A magazine is an informational periodical publication that is typically printed in matte and gloss paper. Magazines are typically published monthly and feature a range of written content, including news, reviews, interviews, and columns. They are typically paid for by a subscription, by an annual purchase, buy prepaid cards, or by both. Historically, magazines have had a much lower circulation than newspapers, though in recent years newspaper sales have been on the decline, while magazine sales have been flat or slightly increasing. While many publications have folded in recent years as electronic information has taken a firm hold on the reading public, magazines have remained durable and their readership has always been strong.
There are currently several different categories of magazines, with most having been around since the late 19th century. These categories include business/entertainment magazines (also commonly referred to as magazines about business), entertainment magazines (including women’s magazines), health and beauty magazines, religious magazines, sport magazines, and education/books/manuals. Popular magazines also fall into a number of additional categories. For example, children’s magazines and cookery/vintage books are considering educational materials, while magazines such as adult books, teen magazines, and other special interest magazines fall into the market category described above. Some magazines, such as comic books, are one of the most popular forms of literature, selling millions of copies each year.
Original Research Stories: While all magazines allow for in-depth reporting and commentaries, some specialize in original research stories. A recent example of this would be “Oprah’s Book.” This talk show host also offers book review articles, book recommendations, and history of book events. While not every publication will publish these types of articles, those that do may include interviews with various authors. Interviews and commentaries may include an original investigation, reporting, or an examination of an important aspect of a book.
Podcasts and Individual Rounds: Similar to podcasts, there are podcasts available on a number of different websites. Podcasts offer the same sort of convenience, as they are an easier and more convenient way for interested parties to get their favorite information quickly and easily from one place. The podcasts can be almost instantaneous, with many times more detail than is offered by traditional magazine or newspaper articles. The podcast format is quite similar to that of a news program, with individual rounds of information being provided at different times. Many magazines and newspapers offer podcasts as part of their publication, but for a podcast to make it to the “print” page, it must adhere to the specific guidelines and standards set forth by the magazine or newspaper. Typically, podcasting takes advantage of the many recording options available to people today.
Magazines and newspaper articles may contain only a few clips or they may comprise an entire issue. In either case, a magazine clip is a single unit of video or still photograph that is used to illustrate a certain aspect of an article or to explain a concept. Magazine clips come in two categories, standard and extended. A standard magazine clip generally contains one or two short images or video slices, whereas an extended clip usually provides multiple pictures or footage cuts throughout the magazine. Most extended clips will not exceed two minutes in length.
While most people associate clips from popular magazines and newspapers with educational purposes, i.e., introducing a new concept or highlighting an interesting factoid, abnormal psychology clips serve a much different purpose. The purpose of abnormal psychology clips is to illustrate an abnormal phenomenon, and thus serve as an educational tool. For example, an academic journal article about the pros and cons of sleep paralysis would most likely contain a clip, rather than a self-contained article with no bearing on the author’s personal life.