Magazines, History of

The word magazine can be defined as a bound pamphlet issued more or less regularly and containing a variety of reading material; it usually has a strong connotation of entertainment. Magazines often are meant to appeal to a broader audience, but many target a specialized audience. For instance, there are magazines designed specifically for women or for certain professional groups such as economists or lawyers.

Magazines as a research subject have not received much attention, although periodicals[Page 990] serve as a mirror of the current ideas in society. There are many types of magazines such as business and consumer magazines; they play an important role in mass media. Many timely papers, essays, poems, short stories, and sketches make their appearance in magazine form only.

A high-quality magazine ...