The publication of magazines began in the 18th century with titles like the Gentleman's Magazine. Early magazines covered a variety of topics from crime and romance to politics and religion. However, the British government introduced taxes in 1765 to curb the growth of magazines, seeing them as a threat. These taxes were later removed in the mid-19th century, allowing magazines to expand further. In the 20th century, magazines grew more specialized and targeted specific interests and audiences. Famous magazines from this time included Time, Newsweek, and Life. Vogue emerged as the gold standard for fashion magazines, documenting over a century of changing styles.
3. However, the term magazine is generally acknowledged to have come into usage with the publication in the 1730s of the Gentleman’s Magazine by Edward Cave. Its aim was to entertain with stories of crime and romance. It soon proved popular, not just for sale but for rental in public houses, coffee houses and barber shops.
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6. General interest magazines such as Answers, Tidbits (Tit Bits from all the Most Interesting Books, Periodicals and Contributors in the World), Home Chat, Comic Cuts and Pearson’s Weekly were also hugely popular. Early press barons like Northcliffe used the profits from their magazines to support their wider press interests as they built up their range of titles.
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9. According to the Advertising Association the magazine sector accounted for 18.4%, so there is a lucrative market for publishers to exploit.
10. Not that there is complete freedom to publish any material that will make money: there are laws and regulations that affect magazines just are there are for other media forms.
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14. From its inception in the late nineteenth century to the present, the magazine has served as a photographic and literary record of its readers lives— the liberated elite of the 1920s, the idealized housewives of the 1950s, the working everywoman of the 1970s, and today’s multiracial, indefinable woman.
24. Magazines aim for one particular target, while online is able to reach all
25. Online publications can have up to 20 million visitors because it is free and reaches everyone. Print depends on subscriptions, therefore reaching far less customers.
![The first magazines ,[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)