History of Magazine

magazine, a printed or digitally published collection of texts (essays, articles, stories,
poems), often illustrated, that is produced at regular intervals (excluding newspapers).

A brief treatment of magazines follows. For full treatment, see publishing: Magazine
publishing.
The modern magazine has its roots in early printed pamphlets, broadsides, chapbooks,
and almanacs, a few of which gradually began appearing at regular intervals. The
earliest magazines collected a variety of material designed to appeal to particular
interests. One of the earliest ones was a German publication, Erbauliche Monaths-
Unterredungen (“Edifying Monthly Discussions”), which was issued periodically from
1663 to 1668. Other learned journals soon appeared in France, England, and Italy, and
in the early 1670s lighter and more entertaining magazines began to appear, beginning
with Le Mercure Galant (1672; later renamed Mercure de France) in France. In the
early 18th century, Joseph Addison and Richard Steele brought out The Tatler (1709–11;
published three times weekly) and The Spectator (1711–12, 1714; published daily). These
influential periodicals contained essays on matters political and topical that continue to
be regarded as examples of some of the finest English prose written. Other critical
reviews treating literary and political issues also started up in the mid-1700s throughout
western Europe, and at the end of the century specialized periodicals began appearing,
devoted to particular fields of intellectual interest, such as archaeology, botany, or
philosophy.
Prairie FarmerAn advertisement for the Prairie Farmer, a regional magazine published in Chicago, 1852.
By the early 19th century a different, less learned audience had been identified, and new
types of magazines for entertainment and family enjoyment began to appear, among
them the popular weekly, the women’s weekly, the religious and missionary review, the
illustrated magazine, and the children’s weekly. Their growth was stimulated by the
general public’s broader interest in social and political affairs and by the middle and
lower classes’ growing demand, in both cities and rural areas, for reading matter.
Woodcuts and engravings were first extensively used by the weekly Illustrated London
News (1842), and by the end of the 19th century many magazines were illustrated.
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Magazine publishing benefited in the late 19th and 20th centuries from a number of
technical improvements, including the production of inexpensive paper, the invention of
the rotary press and the halftone block, and, especially, the addition of advertisements
as a means of financial support. Other developments since then have included a greater
specialization of topics; more illustrations, especially those reproducing colour
photographs; a decline in power and popularity of the critical review and a rise in that of
the mass-market magazine; and an increase in magazines for women.
With the rise of the Internet in the late 20th century, more and more magazines put
versions of their material online. During this time, other types of magazines became
increasingly popular. These included electronic magazines, known as e-zines or zines.
Often of casual design and produced by at most a few people, e-zines tended to be highly
personal and irreverent. Another kind of magazine was the fanzine, which was generally
produced for fans of a sport or a particular celebrity, among other subjects.
Technological advancements, however, also had a downside for the magazine industry.
As people had easier—and often free—access to a wealth of content, traditional
magazines faced declining readership. In addition, ad revenue dropped as advertisers
increasingly turned to other online outlets. Such factors contributed to a number of
magazines folding in the early 21st century, while others were forced to discontinue
print editions and publish only digital versions.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by René
Ostberg.

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magazine, a printed or digitally published collection of texts (essays, articles, stories,

poems), often illustrated, that is produced at regular intervals (excluding newspapers).

More From Britannica

history of publishing: Magazine publishing

rock music magazine covers

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