The history of magazines research post for media studies

1. The History of MagazinesRESEARCH POST

2. The Beginning
 The first published ‘Magazine’ was the
German Erbauliche Monaths
Unterredungen released in 1663 –
intended for an intellectual audience.
 The first modern-like magazine was
published in the year 1672, when French
author Jean Donneau de Vize created Le
Mercure Galant. It featured court events,
literature and theatre.
 The first women’s magazine, Ladie’s
Mercury, was launched in London,1693.

3. Origins Of The Name
 The word ‘Magazine’ comes from
the Arabic word which means
warehouse, describing a place
which deposits a large quantity of
various goods.
 The analogy is used to describe a
book that contained useful
information for travellers and
sailors.
 The first use of the word was used
in the Gentleman’s Magazine,
1731.

4. Cost And Manufacturing
 The cost was high with only the printing
budget of only being able to print bellow
one hundred thousand words.
 Distribution was also a big problem as it
was difficult to move large quantities of
magazines at great distances.
 The machines were poor and unable to
squeeze a larger amount of paper through
it.
 Due to the success of the magazine the
cost was becoming greater and greater, so
only the rich had access.

5. Magazine Evolution
 In the mid 19th century magazines became available
to the middle class as well as the upper class.
 Attempts were made to cut the price, however during
this time adverts were being introduced into
magazines, not that much though as adverts were
loaded with special tax, all up to 1853. This made
magazines still as expensive as they needed to
obtain profit.
 After the repeal of the tax, number of adverts did not
increase since many publishers avoided this type of
income.
 Readers Digest magazine did not publish ads until
1955.
 The rotary press invention increased printing and
reduced cost

6. 20th Century
 In the early 20th century William Randolph Hearst became
one of the most iconic publishers. He is the owner of several
newspapers across America and engages in a merciless battle
for readers with his mentor, Joseph Pulitzer.
 He helped bring awareness during the Cuban War for
Independence, allowing Hearst and Pulitzer to publish in their
newspapers images of tortured and starving Cuban troops
(yellow journalism).
 William Hearst also created Good Housekeeping, National
Geographic and Harper’s Bazaar to expand his empire.
 Henry Luce is also as very iconic as William who started
publications such as Vanity Fair, Conde Nast’s Vogue and
news magazine Time.

7. Genres Of Magazines
 Hadden was responsible for conceiving the
concept of the political news magazine
 He as the editor of the Time, gained loyal
readers, formed personality of the
magazine, and brought the financial profit to
the company.
 The same said company would issue
several well-known magazines such
as Sports Illustrated, Money and Life.

8. Full Colour And Print
 Fortune magazine was published during the time when
Time was started, which originated from Time business
pages. It was considered the best and most influential
American magazine.
 It heavily influenced by the world of business.
 Fortune is known for being the first high-quality printed
magazine, with pages in full colour.
 It also invented photo-journalism which would later help
Life magazine famous.
 Due to the increase of cost from colour print Fortune
started to lose money and by 1948 resigned becoming
an ordinary business magazine.

9. The Transition Into The 21st Century
 In Germany in 1959 Twen magazine was
released. Twen was a provocative magazine for a
younger audience, and it consisted of erotic photos
and intelligent articles.
 Its editors wanted to attract new younger generation
 In the seventies the celebrity magazine emerged.
The first issue of People was out in 1974.
 Those years brought a boom of women’s magazines.
One of them was gaining in popularity and it
was Cosmopolitan.
 Since then this kind of magazines has been the
most selling one.

10. The Future
 Some said magazines would die out
eventually but yet they said the same
about newspapers and still both prints are
still around.
 Yes the numbers will drop as they already
have due to technology although people
will still want print media.
 Magazines will always remain as easy and
accessible as they have been for a long
time