1. Magazines were the last of the print media to become popular, but they became the first national medium. Search the Web for the home pages of some of your favorite magazines. Review the content thoroughly. Write a brief essay explaining why, in your view, magazines are more or less effective as a national medium as opposed to television, radio or the Internet.
PowerWeb Articles
2. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 4. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click PowerWeb Articles. On the next screen, under the topic of Media History, read the article, "The Newsweeklies: New and Improved?" In your opinion, have newsweeklies improved over time? Use information from this article to back up your ideas.
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
Industry
Web Excursion
3. Today’s magazine publishing industry is built primarily around consumer and trade magazines. Search the Web for the top-grossing magazines, or go directly to the Web page of AdAge, www.adage.com,* and identify the top five magazines by circulation. Why do you think these magazines are the most successful? Explain.
Media World CD-ROM Excursion
4. View track 1, Inside Vibe Magazine. You will be introduced to the various departments that make a magazine work. The director of photography and design director, together, are responsible for the look of the magazine. How important do you feel design and photography are to the profitability of a magazine? Do you think you would read the magazines you read today if the photos were in black and white and the text always looked the same?
Weekly Update Archives
5. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 4. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click Weekly Update Archives. On the next screen, under the topic of Media Use, read 12-02-02, "The Challenges to Magazines." What do you think is the magazine industry’s greatest challenge? Use industry data from this article to answer this question.
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
On these sites, do advertising promotions outweigh the editorial content? What about on the magazine home pages themselves (such as those above)? Explain your findings.*
Media World CD-ROM Excursion
7. View track 1.5, Issues: Church and State. This track explores the issue of church and state, which in publishing means maintaining independent editorial and advertising policies and practices. How realistic is it to maintain a balance of "church and state" in today’s publishing industry? What is the importance of "editorial integrity?"
PowerWeb Articles
8. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 4. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click PowerWeb Articles. On the next screen, under the topic of Magazines, read the article, "Faking It: Sex, Lies and Women’s Magazines." Should women’s magazines deal explicitly with sexual topics? If they do, should they tell the absolute truth about it? Quote directly from this article when answering these questions.
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
