Writing M agazine Articles Choosing an appropriate article for your magazine depends upon having a good understanding of: Choosing an appropriate article.

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1 Writing M agazine Articles Choosing an appropriate article for your magazine depends upon having a good understanding of: Choosing an appropriate article for your magazine depends upon having a good understanding of: the magazine’s agenda the magazine’s agenda its target audience its target audience What is the target audience for your magazine? What is the target audience for your magazine?

2 The Agenda of Your Magazine The agenda is the set of values and goals which governs how the producers of the magazine proceed in selecting and constructing their stories The agenda is the set of values and goals which governs how the producers of the magazine proceed in selecting and constructing their stories The agenda will be set by the publishers of the magazine The agenda will be set by the publishers of the magazine and put into practice by the decisions made at each level of the organisation, from the editor down to individual journalists and photographers and put into practice by the decisions made at each level of the organisation, from the editor down to individual journalists and photographers In effect, each member of the hierarchy acts as a gatekeeper, determining what kinds of material are allowed into the magazine and what material should not appear. In effect, each member of the hierarchy acts as a gatekeeper, determining what kinds of material are allowed into the magazine and what material should not appear.

3 The Target Audience Remember you should have a clear idea of who your ideal reader is in terms of: Remember you should have a clear idea of who your ideal reader is in terms of: demographic profile (age, gender, class etc) demographic profile (age, gender, class etc) psychographic profile (lifestyle ) psychographic profile (lifestyle )

4 Choosing the Article There are various types of article which could be chosen for a teenage magazine: There are various types of article which could be chosen for a teenage magazine: Celebrity Features Celebrity Features News/real-life features News/real-life features Background/explanatory articles Background/explanatory articles Life skills articles Life skills articles

5 Celebrity Features A personality profile, which should do more than just list the achievements of the subject. A personality profile, which should do more than just list the achievements of the subject. It should fill in the character and make the reader feel that they are acquainted with the person It should fill in the character and make the reader feel that they are acquainted with the person Quotes and description are major elements Quotes and description are major elements Extended interviews are often favoured Extended interviews are often favoured

6 News/Real-Life Features These are different from newspaper features, in that they are not dependent on up-to- minute events. These are different from newspaper features, in that they are not dependent on up-to- minute events. Instead, they provide more in depth coverage of relevant issues through explanation, overview or exposition/argument. Instead, they provide more in depth coverage of relevant issues through explanation, overview or exposition/argument. They often try to personalise issues by focussing on particular individuals or cases connected to a topic. They often try to personalise issues by focussing on particular individuals or cases connected to a topic.

7 Background/explanatory articles Similar to the previous type of story, but not ‘issue-based’. Similar to the previous type of story, but not ‘issue-based’. Topics of interest to the target audience are explored as an overview/summary, or from a particular viewpoint (exposition/argument) Topics of interest to the target audience are explored as an overview/summary, or from a particular viewpoint (exposition/argument) Often, personalisation is used to give these stories some human interest for the readers Often, personalisation is used to give these stories some human interest for the readers

8 Life Skills Articles Tell readers how to do something Tell readers how to do something To a greater or lesser degree, educate and inform as well as entertain To a greater or lesser degree, educate and inform as well as entertain Can be written as a narrative feature or a step-by-step guide Can be written as a narrative feature or a step-by-step guide

9 Types of article What conclusions can you draw about the articles in your magazine? What conclusions can you draw about the articles in your magazine? Write up a paragraph summarising your findings. Write up a paragraph summarising your findings. Be analytical in your writing! Be analytical in your writing!

10 The Structure of the Article As with all of your writing, there are three key elements to the structure of a magazine article: As with all of your writing, there are three key elements to the structure of a magazine article: The opening or introduction The opening or introduction The body of the story The body of the story The conclusion The conclusion

11 The Introduction ‘Openings for stories must grab the reader’s attention. The first paragraph needs to be interesting. The headlines is carefully chosen and so is the typeface. Subheadings are used to break up the type. A blurb (or kicker) at the top, in heavier type, summarises the story or uses quotes to attract the reader’ ‘Openings for stories must grab the reader’s attention. The first paragraph needs to be interesting. The headlines is carefully chosen and so is the typeface. Subheadings are used to break up the type. A blurb (or kicker) at the top, in heavier type, summarises the story or uses quotes to attract the reader’ Pip Wilson, editor, Simply Living magazine

12 How much of your magazine is taken up by adverts? Create a pie chart detailing in percentage terms how much is taken up by advertising. Create a pie chart detailing in percentage terms how much is taken up by advertising. What sort of adverts are they? What sort of adverts are they? What does this tell you about the target audience for you magazine? What does this tell you about the target audience for you magazine? What other conclusions can you draw about the use of adverts in your magazine? What other conclusions can you draw about the use of adverts in your magazine?

13 Types of Intro The question intro The question intro The anecdote intro The anecdote intro The quote intro The quote intro The shock intro The shock intro The description intro The description intro The summary intro The summary intro

14 The Body of the Story Pace and structure Pace and structure Stories should develop to give the reader only as much information as is needed to keep them interested. Too much, too soon kills the article and will bore the reader Stories should develop to give the reader only as much information as is needed to keep them interested. Too much, too soon kills the article and will bore the reader Personalise and quote Personalise and quote Human interest is one of the most important elements of interesting articles. Quotation should be used sparingly, though (unless it is an interview); use quotes to reveal important facts or points Human interest is one of the most important elements of interesting articles. Quotation should be used sparingly, though (unless it is an interview); use quotes to reveal important facts or points Paragraphs and flow Paragraphs and flow Regular patterns of paragraphing are preferred, often broken up with sub- heads or pull quotes. They should flow so that the reader does not feel jolting changes of subject. Regular patterns of paragraphing are preferred, often broken up with sub- heads or pull quotes. They should flow so that the reader does not feel jolting changes of subject.

15 The Conclusion Magazine readers should be encouraged to read to the end of an article. The conclusion should tie everything up and sum up the significance of the article. Magazine readers should be encouraged to read to the end of an article. The conclusion should tie everything up and sum up the significance of the article. Conclude with: Conclude with: an anecdote or story that explains the point of the article an anecdote or story that explains the point of the article a return to some earlier statement that now means more than it did a return to some earlier statement that now means more than it did revealing an explosive piece of information revealing an explosive piece of information an unexpected twist or development an unexpected twist or development a call to action or a recommendation a call to action or a recommendation

16 This Week’s Prep Write the first draft of your feature article for your teenage magazine project. This should be word processed and around 750-1000 words in length. Please indicate how the article might be laid out and illustrated in the magazine Write the first draft of your feature article for your teenage magazine project. This should be word processed and around 750-1000 words in length. Please indicate how the article might be laid out and illustrated in the magazine