- Time Magazine often uses different covers for their US and international editions in order to appeal to different audiences and potentially increase sales. Of the past 27 editions examined, 13 had only US-specific covers while 11 were identical and 3 had minor differences. The document suggests this selective variation in covers may be driven by market research and a desire to present relatable, neutral, and non-offensive images to US readers rather than more challenging world events. However, it also risks giving the impression that Americans are self-absorbed and not interested in international news.

1. Time Magazine: Covers

3. Richard Stengal
-American
-Managing editor at Time
-Since 2006

4. -Among the big three news magazines, (Time, U.S. News, Newsweek)
readers tend to be male.
-Time and Newsweek have about two million more male readers than
female.
-Time is has been around the longest of the three and has a slightly
younger readership with an average age of 43.1.
-Average annual income of 65, 697.

6. -Insides are basically the same, all about the cover.
-It should be noted that, in many instances, the cover story projected
to the international audience is included, if buried in the american
editions. However, the point is the projection itself - the marketing of a
'news' magazine to its various audiences and what that projection says
or does not say.
-Read by Americans abroad.
-Time magazines covers make americans look like they're just not
interested in the rest of the world.

7. The past 27 editions of Time Magazine.
13: only U.S. was different from the rest
11: were the same image
3: had other differences in the covers

8. -So why are the covers different?
-Selective variations might appear to be politically driven, but what it
may comes down to is the publisher using market research in an
attempt to increase sales.
-Does time think that americans are too squeamish to see images of
violence?
-"Countess examples of the publication tempting the world with critical
events, idea or figures, while dangling before americans the chance to
indulge in trite self-absorption" RE: Egyptian revolution cover vs.
anxiety cover in US.
- Do these moments of marketing (through choice in covers) reveal
more about americans or the state of american journalism.

11. -Combination of political censorship and Americans self-censoring
-Pressures of society to be PC. Don't want to be too controversial or
challenge status quo.
-Time magazine sales will always be their priority.
-There are consequences to publishing same covers to all countries.
-Cover appeal is important (Do people want to be seen reading a
magazine with an offensive cover page?)
-Cover need to be relatable to consumer (Does this mean US is self
absorbed?)
-Relatable, neutral, non offensive, and recognizable.

12. “I think the covers I've done since I've been
here have a strong point of view. You have
to give people a reason to pay attention to
the news. You have to present news in a
way that's forceful and compelling.”
Richard Stengal