The History of Magazines

Magazines:

History:

The Gentleman's Magazine, first published in 1731, inLondon, is considered to have been the first general-interest magazine. When magazines first came out, they looked more like books then the magazines seen today. In 1741, the idea of the magazine was brought to America, and Benjamin Franklin was involved.

The first successful magazine in the U.S. was the Saturday Evening Post (published in 1821, lasted as a weekly publication until 1969). Compulsory education influenced the magazine because more people learned to read, so magazines became popular. In the early 1900's, muckrakers were European immigrants who got paid very low wages and worked in horrible conditions. Many exposés were written and published in magazines.

Now:

Today magazines are still very popular. Magazines can be distributed through the mail or through sales by news stands, bookstores, or other vendors. U.S. magazine production uses more than 2.2 million tons of paper per year, and this number is increasing as some sectors of the industry experience tremendous growth. Magazines are printed almost exclusively on papers made from virgin fiber, resulting in more than 35 million trees being cut down each year.

Media:

Magazines affect mass media in many ways. Celebrity gossip, current world issues, everything is reported on in articles in magazines. Fashion magazines play a huge role in mass media because of their international popularity.