Free Essays on Magazine

The origins of the twentieth-century magazine lie in the extensive economic and social changes of the latter portion of the preceding century. The result was the emergence of the newly commercialized form of national periodical which, for the ensuing fifty years, served as the dominant medium of popular culture. And while the centrality of magazines as shapers and reflectors of the nation's popular discourse began to diminish at mid-century, the form itself continued to prosper as new, more specialized types of magazines arose to serve the specific informational needs of more narrowly defined audiences. This progress of the American magazine through the twentieth century might, for the purposes of historical analysis, be divided into four major eras: The Magazine's Triumph as a Commercial Enterprise (19001920), The Golden Age of Mass Magazines (19201960), The Rise of the Specialized Magazine (19601990), Magazines as New Media (1990present). This essay will attempt to chart the changing character of magazines in America during the twentieth century, as well as the forces, individual and institutional, which shaped them. The first twenty years of the twentieth century saw the emergence of modern magazine publishing. Inherent in this triumph of the magazine as a large-scale commercial enterprise was the widespread validation of the advertising-based model of magazine publishing developed during the 1890s. The rise of magazines as a national media, however, was driven by a number of broader economic and societal factors which gathered increasing force throughout the last half of the nineteenth century. Three of the more important included the success of the Industrial Revolution and the attendant urbanization of the nation, the rise of public education and the subsequent spread of literacy, and the emergence of a national consumer market. More specific technological and comm... Free Essays on Magazine Free Essays on Magazine The origins of the twentieth-century magazine lie in the extensive economic and social changes of the latter portion of the preceding century. The result was the emergence of the newly commercialized form of national periodical which, for the ensuing fifty years, served as the dominant medium of popular culture. And while the centrality of magazines as shapers and reflectors of the nation's popular discourse began to diminish at mid-century, the form itself continued to prosper as new, more specialized types of magazines arose to serve the specific informational needs of more narrowly defined audiences. This progress of the American magazine through the twentieth century might, for the purposes of historical analysis, be divided into four major eras: The Magazine's Triumph as a Commercial Enterprise (19001920), The Golden Age of Mass Magazines (19201960), The Rise of the Specialized Magazine (19601990), Magazines as New Media (1990present). This essay will attempt to chart the changing character of magazines in America during the twentieth century, as well as the forces, individual and institutional, which shaped them. The first twenty years of the twentieth century saw the emergence of modern magazine publishing. Inherent in this triumph of the magazine as a large-scale commercial enterprise was the widespread validation of the advertising-based model of magazine publishing developed during the 1890s. The rise of magazines as a national media, however, was driven by a number of broader economic and societal factors which gathered increasing force throughout the last half of the nineteenth century. Three of the more important included the success of the Industrial Revolution and the attendant urbanization of the nation, the rise of public education and the subsequent spread of literacy, and the emergence of a national consumer market. More specific technological and comm...

Newspaper Sections and Terms

Newspaper Sections and Terms Many people become interested in reading the newsaper as young adults. Students may be required to read the newspaper to search for current events or to research sources. The newspaper can be daunting for beginners. These terms and tips can help readers understand the parts of a newspaper and help them decide what information could be helpful when conducting research. Front Page The first page of a newspaper includes the title, all the publication information, the index, and the main stories that will capture the most attention. The major story of the day will be placed in the most prominent position and contain a large, bold-faced headline. The topic could be of a national scope or it could be a local story. Folio The folio includes the publication information and is often located under the name of the paper. This information includes the date, volume number, and price. News Article A news article is a report on an event that has taken place. Articles may include a byline, body text, photo, and caption. Typically, newspaper articles that appear closest to the front page or within the first section are those that editors consider to be the most important and relevant to their readers. Feature Articles Feature articles report about an issue, person, or event with added depth and more background details. Byline A byline appears at the beginning of an article and gives the writers name. Editor An editor decides what news will be included in each paper and determines where it will appear according to relevance or popularity. The editorial staff determines content policy and creates a collective voice or view. Editorials An editorial is an article written by the editorial staff from a specific perspective. The editorial will offer the newspapers view of an issue. Editorials should not be used as a main source of a research paper, because they are not objective reports. Editorial Cartoons Editorial cartoons have a long and fascinating history. They offer an opinion and convey a message about an important issue in an amusing, entertaining, or poignant visual depiction. Letters to the Editor These are letters sent from readers to a newspaper, usually in response to an article. They often include strong opinions about something the newspaper has published. Letters to the editor should not be used as objective sources for a research paper, but they could prove valuable as quotes to demonstrate a point of view. International News This section contains news about other countries. It may address relationships between two or more countries, political news, information about wars, droughts, disasters, or other events that impact the world in some way. Advertisements Obviously, an advertisement is a section that is purchased and designed for selling a product or idea. Some advertisements are obvious, but some can be mistaken for articles. All advertisements should be labeled, although that label might appear in small print. Business Section This section contains business profiles and news reports about the state of commerce. You can often find reports about new inventions, innovation, and advances in technology. Stock reports appear in the business section. This section could be a good resource for a research assignment. It will include statistics and profiles of people who have made an impact on the economy. Entertainment or Lifestyle The section names and traits will differ from paper to paper, but lifestyle sections typically offer interviews of popular people, interesting people, and people who make a difference in their communities. Other information concerns health, beauty, religion, hobbies, books, and authors.