. We’ll miss you.