Introduction to Magazines

Question: How many magazines are there?

Approximately 12,000 in the US. For example, see the Ecola News Stand

or Newslink for lists of just the online magazines.

Question: Are new magazines still being created?

Absolutely. Mr. Magazine says 1,067 magazines were launched in 1998. About 500-600 launch annually, but only 20% survive more than 3 years.

Question: What are the top 50 magazines based on paid circulation?

Question: Do many journalism graduates find careers in magazines?

Approximately 1.5% of all 1996 journalism graduates found jobs in magazines.

Magazine Timeline

Summary:

Over time, magazines have:

• Contributed to our sense of nationhood
• Built national markets for products
• Provided affordable reading material

 

Magazines have been journalistic innovators:

• Investigative reporting (muckrakers)
• Personality profiles (The New Yorker)
• Photojournalism (Life)

 

Today most magazines seek audiences with narrow interests:

• Television attracted most major national advertisers
• Advertisers with products that appeal to people with specific interests still prefer magazines.
• Some feel this has led to an "unholy alliance between advertisers and magazine publishers."
• Norman Cousins: "The purpose of a magazine is not to tell you how to fix a leaky faucet, but to tell you what the world is about." (Vivian, p. 77)