National magazines are published by large companies and sold widely in stores. They feature celebrities and professional photography to attract audiences and make profits. Regional magazines are distributed locally through schools and businesses. They focus on local news and events rather than celebrities. National magazines are more professionally produced while regional magazines have a lower budget and focus on connecting with local readers.

1. Difference between
regional and national
magazines
BY JULIA WILLIAMS

2. National magazines
•A national magazine is published by a large company and
often sold in corner shops, book shops and supermarkets.
•National magazines usually advertise fashion, beauty, lifestyle,
sport, fitness, geography, gardening, music and almost any
genre that could be thought of.
• They usually feature a celebrity as companies that publish
them make larger profits and can therefore afford to employ
people of higher social status.
•By being able to afford high profile celebrities it usually draws
in an audience quicker as the person who is looking at the
product may recognise their favourite actor, singer or model
and will want to buy the magazine to support them and show
their appreciation.
•National magazines often are shot in a more professional
environment with artificial lighting and are edited and made
by people who are skilled and professional in the field of
graphic design.

3. Regional magazines
•A regional magazine is usually sold or handed out for free
around schools, businesses and tourist offices. This is because
they aren’t very expensive to print and therefore can be
produced quickly.
•Regional magazines often feature more local news and
provide information on the events that are taking place
around the area it is sold in.
•These types of magazines are usually featuring of more bright
random colours as opposed to a set colour scheme. This is
because there is no set target audience for most of them and
therefore it is inclusive of everyone.
•The models that are used are often in lower quality lighting
with not much make-up. This is to convey they are normal
people and form a connection to the reader because they are
just regular looking and not glamourous-looking like
celebrities and models featured on magazine covers.

4. How the two differ
•National magazines are more professional and Regional magazines are made on lower quality
material
•National magazines feature A-List celebrities and successful, ‘beautiful’ models as they can
afford this type of convention due to revenue, income and sales. The magazine brand may also
become known or a house hold name such as the music magazines Q! and Kerrang. Regional
magazines feature pictures of people who are more local and less done up as opposed to a
professional models. This is because they can’t afford this type of exposure from celebrities and
because regional magazines are more aimed toward the public
•Regional magazines are made to inform less about pop culture and the latest trends, they are
more guarded toward events and topics that are relevant to one area as opposed to a national
magazine which is there to garner attention toward gossip, music and celebrity information.