INDUSTRIAL CONTEXT - history of magazines

History of Magazines

-usually a periodical publication

-generally published on a regular schedule with a variety of content

-financed by: advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions or a combination of the three

Types of magazines:

Consumer - most popular and common, thus targeted at a large and general population, catering to special interests

Trade and professional - target professionals working in business or trade, offering advice within a certain industry

In-House - printed for non-profit organisations and special interest groups, e.g. university periodicals and medical journals

Distribution and Circulation

-majority of print magazine distributors are owned or controlled by the big three: WH Smith, Menzies Distribution, Dawson News

-when a magazine is bought, the majority of the money goes to the distributor, not the magazine company itself

-publishing is turning away from traditional magazine distribution models as magazine circulation numbers dip, thus reflecting changing consumer trends

-more and more readers are getting their information from the internet and less from print publications

THEREFORE;

-magazines now have digital editions as well as print editions

-companies have apps for their magazines

-consumers can subscribe to print and/or digital packages

Contemporary Context

Types of entertainment magazine:

-celebrity lifestyle/gossip

-movie

-television

-music

-visual/audio

Top entertainment magazines:

Entertainment Weekly - celebrity, film and television news, with unique sections that recommend shows airing that week
People - celebrity lifestyle news and gossip about 'people you probably know'
Billboard - expert source for in-depth coverage of top artists in the music industry

Entertainment Magazine Codes and Conventions