What is the purpose of magazines?

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Read between the lines of a magazine article, and you will see that magazine writing is not solely factual – although it is based on hard fact. It is not personal opinion, although a hint of an opinion is allowed

. It is not fiction, although elements of fiction writing are often used. It is also not meant to be a moral essay, although in places, a magazine piece may provide social commentary.If this sounds like a bit of a riddle to you, here's another way of defining magazine journalism

.Magazine writing lies between a work of fiction and hard news reporting. The magazine article can have all the entertainment value of fiction, using plot, scenes, characters and description. At the same time, the magazine journalist presents interesting, topical information – hard facts gained from research and interviews.

When Elizabeth Forbes* moved into her beautiful Randburg home more than 10 years ago, she imagined sharing a blissful life with her husband in their semi-rural retreat.

The reality is somewhat different.
When a cellphone operator erected a base station just 250 metres from the Forbes’ front door a few years ago, Elizabeth started experiencing a host of physical complaints – and she is convinced that they are related to the radio frequency waves emitted by the unsightly cellphone mast.

Although doctors have been unable to offer a specific reason for Elizabeth’s deterioration in health, the 53-year-old is adamant that she is sensitive to the electromagnetic field around her home. “Whenever I am away from my house, I feel better instantly. Just 15 minutes back in my lounge can drain me of all my colour,” she says….

In a recent Special Assignment programme, directed by Jessica Pitchford, electronic technician Meyndert Bornman from Westdene, Johannesburg, told how he and his wife, Renée, turned a “strange shade of blue” after a low cellphone mast was erected in their area.

The couple and their daughter, Corné, complain of constantly feeling tired and aggressive and of developing highly sensitive teeth. In addition, their once chilly home started getting substantially warmer, particularly the rooms facing the mast. Renée claims that “it became so hot in our bedroom that I couldn’t sleep under a blanket in the middle of winter

Cellphone companies say that the thousands of base stations (Vodacom has 6000, MTN 4735, and Cell C more than 2100 sites nationally) springing up all over the country are perfectly harmless. But an increasing number of international reports are suggesting otherwise….

According to British philosopher Francis Bacon, the printing press was one of three inventions that “changed the whole face and state of things throughout the world.” Prior to the invention of the printing press, books had to be painstakingly copied by hand

When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440, he created a way for knowledge to be mass-produced for the first time in human history. Within a century of its advent, the printing press was being used to print pamphlets, almanacs and newsletters in addition to Bibles and religious materials.

In 1663, German theologian and poet Johann Rist created a periodical called Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen (“Edifying Monthly Discussions”). Widely considered to be one of the earliest examples of a modern magazine, the gazette lasted for five years and spanned a myriad of similar journals in England, France and Italy. Cultured young intellectuals readily devoured the periodicals, which summarized new books and welcomed scholarly articles.

In 1672, the first “periodical of amusement” was published. Le Mercure Galant (later called Mercure de France), was created by French writer and playwright Jean Donneau de Vizé. The publication contained news, songs, short verses and gossip. Despite being disparaged by other writers of the day for its amusing rather than intellectual content, the periodical became very popular in France.

The 1700s ushered in a time of increased literacy and intellectual prowess, especially among women. Society’s hunger for knowledge enabled magazines to become a popular cultural staple. English printers produced three essay periodicals that set the stage for modern magazines: Daniel Defoe’s The Review (published 1704-13); Sir Richard Steele’s The Tatler (published 1709-11); and Addison and Steele’s The Spectator (published 1711-12). Since the periodicals were published several times a week, they resembled our modern newspapers

However, their content was more similar to that of modern magazines. The Review published opinionated essays about national and international events. The Tatler and The Spectator sought to “enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality.” These two publications influenced the manners and thoughts of the day.

These periodicals represented a middle ground between the in-depth research found in books and the quick recaps found in newspapers. They set the stage for our concept of the modern magazine.

In 1731, an Englishman named Edward Cave published a periodical called The Gentleman’s Magazine. He invented the word “magazine” from the Arabic word makhazin, which meant storehouse. Cave’s goal was to create a magazine that the general public would be interested in.

His publication contained everything from essays and poems to stories and political musings. Cave achieved two noteworthy accomplishments: he coined the term “magazine,” and he was the first publisher to successfully fashion a wide-ranging publication.

In 1842, British newsagent Herbert Ingram created the first illustrated magazine. After realizing that colorful sketches and illustrations contributed to magazine sales, Ingram began publishing The Illustrated London News. The weekly news and arts periodical was filled with dozens of woodcut designs. The Illustrated London News also earned the distinction of being the first magazine to incorporate photos.

The first American magazines were published in 1741. Philadelphia printers Andrew Bradford and Benjamin Franklin—who owned rivaling newspapers—both raced to publish the first American magazine. Bradford ultimately claimed the honor by publishing American Magazine first.

A magazine is a publication, usually a periodical publication, which is printed or electronically published (sometimes referred to as an online magazine).

Benjamin Franklin’s General Magazine was published three days later. Neither magazine met with much success: Bradford’s publication folded after three months, and Franklin’s lasted only six months.

Magazines are generally published on a regular schedule and contain a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by prepaid subscriptions, or a combination of the three.

Despite these short-lived ventures, magazines became incredibly popular in America. By the end of the 18th century, there were more than 100 magazines in the United States. Some of the most influential early American magazines were the Pennsylvania Magazine, which was edited by Thomas Paine, and the Massachusetts Magazine.