CH.5 - Magazines

HISTORY

(mid-1700s) favored by british elites
postal act of 1879: reduced postage rates, increasing accessibility
railroad helped fuel the growth by allowing faster distribution
america’s first national mass medium
muckraking = investigative journalism that exposed corruption and social injustices, playing a crucial role in shaping public opinion and prompting social reform
WWII further urbanized america, making magazines more lifestyle-oriented

MAGAZINE INDUSTRY

the number of magazine publications has grown since 1950
contemporary magazines: business, company, and consumer
split runs = different versions of a magazine for specific demographics
circulation = distribution of magazine copies to readers, determines price of advertising space
controlled circulation = a method where magazines restrict their distribution to specific audiences
- 1914: audit bureau of circulations (ABC) established to provide reliability in reporting magazine circulation
  - augmented by measures of pass-along readership
CONVERGENCE
- online magazines utilize QR codes, NFC chips, augmented reality
- TV and internet challenge magazines as specialized ad media
advertisers’ interests shape content in the placement of their ads
- complementary copy = additional context that aligns with the reader's interests and the overall theme of the publication

MEDIA-LITERACY SKILLS