Class 7 - Magazines

DISCUSSION: We discussed the three stages of media development, which apply to magazines and to other media we are studying:

• Elite stage -- Only the most wealthy, most educated have access
• Popular stage -- Most people have access, but choices are limited
• Specialized stage -- Everyone has access, but choices are fragmented

SHOW AND TELL: We looked at older copies of Life, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, etc. and examples of different types of magazines: Trade, public relations, consumer; and academic and professional journals.

MAGAZINE COVERS: We viewed online the best magazine covers of '09, and Time magazine covers. We didn't get a chance to view the  Top 40 covers of 1965-2005, which includes some classics you might be familiar with.

The magazine quiz will be on Thursday.

Due Thursday at midnight:  The Internet Search Project. Turn it in at TurnItIn.com. Our class ID number is 3452419, password: hello. If you have already used TurnItIn, you just need to add the class. If you are new to TurnItIn, create a new account.

BLOG 4 - Magazine Proposal -
Write a proposal for a new magazine (either a print magazine or an online magazine), as if you were going to submit it to a publisher. Your proposal should include:

· Name of magazine
· Concept – how is your magazine different from existing magazines?
· Readers – demographics and psychographics (may include age group, gender, ethnicity, income level, interests, self-image, self-identification, etc.)
· Other magazines serving this demographic (your competition) – your investors will want to know how your magazine is different or better?
· Five advertisers who you think would like to reach your readers
· Five articles you might include in your premier (first) issue
· Describe the cover of your premier issue (photo, graphics, color, words, etc.)
· Bonus points: Draw (or create electronically) your proposed cover and bring it to class. Post it in your blog if possible.  You don't need to be artistic -- you can draw stick figures.

I will give prizes for the best magazine proposal (most original and feasible) and for the most artistic.


HOMEWORK: Read Chapter 6 (Movies) and complete workbook assignments.