Categorization of Magazines
Some of the factors adopted in the classification of newspapers could be used in classifying magazines. Magazines could be classified based on mode of publication – print magazine (hard copy) and on-line or web-only magazines (webzines); reach or market size i.e. international, national or suburban; frequency of publication – weekly, monthly or quarterly magazines; and appeal to special interests i.e. based on target audience – various consumer magazines fall into this category.
However, the most commonly adopted factor for classifying magazines is based on target audience. Magazines are basically classified as follows:
(i) Trade, professional and business magazines:
These are targeted at professional bodies or people in specific professions (including traders). A typical example is Soja, a magazine published by the Nigerian Army for their internal publics and members of the external public who care to know about army activities and news about soldiers. Such magazines are distributed through subscription, sometimes for a token to encourage and sustain production.
(ii) Industrial, company, and sponsored magazines:
These are magazines published by manufacturers and companies for their internal and external publics. Nwabueze (2009) describes this category as producer magazines. They update their audience on company business and related activities, including employee affairs. A typical example is NAPETCOR (later called NNPC Magazine), a quarterly magazine published by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. This category of magazines is distributed by subscription or in some cases, given as gifts to those who patronize the company publishing it.
(iii) Consumer magazines:
These are magazines targeted at general audience. They are sold at news stands, through subscription, and other outlets. Various types of consumer magazines are found in the news stands. They are targeted at specific audience groups.
Types of Consumer Magazines
Below is a list of consumer magazines commonly found in the news stands (some of them are now defunct):
(i) News magazines – The News, Tell, Source, The Pulse, The Week, Newswatch, Time (international).
(ii) Men’s Magazine – Play Boy.
(iii) Sports Magazines – Complete Football, Kickoff, Four Four Two.
(iv) Women’s Magazines – Working Woman, Christian Woman Mirror, Genevieve.
(v) Youth Magazines – Youth Scope.
(vi) Ethnic /Race magazines – Ebony, Ndigbo International Magazine.
(vii) Computer Science and Technological magazines – PC world, IT & Telecom Digest, Popular Science. (viii) Celebrity Magazines – Ovation, Excellence, Reality, Attraction, Fantasy, Virtue, Style & Events Posh.
(ix) Entertainment Magazines – Bubbles, Hip Hop World, Gothreck.
(x) Soft Sell Magazines – Encomium, Dating & Marriage.
(xi) Business Magazines – Success Digest, Broad Street Journal, Business Eye, Smart Investor.
(xii) Fashion /Beauty Magazines – Bazaar (foreign), Sparkles, Style Royale, Designers Delight, Trendy Birds, Fashion Sense.
(xiii) Family Magazines – Fatherhood (foreign), Parenting (foreign), True Love (Nigerian), (xiv) Geographical Magazine – Texas monthly (foreign), Ndigbo International (Nigerian).
(xv) Religious Magazine – Awake, End Time Journal, Christian Woman Mirror.
(xvi) Literary Magazines (they focus on short essays and fictions) – Harpers, Hints.
(xvii) Political Magazines- The Politico, People and Politics.
(xviii) General Interest Magazines- Life, Reader’s Digest.
(xix) Gray Magazines (targeted at senior citizens and old people) – Modern Maturity (foreign).
