Classifications of Magazines

To gain some perspective on the various types of magazines available and the advertisers that use them, consider the way magazines are generally classified. Standard Rate and Data Service (SRDS), the primary reference source on periodicals for media planners, divides magazines into three broad categories based on the audience to which they are directed: consumer, farm, and business publications. Each category is then further classified according to the magazine's editorial content and audience appeal.

Consumer Magazines Consumer magazines are bought by the general public for information and/or entertainment. SRDS divides 2,700 domestic consumer magazines into 75 classifications, among them general editorial, sports, travel, and women's. Another way of classifying consumer magazines is by distribution: They can be sold through subscription or circulation, store distribution, or both. Time and Newsweek are sold both through subscription and in stores; Woman's World is sold only through stores. People magazine was originally sold only through stores but then added subscription sales as it gained in popularity. Figure 12-1 shows the top 10 magazines in terms of subscriptions and single-copy sales, respectively. Magazines can also be classified by frequency; weekly, monthly, and bimonthly are the most common.

The Role of Magazines and Newspapers

Magazines

Exhibit 12-1 Magazines targeted to a specific industry or profession

Exhibit 12-1 Magazines targeted to a specific industry or profession

List Marketing Magazines

Continue reading here: Advantages of Magazines

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Readers' Questions

  • Evie
    How are consumer magazines usually categorized?
    7 months ago
  • Consumer magazines are usually categorized based on their content and target audience. Some common categories include:
    1. Lifestyle magazines: These cover a wide range of topics such as fashion, health and fitness, home and garden, travel, and entertainment.
    2. Fashion and beauty magazines: These magazines focus on the latest trends, beauty tips, and fashion advice.
    3. Health and wellness magazines: These magazines provide information on fitness, nutrition, mental health, and overall well-being.
    4. Home and interior design magazines: These magazines focus on interior decoration, architecture, home improvement, and DIY projects.
    5. Food and cooking magazines: These magazines feature recipes, cooking tips, restaurant reviews, and food-related articles.
    6. Sports magazines: These magazines cover various sports, athlete profiles, upcoming events, and expert analysis.
    7. Business and finance magazines: These magazines provide information on business news, market analysis, personal finance, and investment advice.
    8. Technology and gadget magazines: These magazines focus on the latest technology trends, product reviews, and updates in the gadget industry.
    9. Women's magazines: These magazines cater to women's interests and cover topics such as fashion, beauty, relationships, and lifestyle.
    10. Men's magazines: These magazines target a male audience and cover topics such as fitness, style, grooming, and sports.
    11. These categories are not exhaustive and there may be overlap or subcategories within each. Additionally, some magazines may cover a combination of topics, catering to a specific niche or demographic.
      Consumer magazines are typically categorized based on the topic or subject matter they cover. Some common categories include:
      1. Lifestyle magazines: These magazines focus on various aspects of a person's lifestyle, including fashion, beauty, home decor, travel, and entertainment.
      2. Fashion magazines: These magazines revolve around the latest fashion trends, designer collections, style inspiration, and celebrity fashion.
      3. Health and wellness magazines: These magazines provide information on nutrition, fitness, mental health, well-being, and healthy living.
      4. Home and decor magazines: These magazines focus on interior design, home improvement, DIY projects, gardening, and home organization.
      5. Food and cooking magazines: These magazines provide recipes, cooking tips, culinary trends, restaurant reviews, and food-related stories.
      6. Parenting and family magazines: These magazines cater to parents and cover topics such as child development, parenting advice, education, family activities, and product recommendations.
      7. Travel magazines: These magazines offer destination guides, travel tips, hotel and restaurant recommendations, and travel stories.
      8. Sports and fitness magazines: These magazines focus on various sports, athletes, fitness routines, workout tips, nutrition for athletes, and sports-related stories.
      9. Business and finance magazines: These magazines provide insights into the business world, market trends, investment advice, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and career tips.
      10. Technology and gadget magazines: These magazines cover the latest technology news, gadget reviews, product launches, and tips and tricks for using various devices.
      11. These are just a few examples, and there can be numerous subcategories and niche magazines within each category.
      • laura
        What are the most useful ways to categorize the magazine industry?
        12 months ago
        1. Content Type: This category focuses on the primary focus of the magazine, such as fashion, sports, lifestyle, health, business, etc.
        2. Audience Type: This category focuses on who the magazine is targeted at, such as women, men, teens, children, etc.
        3. Platform: This category focuses on the medium of the magazine, such as print, digital, etc.
        4. Frequency: This category focuses on the rate of publication, such as monthly, weekly, bi-weekly, etc.
        5. Format: This category focuses on the size and design of the magazine, such as large-scale, tabloid, glossy, etc.
        • franziska
          What is classifications of magazines?
          1 year ago
          1. Geographical: Magazines focusing on a specific region, country, or city.
          2. Political: Magazines focusing on politics and current affairs.
          3. Social: Magazines focusing on social issues and topics.
          4. Professional: Magazines targeting a particular occupation or industry.
          5. Educational: Magazines covering educational topics, such as language and science.
          6. Hobby: Magazines focusing on specific hobbies or leisure activities.
          7. Literary: Magazines featuring fiction and other types of writing from established and up-and-coming writers.
          8. Cultural: Magazines covering art, culture, and lifestyle topics.
          9. Special Interest: Magazines focusing on a specific topic, such as health, fashion, or music.
          10. General Interest: Magazines featuring a variety of content from different categories.
          • gerda
            What is niche magazine classifications?
            1 year ago
          • Niche magazine classifications are categories of magazines that focus on specific topics or audiences. Examples of niche magazines include publications about fashion, food, home improvement, travel, and lifestyle. Niche magazines often have smaller circulation numbers than general interest magazines, but they can still be influential within their particular subject matter.
            • leah
              Which are considered a type of magazine?
              1 year ago
            • -News magazines -Trade magazines -Sports magazines -Fashion magazines -Entertainment magazines -Lifestyle magazines -Cultural magazines -Sports and outdoors magazines -Children's magazines -Music magazines -Food magazines -Travel magazines -Home and garden magazines -Business and finance magazines -Science and tech magazines
              • ARLENE
                What are the three most common ways to categorize or classify magazines?
                1 year ago
                1. Genre: Magazines can be categorized by the type of content they feature, such as fashion, sports, health, entertainment, business, and more.
                2. Frequency: Magazines can be categorized by how often they are published, such as daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually.
                3. Audience: Magazines can also be categorized by their target audience, such as teens, adults, seniors, children, etc.
                • pasi
                  What are the classification of magazines?
                  1 year ago
                  1. General Interest Magazines
                  2. Special Interest Magazines
                  3. Entertainment Magazines
                  4. News Magazines
                  5. Sports Magazines
                  6. Business & Finance Magazines
                  7. Science & Technology Magazines
                  8. Lifestyle Magazines
                  9. Regional Magazines
                  10. Children's Magazines
                  • Rebecca
                    WHAT ARE THE CLASSIFICATION MAGAZINE?
                    1 year ago
                  • Classification magazines can be divided into several categories, including:
                    1. News and Politics Magazines: Magazines devoted to news and current events, such as Time, The Economist and The Atlantic.
                    2. Entertainment Magazines: Magazines focused on entertainment, such as Rolling Stone and People.
                    3. Lifestyle Magazines: Magazines about fashion, beauty, health, home decor and food, such as Vogue and Elle.
                    4. Sports Magazines: Magazines that focus on different types of sports, such as Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine.
                    5. Science and Technology Magazines: Magazines that focus on scientific research and technology, such as Popular Science and Wired.
                    6. Business Magazines: Magazines that focus on business and finance, such as Forbes and Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
                    7. Hobby Magazines: Magazines that focus on hobbies, such as photography, woodworking and stamp collecting.
                    8. Car and Motorcycle Magazines: Magazines that focus on automotive and motorcycle news, such as Motor Trend and Car and Driver.
                    • zewdi
                      What are the classifications of magazine?
                      1 year ago
                      1. Consumer Magazines
                      2. Trade Publications
                      3. Literary Magazines
                      4. News Magazines
                      5. Academic Journals
                      6. Niche Magazines
                      7. Corporate Magazines
                      8. In-Flight Magazines
                      9. Celebrity and Entertainment Magazines
                      10. Sports Magazines
                      11. Fashion Magazines
                      12. Regional Magazines
                      13. Custom/Specialty Magazines