An Analytical Study

What’s Reader’s Digest? Family Magazine Monthly General Interest Politically Conservative Upbeat Pro-American Best-selling monthly magazine in the world

Family Magazine

Monthly

General Interest

Politically Conservative

Upbeat

Pro-American

Best-selling monthly magazine in the world

It’s Beginnings DeWitt Wallace conceived the idea of a magazine containing condensed articles from many popular magazines while recovering from World War I injuries. DeWitt & Lila Wallace

DeWitt Wallace conceived the idea of a magazine containing condensed articles from many popular magazines while recovering from World War I injuries.

It’s Beginnings – Facts & Figures First issue - February 5, 1922 First published from home Initially 10¢ a copy by mail Newsstands – 1929 1 Million Copies circulation was achieved in 1935 (US) 10 Billion Copies – 1994 (US)

First issue - February 5, 1922

First published from home

Initially 10¢ a copy by mail

Newsstands – 1929

1 Million Copies circulation was achieved in 1935 (US)

10 Billion Copies – 1994 (US)

Vision The magazine's mission as set out by the Wallaces is to include one article for each day of the month Each article should be of " enduring value and interest "

The magazine's mission as set out by the Wallaces is to include one article for each day of the month

Each article should be of " enduring value and interest "

Nature of the Contents Original articles Condensed articles reprinted from other magazines Book excerpts Collections of jokes Anecdotes Quotations Cartoons and other short pieces. Articles tend to be short to allow busy readers to keep up with a variety of topics without investing too much time.

Original articles

Condensed articles reprinted from other magazines

Book excerpts

Collections of jokes

Anecdotes

Quotations

Cartoons

and other short pieces.

Articles tend to be short to allow busy readers to keep up with a variety of topics without investing too much time.

Topics & Regulars Regulars " Word Power “ - a vocabulary-building quiz " Life in These United States “ - a collection of humorous or profound reader-submitted anecdotes (US Edition) " Laughter, the Best Medicine " a collection of jokes submitted by readers True Stories People Columnists’ Sections National Interest Health Games & Humor RD Living » Food » Family » Home & Garden » Money

Regulars

" Word Power “ - a vocabulary-building quiz

" Life in These United States “ - a collection of humorous or profound reader-submitted anecdotes (US Edition)

" Laughter, the Best Medicine " a collection of jokes submitted by readers

True Stories

People

Columnists’ Sections

National Interest

Health

Games & Humor

RD Living

» Food

» Family

» Home & Garden

» Money

Editorial Procedures One of the most carefully edited magazines in the world Articles are fact-checked for authenticity and controlled by an elaborate editorial hierarchy to ensure that the final product is integrated into the discourse This discourse is highly homogeneous and articulates a very specific set of conservative values which the magazine deems to be important aspects of the dominant representation of American society The Reader's Digest model has been introduced in many countries around the world, in issues that are customized to a certain extent with local content , without presenting the magazine as an American product.

One of the most carefully edited magazines in the world

Articles are fact-checked for authenticity and controlled by an elaborate editorial hierarchy to ensure that the final product is integrated into the discourse

This discourse is highly homogeneous and articulates a very specific set of conservative values which the magazine deems to be important aspects of the dominant representation of American society

The Reader's Digest model has been introduced in many countries around the world, in issues that are customized to a certain extent with local content , without presenting the magazine as an American product.

Structure Usually one survival story (called "Drama in Real Life") Normally at least one individual achievement story At least one medical article Several moralizing stories on human relations Several articles with practical advice Some politically inspired stories in which bureaucracy, crime, radical ideologies and other behavior inconsistent with the dominant ideology of the magazine are exposed

Usually one survival story (called "Drama in Real Life")

Normally at least one individual achievement story

At least one medical article

Several moralizing stories on human relations

Several articles with practical advice

Some politically inspired stories in which bureaucracy, crime, radical ideologies and other behavior inconsistent with the dominant ideology of the magazine are exposed

Internal Structure Corresponds to an elaborate and fixed model. The survival stories have a blurb presenting the drama in medias res (in the middle), then return in time with an elaborate description of the initial situation. Rescue doesn't come at the very last paragraph: there is always time to restore the initial peace and formulate a lesson. The last sentences often thank the Lord or mention the medals awarded to the story's heroes.

Corresponds to an elaborate and fixed model.

The survival stories have a blurb presenting the drama in medias res (in the middle), then return in time with an elaborate description of the initial situation.

Rescue doesn't come at the very last paragraph: there is always time to restore the initial peace and formulate a lesson.

The last sentences often thank the Lord or mention the medals awarded to the story's heroes.

The Discourse Individual achievement. Digest characters are always struggling, against bad luck, against systems and regulations, against diseases, and their only weapons are their own courage, cooperation between individuals, and an occasional helping hand from God. Optimism. Most Digest stories have happy endings. There is only one other case: the article may acknowledge in the end that there are still many difficulties to overcome, and give advice. Moral conservatism. Though the Digest has from the beginning written very openly on sexuality, it has always been emphatically in favor of traditional marriage, loyalty to country, discipline and charity, and generally opposed to feminism, free love and affirmative action. Free market economy. In almost every issue, the magazine opposes taxes, government regulations, budget increases, labor unions and, for many decades, the Communist system.

Individual achievement. Digest characters are always struggling, against bad luck, against systems and regulations, against diseases, and their only weapons are their own courage, cooperation between individuals, and an occasional helping hand from God.

Optimism. Most Digest stories have happy endings. There is only one other case: the article may acknowledge in the end that there are still many difficulties to overcome, and give advice.

Moral conservatism. Though the Digest has from the beginning written very openly on sexuality, it has always been emphatically in favor of traditional marriage, loyalty to country, discipline and charity, and generally opposed to feminism, free love and affirmative action.

Free market economy. In almost every issue, the magazine opposes taxes, government regulations, budget increases, labor unions and, for many decades, the Communist system.

International editions First international edition – United Kingdom, 1938 Worldwide circulation: 21 million copies Readership over 1 billion readers 49 foreign editions, accounting for about 50% of its trade volume

First international edition – United Kingdom, 1938

Worldwide circulation: 21 million copies

Readership over 1 billion readers

49 foreign editions, accounting for about 50% of its trade volume

Localization Procedures American articles are integrated within the local context Local editions avoid reprinting articles which may touch on sensitive spots in the receiving culture Advertisement placement in the local editions are entirely managed by the local staff and reflect local products. Considerable efforts are made to give the foreign editions a local look Selected articles are translated by local translators and the translations edited by the local editors to make them match the "well-educated informal" style of the American edition.

American articles are integrated within the local context

Local editions avoid reprinting articles which may touch on sensitive spots in the receiving culture

Advertisement placement in the local editions are entirely managed by the local staff and reflect local products.

Considerable efforts are made to give the foreign editions a local look

Selected articles are translated by local translators and the translations edited by the local editors to make them match the "well-educated informal" style of the American edition.

Other Editions Large-type edition called Reader's Digest Large Type Hardcover "Condensed Books" issued 4 times a years, each one containing short condensations of several newly published novels or inspirational memoirs Readers Digest also sells recordings of early big band music, romantic ballads, and various other products

Large-type edition called Reader's Digest Large Type

Hardcover "Condensed Books" issued 4 times a years, each one containing short condensations of several newly published novels or inspirational memoirs

Readers Digest also sells recordings of early big band music, romantic ballads, and various other products

Design – The Beginnings

Design – The Present

Design – The Present

Design – Other Countries

Design – Large Format Edition

Contents Page

Articles

Cartoons

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