Magazine

Understanding The Parenting Magazine

2008-09-11T08:24:00.003-07:00

If you’ve ever thought of giving a really helpful baby shower gift, think about giving a subscription to a parenting magazine. This is especially true if the person you’re giving the gift to is a first time parent. They can receive helpful advice that is relevant to the age their child is at over the years. Even parents who have done it before would benefit from up to date advice on how to raise children and the issues of raising children in today’s society.

A parenting magazine is also a good place to look for educational toys, especially around the holidays. The toys are not just advertised; they are often reviewed and the best age to use a particular toy is part of the review. This will help parents and others buy age appropriate gifts for the child.

A good parenting magazine does book reviews as part of its monthly magazine. They review books for various ages of children so that parents can choose books for their children to read or books they can read to their children. These are generally recently published books that can be purchased on line or through a book club.

“Parenting Magazine” is one of the most popular parenting magazines. While it has unique articles all the time, one of the best features is the sections broken down by age group. That means that if you have a toddler, you can read that section for practical tips and advice from parenting experts. If you have a school-age child, parenting tips and helpful advice is given regarding that age group for interested parents. It is a magazine that can grow as your family grows.

Most parenting magazine pages offer specific sections where parents can write in for specific advice about their child. This can be broken down into different age groups or can be for children of all ages. Some parenting magazines even go up through the difficult teen years so parents of teens can receive some much needed advice.

There is even a parenting magazine called “Gay Parent” for gay families who adopt or have their own children. Some of the issues are the same as with straight families while other problems are unique to gay families. With this magazine, you can find out the most gay friendly vacation spots to take your entire family. There are some resorts and cruises that cater specifically to gay families. Information on these types of vacations can be found in magazines like “Gay Parent”.

Another parenting magazine is “Working Mother”. This really addresses the needs of single parent or two parent families in which the mother works. Time saving tips are given and you can read articles that are tailored to situations that are unique to having a mother who works. This magazine covers all age groups and is not exclusive to mothers who have babies or young children. Childcare issues, however, are often a topic of discussion as many working parents have children who attend childcare.

Penthouse Magazine: A History

2008-09-11T08:24:00.001-07:00

The Birth of Penthouse Magazine

In 1965, Penthouse Magazine started its colorful history in the world of media communications. Sensing that the sexual desire of man is a good marketing niche, Bob Guccione founded the Penthouse Magazine in London, United Kingdom. Bob Guccione or Robert Charles Joseph Edward Sabatini Guccione by birth was born on December 17, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York.

The sexually explicit contents of the magazine paved its way to the common households and stayed on top with its rival, Playboy Magazine in terms of sales and popularity. Four years later, Bob Guccione expanded the operations of Penthouse Magazine to the United States.

Bob Guccione together with Kathy Keeton and some family members managed the privately owned company over the years. With the rise of Penthouse magazine, Bob Guccione also rose to fame and was known for his lavish lifestyle and spending including the Penthouse Mansion in Manhattan, gold chains, dream of building a portable nuclear device and casino without a gambling license.
The empire that started from Penthouse Magazine was earning Bob Guccione a fortune.

With the kind of business the Penthouse Magazine is in, attacks and condemnation from several groups were to be expected. The National Federation for Decency, a Christian conservative group now known as American Family Association, threatened to boycott stores that carry adult materials. In 1986, Attorney General Edwin Meese and an 11 member Commission on Pornography also sought to publish a blacklist of pornography distributors. About 20,000 retailers and convenience stores withdrew support to the magazine after the campaign, causing a decline in sales.

In 1992, an issue between Penthouse Magazine and United States Navy surfaced. The United States Navy reacted negatively on the issues of Penthouse Magazine being circulated and distributed around the military base. Distribution and sale of Penthouse Magazine, a magazine explicitly pornographic in nature, is said to be inconsistent with the rules and regulations concerning sexual harassment and human dignity.

The Military Honor and Decency Act signed by President Clinton in 1996 stated that the Secretary of Defense may not permit the sale or rental of sexually explicit material on property under the jurisdiction of the Defense Department. Also, a 1998 Supreme Court ruling held that a military base is not a public forum. Bob Guccione lost the battle.

Videocassettes gaining popularity and the steady rise of Internet users are some reasons that caused the steady decline of Penthouse Magazine circulation and other pornographic magazines like Playboy Magazine and Hustler Magazine. The Internet provided a cheaper and multiple avenues of satisfying the desire of a man. Also, a different level of satisfaction is achieved watching the glossy pictures come to life. Bob Guccione finally announced in April 2002 that Penthouse Magazine was going out of business.

Bankruptcy of Penthouse Magazine

On July 2003, Bob Guccione lost his famous Penthouse Mansion. The Penthouse mansion was composed of two townhouses built in 1879. Rebuilt in 1920s by Jeremiah Milbank, it was one of the largest private residences in Manhattan. At the height of prestige, Bob Guccione bought the mansion in 1975.
On August 12, 2003, General Media, asubsidiary of Penthouse Magazine filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It was thought that this move would help salvage the magazine.

Penthouse Magazine in Recent Times

In October 2003, announcement of the sale of Penthouse Magazine circulated. Later in 2004 General Media was renamed the Penthouse Media Group by owners Marc Bell a real-state developer and founder of the Globix corporation and Daniel Staton, an investor with diverse portfolio. Penthouse Magazine was repackaged.

Starting with the January 2005 issue, Penthouse Magazine no longer showed female genitalia, simulated sex scenes, or male genitalia. The change improved the declining sales but was still way below the original sales numbers of Penthouse Magazine during the heyday of the magazine.

In 2005, Penthouse Media Group had a total circulation of 326, 358 copies. Penthouse Magazine continues to increase sales as it works to become a competitor of the adult entertainment genre.

So You Want To Publish A Community Magazine?

2008-09-11T08:23:00.001-07:00

So you've made the decision to publish your own community magazine, but what now? Where do you go for advice, information and above all, inspiration?

Despite its growing popularity, the business of publishing local community magazines is not covered to any great extent on the internet and there are very few web sites where you can get informal advice and communicate with like-minded people. Unlike normal publishing, the business of publishing local community magazines is very often the domain of individuals working alone for much of the time, and it can become a solitary existence.

Basically, there are two types of local community magazines favoured by aspiring local publishers. The first comprises booklets, usually in A5 size, containing local trade and business advertisements, and this type of magazine is generally distributed around your local area free of charge, with income being made from advertising revenue alone.

There are several franchise opportunities available for this type of community magazine which can prove to be a great way to get started as almost everything you will require is included in the package, including software, advertisement templates and on-going support. The drawback to this type of opportunity is the initial cost of your investment, which can be as high as several thousand pounds. A number of companies now offer local community magazine publishing franchises and a search on the internet will enable you to obtain further information from those readily available.

The second type of local community magazine offers a much more personal reflection on your community, comprising the recollections of local people and a study of your town’s local history, which are compiled into a saleable product. It is unlikely that you will find a franchise opportunity available for this type of magazine and if you decide to go along this path then much of the groundwork will have to be done by yourself. However, in terms of overall interest, this type of magazine will offer much more appeal to your readers.

Establishing a local community magazine featuring the recollections of people from within your home community along with studies of your town's local history can be accomplished with very little financial investment. It is possible to begin printing your magazines from home using a suitable laser printer until you have established a circulation sufficient to meet the cost of commercial printing. Even if you opt for commercial printing from the outset your initial investment could be relatively small.

The main difference between these two very different types of magazines is that one is distributed free of charge, while the second has to be marketed and sold, although as we have already learned, the second type of magazine produces a very saleable product.

A magazine based primarily on local advertising can be highly lucrative but the competition can be intense as there are already a large number of similar publications in circulation and you may well find yourself competing against large-scale organisations. On the other hand, a magazine featuring personal recollections will generally have very little, if any, competition.

Whichever option you choose there is a fair amount of work to be done in order to become established. You must either contact local businesses and sell your advertising space or you must obtain interesting accounts of your town for publication. As always, getting started is the most difficult part.

In terms of appeal among your intended audience, the more personal community magazine is easily the better option and can soon generate sufficient interest to ensure that once you have obtained content to begin publishing, additional content will be submitted directly to you by your readers.

It must be borne in mind that a magazine based on advertising can also incorporate features providing local interest, and in much the same way, a magazine featuring personal recollections can include local trade and business advertising as a source of supplementary income.

Publishing local community magazines can either be simply a business or a very enjoyable and extremely satisfying business - but that is for you to decide.

What Is Freelance Magazine Writing?

2008-09-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

Freelance magazine writing can be one of the most rewarding careers available to a freelance writer. Successful magazine writers are articulate, have a wide variety of interests, and know how to research a topic. Many freelance magazine writers write for various magazines, not just one, and like to write on diverse topics and sell their articles to a variety of magazines and media outlets.

The key to writing for magazines and selling what you write is knowing your market. Most magazines focus on a fairly narrow range of content. One magazine might deal with the finer points of horse grooming. Another magazine might focus on the ins and outs of toy robot collection. And yet another might cover the beauties and travel opportunities available in Bali.

This degree of specialization means that magazine editors usually have a specific idea of what articles they're seeking, sometimes even down to a specific writing style or voice. Since magazines typically cater to a "niche" audience of educated readers, you'll need to write well-written and interesting articles; your articles will have to feel new to an established audience. If you're writing for a parasailing magazine, then submitting a 500-word article about the basics of parasailing just won't do.

You have two options to write salable articles. The first is to become deeply involved with the activities or topics which the magazine covers. If you're planning to write and sell travel articles about Germany, take at least one trip to Germany. If you're planning to write and sell articles about cat care, spend a few days with a cat yourself (or find a knowledgeable, cat-owning friend who's willing to give you some good, real-life information).

Writing magazine articles is a form of journalism, and often adheres to the same standards of quality and truthfulness. Would you trust a news article about declining air and water standards in a nearby town if you could tell the writer had never set foot in that town? Of course not.

Unfortunately, most of us don't have time to take on an entirely new hobby. That's why the second way is usually the best option: write about what you know. We're all complicated people. We all have stories to tell. We enjoy hobbies and activities that fascinate us. We can easily uncover material for a hundred or more articles. So think about what you can write about, and what interests you. It seems hard at first, but once you sit down and start thinking about it, the article ideas will flow. Once you have your article ideas and have written articles about what you know, start looking around for magazines that might be willing to buy them. Chances are good there's a magazine covering your interests or hobbies.

How do you find suitable magazines, and how do you ask if editors are interested? There are many ways to find appropriate publishing venues for your articles. For one, you could go to your local bookstore and search the magazine racks. If you have an independent bookstore in your area, so much the better: you may find some titles that don't circulate at the larger chains. You can also take advantage of Writer's Market, which list pertinent information about hundreds of magazines, including typical rates and what editors seek.

Once you've picked your magazine, send the editor a query letter about your article. This should be short and sweet, briefly stating who you are, your previous publication history (editors like to work with proven successes--wouldn't you?), and your article topic. The length, topic and addressee of your query letter will depend on the magazine; you can usually find information on submissions policies in the "credits" section or on the magazine's website.

Send off your query letter and wait. Be prepared, as well, for rejection. There are many reasons editors won't take an article, and few of them have to do with your skills as a writer. If you get a rejection letter, just take a few minutes to mourn before starting on your next article. The hardest sale to make is always your first sale; keep up a steady stream of good, well-marketed work, and the sale will come. When it does, pat yourself on the back; you're on your way to freelancing as a magazine writer!

The Myth Of Free Magazine

2008-09-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

It makes sense to say "there is no free lunch" when we are talking about magazine subscription that costs $15 to $20 a year. However, I am sure you will be shocked when you know how much the so-called “discount magazine” and “cheap magazine” has ripped you off after reading this article and I can guarantee that you will never ever pay a magazine in full price again.

Some may argue that it is not uncommon to see the so-called “cheap magazine subscription” promoting the idea that “the majority of the publishers’ revenue came from advertisement and so it is possible to give away magazines for free in order to attract more readers.” While it is true in circulation that a large proportion of income do actually came from advertisement, only paid subscribers counts on the “rate card” and not the free subscribers. All magazine publishers set their “ad rate” based on the number of paid subscribers from an audit report every quarter and therefore it is simply not possible for publishers to give away magazines for free to boost the sales and cheat the advertisers. Publishers can be fined heavily if they are found to misreport their readership.

Even though it is impossible to get free magazine directly from publishers, it doesn’t necessarily mean free magazine doesn’t exist. As a freebie hunter myself, I would like to share with you three common ways of getting magazines for absolutely free throughout the internet.

1)Trade magazine: Different from consumer magazines, trade magazines (e.g. Oracle and CFO) are flexible to adjust their “ad rate” as long as they are able to deliver qualified readers to their advertisers. That’s the reason why you will see free magazine provider such as Freebizmag asked you a lot of questions regarding your occupation and job function before they give you the free magazines for free.

2)Consumer magazine: Not many people are interested in the trade magazine because most of the time those magazines are hard to read. A lot more people are looking for popular consumer magazines such as Maxim, FHM or PC magazine for free. Some sites like Magcentral and Freebie-magazine (http://www.freebie-magazine.info/user/index3.php) are sponsored by a third party sponsor to provide the magazine for free. You will usually have to fill out a short form or survey to get your magazine for free.

3)Publishers: Sometimes publishers will give away a free 1 year subscription (usually in digital format) for marketing purpose. This is the best kind of subscription as the subscription itself is provided by the publishers, so the risk of not getting the magazine will be the lowest among the three possible choices. A good example to illustrate this kind of subscription will be Tango. (

One last thing to mention is that unless a magazine is written clearly on the page for renewal, you can always choose a new offer for renewal. But please keep in mind that it is very important to find a way (e.g. through email or the online form) to let the free magazine provider know whether the subscription is new or renewal, or you will have a high chance of not getting your favorite magazines.

Also, it is possible to receive a renewal notice that looks like a bill or invoice at the end of your subscription. Please read through it very carefully as most of the time it is not a bill. I have received over 30 free magazine subscriptions over the internet and I have never received an invoice or paid for a penny. The trick to get your favorite magazines for free is to sign up for as many newsletters from publishers as possible and to check out free magazine sites closely. I hope you will enjoy your free magazines.

Forbes Magazine, The History

2008-09-10T12:18:00.001-07:00

One of the most widely respected and important American publications of the last century is Forbes Magazine. Forbes Magazine was founded in 1917 by Scottish immigrant B.C. Forbes (who was, at the time, the leading columnist for the Hearst newspaper chain). Forbes was born in Aberdeen shire in Scotland and moved from Johannesburg, South Africa to New York performing various editorial and writing gigs just before he founded this vastly important business publication.

Forbes is published bi-weekly and contains up to 60 original and concisely-written articles in each issue which evaluate everything from the companies to the people that run them and has both a politically conservative and pro-business slant. Some of the topics covered in each and every issue of Forbes include articles on the worlds of industry, finance, international business, marketing, law, taxes, science, technology, communications, investments, entrepreneurships, etc. More than 5 million readers worldwide (and seven local-language editions) can attest to the longevity of this publication for the business world.

Coming up on its 90th Anniversary in 2007, the Forbes Empire remains one of the largest and most successful family businesses of its kind in the world. Steve Forbes, once a political candidate for President of the United States of America, is the magazine's Editor-in-Chief and has a column in each and every issue called “Fact and Comment” which is quite popular with Forbes readers.

Each and every year, Forbes publishes its very popular list of the richest people and the biggest companies on Earth (who also, by the way, subscribe to this most accomplished publication). Absolutely no merger, ad campaign or lawsuit of importance on the planet goes unnoticed by Forbes Magazine and the stories in each issue will always vividly focus on the movers and financial innovators that are shaking things up in the business world. Forbes is also the best of the business periodicals that are published today for discovering new investment ideas and more investor focused than other business magazines. So, if you want to make sense of today's incredibly volatile market, then read and you will be as enlightened as the giants of this most respected of industries are.

Discount On A Magazine Subscription

2008-09-10T12:17:00.002-07:00

In order to get a teacher’s discount on a magazine subscription, many internet marketing companies follow the standard offering that publishing houses offer. The discount for students and teachers may be such that they can receive an additional savings of up to 50% off the regular subscription rates that are offered, but it will depend on what the publisher of the magazine offers.

Some of the teacher discounts on a magazine subscription might be found next to the magazine sales price in a magazine marketing catalogue, whether it is online through their website, or in a yearly paper catalog that lists magazine subscription prices. To get these deep discounts, teachers will have to identify the name of the school that they work for, and the position in which they are employed.

This requirement is the same for students who qualify for the same 50% off regular subscription rates offering that the teachers receive. To receive a students discount on a magazine subscription, the students will need to identify who they are, the school they attend, and the year that they are scheduled or expect to graduate in. This information lets the publisher know when you are no longer eligible for the discount, and when they can send you another magazine discount offer.

The teachers and students discount on a magazine subscription can be redirected to other interested parties that want to earn money. The fraternity or student organization program can turn into a fund raiser for an organization discount on a magazine subscription, to earn new gym equipment, to throw a party or any other activity that benefits the school in some way.

These fund raising opportunities sell magazines for the publisher and the school organization will get a 20% profit or commission as this discount is presented, and it will be based on the gross revenues that come from the organizations referral program. This is the type of organization discount on a magazine subscription that they love to participate in.

The publisher will set up the organization’s website, with a pin number assigned, where the organization can design their site to sell the publishers magazines. The organization can then use the referral program to get their friends and relative to place orders for magazines when they want to. There is no added pressure to anyone to purchase the magazines.

With a discount on a magazine subscription offered, there are many people that will find many magazines that they will subscribe to if given the opportunity to do it for a just cause. When these people do subscribe, the organization will receive the revenue percentage from the sale, and your friends and family will have a nice collection of magazines.

Some of those subscriptions may be tax deductible too, if they are purchased by a business. Doctors and dentists and any other businessperson are typically good customers to a publishing company, and want a discount on a magazine subscription. Any time a businessman can present a positive image through the reading materials they furnish to their customers for pleasure, is greatly appreciated. These professionals will be return customers that earn your organization a great source of revenue.

Can You Do Without Your Crochet Magazine?

2008-09-10T12:17:00.001-07:00

Crocheting is a rewarding and popular activity that requires a certain amount of creativity. There are many areas of crocheting to learn and even those who are experienced in crocheting may not have knowledge in certain aspects. Crochet magazines are excellent sources of patterns, tips, ideas and general providers of information regarding the topic. Many people purchase crochet magazines because they are looking for a certain type of pattern or else because they need tips on how to perfect their skill. As beginners progress, they may rely on crochet magazines to further them along with more complicated designs and works. From scarves to dresses, there is a crochet magazine to suit any need.

Some crochet magazines are for complete beginners, while others contain information on more complicated areas of crocheting. There are a number of crochet magazines for the fashion conscious; they provide patterns and ideas on how to recreate the latest trends and fashions with simply homemade crocheting methods. Many crochet magazines are great resources from where to purchase good patterns and crocheting equipment. Due to the fact that many beginners may not have access to a local supplier, this can be very helpful.

There are a huge variety of crochet magazines available for purchase in stores as well as borrowing from a library. There are even online versions of crochet magazines so both novices and experts in crocheting are widely catered for. The main types of crochet magazines are basically sources of patterns for any level of proficiency. These are popular as they give a diverse selection of designs that are usually cheaper and more fashionable than buying a pattern book. Some of these magazines solely supply patterns for clothes while others combine a variety of patterns concerning doilies, cloths, baby bonnets and even bootees.

There are also a large number of these magazines that focus on the instruction of crocheting. They mainly concentrate on the different styles of crocheting and how to create certain shapes, for example. They usually go through the entire process step by step and are a great way to practice. Some only cover the very basics, offering limited designs and methods. Others cater for more complicated designs and patterns as well as additions using knitting and even embroidery. Every aspect of crocheting is covered by a number of craft magazines and anyone who is interested in crocheting should find an almost unlimited supply of help and information.

Get A Magazine Subscription

2008-09-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

Many people can not decide whether or not to get a magazine subscription or to continue purchasing magazines from a newsstand near their work. They start reflecting on why they read magazines, why they invest so much money in the written periodicals, and can they choose another route to get a magazine subscription.

People are aware that their magazine subscription seems to be a costly hobby, but one that they do not want to do without. There are others in their office, who think it is a wise business investment. Some think that when they get a magazine subscription, they are getting more than a bound mass of useless information, they are getting a product that will help them manage their careers, and keep them on the cutting edge of technology.

It is important for people to stay on top of trends. Whether the trend is the latest in fashion design, or fashion wear, if fashion is their passion they will get a magazine subscription on both areas if need be to know how to dress in the workplace, or how to dress at Vail when their ski vacation time comes around.

When you are the low man on the totem pole at work, it might make a big impression on the upper echelon in the company if you knew enough about a subject to talk about it freely at a company board meeting. These meetings are there to give junior executive the chance to show their stuff.

When you get a magazine, you are getting an opportunity to show what you know in front of everyone that you work with, and especially around those people that can promote you. By keeping apprised of the latest technologies, perhaps you will feel confident enough to recommend that the company update their computer systems with a better security program, or use open source programs to make work more productive.

When subscribers take the time to get a magazine subscription, they know they will receive a great discount because all of the magazines offered by the magazine services benefits office ensures that their members are afforded deep discounts on magazine pricing. These lower paid employees can always benefit from saving a dollar or two in their weekly paycheck.

By being able to renew their memberships through an 800 number or through the Internet website, these lower paid employees are also saving on the time and money that they would spend on gas coming and going to the newsstands where they used to get a magazine on a copy by copy basis.

Reading about trends in the magazine industry might tell you where to shop for discount coupons that you can use online when renewing your subscription. These coupons are great discounts on top of the deep discounts you get with your present subscription. These coupons will not only save you money on your renewal but can make you eligible to get a magazine and maybe two more for the same price as your old subscription.

How To Start A Magazine

2008-09-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

Dreams of becoming a magazine mogul and schmoozing with the other big wigs in the publishing and entertainment world have motivated many people to start their own magazine. Writers looking for an outlet for their work, or a person with a unique hobby or interest may take this option. Often, someone spots a niche that is not covered in their geographic area and decides to address it by starting a magazine of their own.

Unfortunately, for too many, this dream quickly turns into a financial nightmare. The magazine production costs quickly outpace the advertising and subscription revenue. Writing enough quality content to fill a magazine becomes an arduous task. Couple this with securing revenue to cover the costs of production and advertising to potential subscribers, and it become an overwhelming endeavor. So, how does one go about starting a magazine and making it work?

First, it is important to research the potential topic and see what the competition is for that particular market. A local sports magazine might work in an area where there is good support and a solid following for the local sports programs, if there is not already a magazine covering that topic. Trying to bring another national sports magazine to the market would be difficult with such favorites as Sports Illustrated, Sport, ESPN Magazine and others already occupying prominent spaces. This does not mean that a new magazine with a unique slant on the market wouldn’t succeed. Begin by researching what is already available and present a new idea or a new angle on an established idea.

Next, it is important to decide at what level (local, regional, or national) you are planning to approach the market from. If a local magazine is the goal, one person may be able to handle all the tasks. Trying to handle the production, advertising, sales, and writing is too much for anyone to handle when focusing on a regional or national scale. A larger magazine will require help from others to handle all of these tasks.

Another part of this planning process must include a decision on the delivery format. A magazine may be delivered in traditional, print format or in electronic media format. The electronic format is a much less expensive format, after initial setup. The cost of the domain name and web hosting will be the major expense when setting up an e-zine. The print option will entail more cost on each issue. The cost of the paper, printing, mailing, delivering, and storing the magazines must be taken into account. The frequency of issues will increase or decrease these costs. This is why some magazine publishers opt for a quarterly production schedule.

Determining the cost of production and the potential market will help you set advertising rates. This will also set the amount of space needed for advertising, and conversely the amount of space available for articles and other content. When setting advertising rates, factors such as the number of ads in the magazine, the estimated readership, and target businesses must be taken into account.

Pre-advertising and marketing the magazine title will help to build hype and start generating advertising revenue. Putting together a sample layout for use when approaching potential advertisers will help them see what you are proposing. Using the internet can help to build advance interest, as well. Press releases and free, or cheap, advertising will also help.

Filling the magazine with quality articles and other content is essential to the success of the magazine. This content may be produced by you or by other writers, depending on size of the magazine and the market. If you produce the articles, provide the pictures and do the advertising layout you will save a lot on production. If you need to buy articles, pictures, or pay for layout or formatting, the production costs will be higher. Sometimes it is possible to get writers who will work for exposure and a byline without pay, especially if there is the potential for pay later.

Finally, the magazine must be laid out and set up for production. It is important to find a quality printer for the magazine, if you go with the print option. For the first issue, it will be important to estimate the number of magazines needed. For subsequent issues, the subscription numbers and previous sales numbers will help determine print needs. It is always important to print more than the number purchased the previous issue. If an electronic format is chosen, the layout must be attractive and easy to navigate. Once the magazine is laid out and printed, or loaded up to the website, it must be delivered and promoted. A magazine is only as successful as its circulation numbers. Advertisers want to see a good return for their investment. They want to know that their advertisement is reaching as any people as possible. Ultimately, the success of the magazine relies on the number of people who read it.

Forbes Magazine, The History

2008-09-06T08:46:00.004-07:00

What You Didn't Know About FHM Magazine

2008-09-06T08:46:00.003-07:00

FHM MAGAZINE

FHM, an abbreviation for: For Him Magazine is a quite successful monthly men’s magazine (also known as a lads’ mag) that was first published as FHM in 1994 in the United Kingdom, but it has actually been around since 1985 under the name for him. FHM which was founded by Chris Astridge was first distributed through high street men’s fashion outlets and expanded to newsagents as a quarterly publication by the spring of 1987. For him had most recently hardened up its editorial approach to compete with the expanding fashion market and has also introduced a sports supplement along with its normal edition. The magazine then had its name changed to FHM. As of 2005, it publishes twenty-seven different editions per month in countries such as the U.S., Russia, Denmark Australia, New Zealand, France, South Africa, Spain and many more.

FHM, which is produced by the consumer division of publishing giant EMAP, was originally launched as a response to the success of LOADED Magazine the previous year (1993). FHM relies heavily on photographs of beautiful actresses and pop singers that are presently getting media attention and has a much more respectable air than pornographic magazines. FHM is usually stocked in the lifestyle rather than the adult section of newsstands.

FHM is printed on very high quality glossy paper and the photography is of high technical quality, as well. FHM had become the best-selling magazine in Britain during the mid to late 1990’s and was selling over 700,000 copies per month. Along with photo shoots, the magazine contains articles on a very wide variety of topics which include profiles of present sports stars, movie, music, technology and book reviews, some gossip, mens’ fashion shoots, the “bar scene” in many different locations as well as extensive discussions of innovative sexual techniques. One of the most popular issues of FHM Magazine was the Top 100 Women Special which had left most readers extremely satisfied and eagerly awaiting the following year’s edition which is sure to have the same reaction. “Wow!” is the reaction from the majority of readers that had received or purchased this special edition of FHM. And one can understand why!

What Magazine Editors Value From Freelance Writers

2008-09-06T08:46:00.001-07:00

Ask a bunch of aspiring magazine writers what editors are looking for when they read article queries and I'll bet most of them answer, "good article ideas."

Well, sort of. What editors most want to find in queries are good article ideas from writers who have an appealing edge over other writers. Contrary to what most beginning freelancers think, that edge need not be writing talent. A good many other qualities, some of which don't show up in a query, make a writer valuable to an editor.

Ever hopeful yet skeptical, editors read queries for evidence that a writer not only has a relevant article idea but also one or more of the following qualities:

1. Research ability. Writers who can turn up little-known, highly interesting truths, track down hard-to-find statistics and answer thorny factual questions can easily rack up magazine assignments as long as they also understand what makes a topic relevant to a certain publication's readers. Build your queries around such material and you'll soon have lots of editors as regular clients - especially if your submissions sail through the fact-checking process.

2. First-hand knowledge. Pilot and flight instructor Mal Gormley found himself in demand as a writer for Business & Commercial Aviation, Aviation Week and other aviation magazines, which had all gotten burned by freelancers who were decent writers and researchers but who just didn't understand flying. Hobbies, languages you speak, where you live or have lived and family circumstances such as being a parent of twins can each sometimes add to your appeal and win you assignments and repeat business from editors if you play your cards shrewdly in proposing and writing articles.

3. Access. Did you used to be a wardrobe assistant in Hollywood or an executive coach for Fortune 100 CEOs? If you can validly claim unusual access to hard-to-reach groups of people, you may find it easier to land assignments. Debra Wallace, who has interviewed such film stars as Dustin Hoffman, Glenn Close and Lauren Bacall, says that the celebrity writing business is "tough and not for the faint of heart." She advises novices to prove their ability to get access first at smaller, local magazines before approaching national publications.

4. Expertise. Professional degree credentials are not quite as valued by editors as many well-educated people expect. Unfortunately, many experts cannot explain what they know in ways that capture the attention of magazine readers. But those who can write in a popular style have a great opportunity to endear themselves to editors.

5. Controversy. If you're one of those people who have a knack for making people sit up and argue for or against what you're saying, some editors consider that a worthy strong point. What generally accepted views can you passionately – and credibly – dispute? Just don't launch an attack that's going to inspire death threats or make you untouchable when you want to write on other issues.

6. Dependability. Editors can't know how dependable you are from a query, of course, but having had a weekly column or having written regularly for one publication strongly implies that you adhere to journalistic standards and meet deadlines. Because an editor has to get an issue finished on time no matter what, this quality counts heavily. "When I told editors that I'd written for Crain's Chicago Business every week for fifteen years, it impressed the hell out of them," says Joanne Cleaver. "‘Wow – fifteen years': their tone of voice changed." Once you demonstrate dependability to an editor, you're in the running for repeat assignments.

7. Quickness. With their unforgiving publication schedule, editors also value writers who can bang out a readable article in next to no time. If you've ever had a writing job with daily deadlines, mention that as one of your qualifications. It might get you an opportunity to come to the rescue when another freelancer fails to deliver what was promised and an editor is looking at a hole in the issue about to close.

8. Catchy phrasing. Think about those phrases that suddenly enter the language, seemingly from nowhere, such as "mommy track," "chick lit" or "alpha male." Show the ability to coin such concepts in your query, and an editor might think "Cover story!"

Make one of these eight qualities your calling card, and you'll find numerous magazine doors opening for you as a freelancer.

Magazine Subscriptions

2008-09-06T08:45:00.001-07:00

No matter what your hobby of choice is or if you even enjoy reading at all; there is a magazine available for your interest and literary level. Magazine subscription services have stormed the Internet in popularity, as more readers realize the benefits of subscribing through a subscription site, as opposed to buying directly from an issue-provider.

Maybe you enjoy catching up on world news in Time or even flipping through celebrity gossip in Us Weekly to find out if Katie and Tom are planning a sister for Suri. Whatever your niche, online magazine subscriptions give you plenty of reasons to sign up from the comfort of your home.

First of all, many online magazine sites provide customer reviews and ratings, so those of you readers foreign to magazines will know that Maxim is not coffee table material before you subscribe. Another added perk in subscribing online is the ability to snag the lowest rates possible.

When purchasing issues from the newsstand, you may get the benefits of a quick-buy, but at a higher price.

6StarReviews.com notes one subscription service, MagazineAgent, allows customers to search for magazines by category, top sellers or price range. When searching through the category “Food & Gourmet,” numerous results popped up, giving potential customers several choices in this specific search.

Business India Magazine

2008-09-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

India’s economy is growing at an exponential rate. There’s so much to keep pace with – company expansions, market trends, analysis, reports, news, views, reviews and more. Now, to keep abreast with the latest, harness the unique Exchange4Media advantage. Exchange4Media is the one stop source for the entire industry happenings. Be it news, views, reviews, analysis or trend forecasting - trust us to give you the most accurate and timely information. We publish niche, relevant and quality publications for the marketing, advertising and media professionals – both online and offline. Online and print business India magazines at exchange4media include Pitch, Impact, Franchise Plus, Realty Plus and exchange4media.com. These publications reach out to over 30,000 subscribers, which include key decision makers within media houses, advertising agencies, corporate and PR agencies.

Pitch, a monthly business India magazine, takes a closer look at the evolving advertising, marketing, broadcasting and media trends. Industry professionals appreciate our in-depth reports, surveys, analyses and expert views on a variety of subjects. Impact, a weekly business India magazine, provides all intelligence for media relations, public relations and business managers. It brings in a fresh point of view and addresses an audience of leaders, trendsetters and opinion makers. The bi-monthly magazine, Franchise Plus, focuses on franchising, retailing, distribution, retail real estate and licensing industry. It covers topics such as trends, analysis and opportunities for all those who aspire to become successful franchisees. Realty Plus, a monthly magazine published by excahnge4media provides residential, commercial, retail and industrial real estate market information, developments and market trends.

Exchange4Media has in a short span of five years, made giant strides in providing quality marketing and advertising services. It is in fact one of the most credible and the largest source of media, advertising and marketing information in the country. With a highly qualified and energetic team, we have stayed miles ahead of our competitors. Our correspondents have the ‘nose for business news’ and we bring it to your desk top – fresh, precise and concise. It’s not with out reason that our publications have a loyal following. Professionals can take advantage of our multiple platforms - web, email, mobile/ SMS, industry events and print publications.

We have built a reputation of breaking stories and providing information through detailed analysis. So, you can confidently depend on us for the latest business news. We give you the power to make informed and right business decisions.

A Few Magazine Publishing Terms

2008-09-05T09:44:00.002-07:00

The business of writing for magazines is often speculative in nature. It can often seem fruitless to conduct research on available paying magazines, attempt to understand their style and unique requirements, write the article, send the article, and then wait for what can seem a never ending response.

It can be even more daunting when you have invested significant time and energy and have received multiple rejection slips. It can cause an author to wonder if they should hang it up and head back to the ‘real world’.

One of the reasons writers are a breed apart is that the thrill of the creation is often on par with the actual acceptance. Many writers write because they simply have no choice; there is some inborn urge to create with words. A rejection is simply a sign that you are getting closer to finding the right publisher.

If you have reviewed submission guidelines for publications to any great degree you will see two separate payment methods listed.

On Acceptance

When you see the term “On Acceptance” this is an indication that if the editor likes your work and ultimately accepts it for publication they will pay you at the time they accept the article even if the article shows up several months later.

On Publication

When “On Publication” is included in the submission guidelines it is an indicator that if the editor accepts your article for publication they will withhold payment until the article is actually published.

Kill Fee

If you have been commissioned by a magazine to write an article and you have, in good faith, supplied the article, they may provide you with a certain amount of money should they decide not to use the article you supplied. This may also apply to freelance work that was submitted and accepted, but ultimately not used. Other similar terms include, rejection fee and cancellation fee. These fees are generally a percentage of the original payment price.

Publishers can exercise this option for a variety of reasons including a lack of space and a choice to move in a different direction.

Status Transition

In many cases you will find publications you enjoy working with and may move from a freelance status to someone who is called upon to provide regular content. Often this scenario provides higher pay and a steady supply of writing assignments.

Journalist Magazine Or Reporter

2008-09-05T09:44:00.001-07:00

I can't speak for the magazine business, but as a former newspaperman, I can tell you how newspapers gather information. The first thing a new reporter does on a beat is introduce himself to all the principle people on that beat. For example a reporter covering a federal courthouse would introduce himself to the chief judge in the district and to the US Attorney for the district, also to the clerk of the courts and the head of the US Marshal Service in that courthouse. In short, find out who the movers and decision makers are and make yourself known to them.

If I were covering the fashion world for a fashion magazine, I would first learn who the newsmakers were. IT might be a particular fashion house, a designer, or buyers for the important stores. Learn who they are and make yourself known to them. Also let them know that you are interested in any new developments in their fields and are willing to learn as much as you possibly can. You might also find out that many of the people in the fashion industry employ public relations firms to get the word out, so introduce yourself to the major PR people.

Depending on what your position is on your magazine, you might ask for help from some of the senior writers or editors. My practice was always to ask for help, no matter what the situation was. Sometimes people will see you as a threat to their jobs so they might refuse to help you, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Keep an open mind and be creative in your search for information and for contacts.

Generally speaking, you are a journalist if you write for a newspaper, magazine or other kind of journal that reports the news regularly. According to American tradition and constitutional law, the profession of journalism is separate from and independent of government regulation or registration.This is important because it is felt within the journalism profession that once we submit to being registered and licensed by government, then the government that we are obliged to report on can then decide who is and who isn't a journalist.

That means if I begin to report unfavorable facts about the way the government is doing business, they would have the power to revoke my registration and silence my journalistic voice. We fight hard to keep governments from trying to register us and to regulate us. We are governed only by laws of libel. Generally in this country you are a journalist if you report and write the news for a regularly published newspaper or magazine.

Various news organizations issue identification cards for their own employees and that should be enough. We steadfastly resist government's attempt to regulate us.For if we allow them to regulate and license us, we also allow them to revoke that license and to silence us.I know I have repeated this principle several times, but it is important enough to bear repeating. If your weekly newspaper says you are a legitimate employee of them, engaged in writing and reporting the news, that should be enough.

A journalist is a person who reports and writes the news. He is usually an employee of a newspaper, or works under a contractual arrangement with a newspaper. The term is broad, it can include peple who report for magazines or for radio and TV stations. To get an exact definition go to a dictionary.

The freedom of the press and freedom for journalists to report the news is not a universal freedom. In many countries when a dictator or a tyrant takes over the first thing he does is get control of the newspapers. There are just some of those people out there that think can get away with some of the stuff that they are doing. Most of them think that if they can get control of the newpapers then they can have them print what they tell them too with death to them of a loved one. So most of the time a lot of journalist will stay clear of some topicas where others belive in freedom of speech.

The Gardening Magazine

2008-09-05T09:43:00.001-07:00

You go to the supermarket and various bookshops and you will see many different magazines on every subject. For gardeners the magazines to browse through are the gardening ones. How can you tell from the glossy cover, if the gardening magazine in your hand will be worth your buying it?

Well firstly the glossy cover will give you a preview of what to expect in the gardening magazine itself. There will be the titles of certain subjects that are known to attract the attention of new gardeners and other more experienced gardeners.

To have a well kept garden is a joy. To watch your garden spring up almost magically is a wonderful feeling. Gardening services provide many different services that will keep your garden maintained without any hassle for you. Gardening doesn’t get much better than this.

A quick look at the table of contents shows what the magazines are actually offering you. You can find the standard articles on gardens and how their owners achieved that particular look. There may be articles that give expert advice on how to cultivate a new type of flower, vegetable or even a fruit hybrid.

For the new gardener there will be tips and mini projects in the gardening magazine on how to make their dream garden. They can also find articles dealing with matters like mulching and making your own compost. A new gardener can be inspired by the fantastic photographs depicting beautiful gardens. Articles pertaining to the picture in the gardening magazine will describe in detail what was done to the garden to achieve that look.

You can also look up ways to grow your plants in different garden forms. These articles may describe indoor gardening or show you how to plan a Japanese garden. You could also receive gardening tips from experts in the gardening trade. They in turn will introduce you via the gardening magazine to suppliers who have the expertise and knowledge to help you transform your humdrum, plain looking garden into a masterpiece.

In addition to these articles of interest you will find many advertisements in the gardening magazine. The will range from seed distributors to gardening equipment dealers. You may even find nurseries that will sell you seedlings and quality transplants.

There is sure to be a page or two that is devoted exclusively to future gardening magazine subscribers. You will be advised how much your subscription rate will be and how often you can receive your magazine. You may even be offered a chance to subscribe to a year’s worth of gardening magazines. In addition you could be offered a preview of what is in store for the gardening magazine next month. What a tantalizing thought.

As you can see the glossy cover to the gardening magazine is there to invite you into buying the magazine. Looking inside the magazine will let you know if this is indeed the right magazine to start you on your exciting new journey through the many different faces of gardening.

Elle Magazine, The History

2008-09-05T09:41:00.001-07:00

One of the planet’s most famous womens’ fashion magazines is, undoubtedly, Elle Magazine, which was created in France in the 1940’s (and is still owned by the Lagardere Group of France, but is being published by Hachette Filipacchi Media US to this day). Not only does Elle focus on women’s fashions, it also publishes articles on the beauty, health and entertainment inspired by today’s modern woman.

Elle Magazine is most definitely the largest fashion magazine in the world with thirty-six editions on six continents throughout the world. The magazine also has offshoot companies such as Elle DÉCOR (with nineteen editions), Elle girl (nine editions), Elle Cuisine (five editions), elle.com (sixteen websites) and high quality products such as books, footwear, eyewear and other fashion related accessories. The U.S. edition alone reaches an audience of almost five million women who find in Elle Magazine a sharp style and substance with a more independent point of view than other magazines of its genre.

The innovators behind Elle Magazine are now located in New York where its main focus is on “fashion, beauty and style – with a brain.” One of the best creations of the ELLE staff was the online version which has benefited with archival articles from the previous year along with sections on fashion (well, of course!); catwalk trends (“runway”); beauty; and style. Also included and quite popular with the readers is the discussion forum and the opportunity to subscribe to an e-mail newsletter. This site is an amazing insider’s style guide with a worldly outlook which provides both leisurely convenience and an addictive high-end inspiration to boot. Not bad, huh?

Magazine showcases some of the most affordable designer clothing along with top quality articles that are quite informative (and actually quite interesting!). There are also updated CD, art and book reviews in each and every issue. Subscribers exclaim about the magazine layout and even the quality of both the cover and paper stock are raved about in the forums. Ell Magazine is wonderful for giving its large readership information on the latest pop culture trends both in the United States and abroad while roaming away from what is presented in our present day mainstream culture.

A Newsweek Magazine

2008-09-05T09:12:00.001-07:00

Now bigger than life and ultimately credible, there’s no literate person on earth who doesn’t know what Newsweek is. However, before all the awards and the public trust is gained. There is a past… a colorful history which marks the rise of a small publication to one that will sweep the world off its feet.

It all happened in February 17, 1933. The first issue of this news magazine was far from the colorful and astounding publication we all read today. All it had on the cover were seven pictures from the week’s headlines. Inside, you’ll find interpretative stories, signed columns and other international editions. As time progressed and the readership got bigger, Thomas J.C Martin’s newly founded News-Week became bigger by the second.

In 1937, new leadership gave the news magazine a much needed boost. It all happened when Malcolm Muir took charge as editor in Chief and President of the publication. One of his first moves was top change the news magazines name to Newsweek, abolishing the hyphen, which made the name look too complicated. After that, the popularity of Newsweek Magazine became quite phenomenal. In ten years, this news magazine grew into what can be perceived as a classic replica of what it has become today.

In fact, it became so big, that the Washington Post Company couldn’t help but buy it in 1961. It is during that time that it cemented its status as one of the most liberal publications of the era. Its growth continued until it became the big fish that it has become today.

Through the years, Newsweek has also has accumulated quite a number of controversies. Some of the more groundbreaking and sometimes, earth rattling articles received mixed reactions. Some of them were controversial exposes on Guantanamo Bay Islamic injustice, the best high schools in America and other war stories. These heated, controversial and impressively liberal stories on war focused on American waged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As of now, Newsweek stands mightily on the pedestal of journalistic success. It is known to reach worldwide circulation of no less than four million copies a year, including 3.1 million copies syndicated in the U.S alone. It also employs multilingual publishing practices as shown in their Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian and Arabic editions. It also operates with more than 17 bureaus reaching as far as Paris and Tokyo. It has even produced its own Radio show called Newsweek on Air.

There is no telling what lies in store for the behemoth of the publishing world. Whatever this leader in the news industry decides to embark on next will undoubtedly be ahead of the rest of the pack.