What is a magazine?

A magazine is a publication, usually periodical publications that are printed or published electronically (online magazines). There are many different types of magazines that appeal to different target audiences; music, fashion, cars, teen, children, girl, boys, etc. There is usually more than one magazine targeting the same audience. This is to give the audience choice for their specific needs/interests. Every person has their own personal opinion and likes/dislikes, so everyone has a wide choice of magazines to match their interests. Stereotypical girls like fashion magazines like Glamour, Company, Look, Vogue, etc. But some, for example like music magazines. Younger girls generally have a much wider choice for magazines than anybody because they have magazines such as; Teen Vogue, Mizz, Bliss, Shout, Sugar and Seventeen.

All magazines look out for ways they can have a unique selling point to stand out from other magazines. Whether it`s having a QR code to download a song, link you to a website, etc, or just something more simple like having more than one target audience to get more sales.

Every magazine has a house style in which throughout the magazine they have the same font and colour scheme. It also makes sure spelling, capital letters, punctuation and italics are all the same and correct. It is not to make the magazine seem as if it is all written by the same person. The whole point of house style is for consistency, it is not noticed by the audience but it is noticeable for the writers.

Ever issue of a magazine has a specific colour scheme. This colour scheme is then spread throughout the magazine. This is called synergy. It ties the magazine together and makes it more appealing because it doesn't have every colour of the rainbow on it, which can sometimes put people off it. Having minimal colours throughout the magazine makes it classier and look more professional. Some magazines keep the masthead the same colour for every issue to keep it recognisable. But most magazines change the colour of the masthead to match the colour scheme, so it isn`t always the same, there is change and a `new` quality to it.