Magazines are becoming more and more extinct as time goes on. One of the main reasons for this is the rise in technology. Because of the evolution of new technology, people just search up whatever they are looking for on their mobile phones or on a PC/laptop. This means that they are spending less money on magazines, putting them out of business. It isn’t a great idea to start producing a magazine in this particular time of era as you are likely to be unsuccessful. However, if the magazine reaches the right audience and gets known, this would make the magazine a success. This is where distribution comes into play. A magazine can be distributed in three different ways. Those are major publishers, independent publishers and self-publishing. Distribution is very important as you determines how your magazine would reach the audience.
Independent publishers are mainly for the niche audiences. They try to fill in the gaps in society by producing something unique that is only aimed at a small group. Independent publishers are likely to break convention rules to have some unique features in their magazines that are coded at their audience.
Independent publishers are mainly for the niche audiences. They try to fill in the gaps in society by producing something unique that is only aimed at a small group. Independent publishers are likely to break convention rules to have some unique features in their magazines that are coded at their audience.
Here is an example of an independent magazine. This magazine is very unique and doesn’t look like it is aimed at a mass audience, however it wouldn’t look appealing to a lot of people. As well as that, it would have costed a lot to produce but it doesn’t seem like it costed that much, this is how risky it is.
An advantage of an independent publisher is that you have more control over your own work and it is your ideas that will be used no matter what. Another advantage of using independent publishers is that as it is usually aimed at a niche audience, your audience will be likely to stay loyal. Therefore the profit made will be consistent.
On the other hand, a disadvantage of independent publishers would be that as you do not own any or fewer companies, you will spend time trying to find companies throughout the stages of productions. Additionally, as you do not own anything you would be required to pay a higher price. Furthermore, having your own ideas could sometimes be risky, which leads me to another way of distributing, self-publishing.
Self-publishing is by far the riskiest method. This is because there is less chance of the magazine becoming successful. This would be because self-publishing is usually a publisher posting their product on a blog or another web page. Therefore, profit and fame as a result would be minimal. Self-publishing is more of a hobby, rather than actually trying to reach your audience.
Another way of distributing my magazine is through major publishers. Major publishers can be both vertically integrated and horizontally integrated. Major magazine is when the media company owns every stage of its products productions. This is useful as they would not have to pay as much money as the say if they were an independent or self-publisher. In this situation, there were 3 phases. The first phase is the production phase. This is the way the magazine is built and produced. The second phase is the distribution phase, this is how the magazine reaches the audience. The final phase is the exhibition phase. This is the phase where the magazine is consumed. All of these stages are very important as they determine how successful your magazine is bound to be.
An advantage of an independent publisher is that you have more control over your own work and it is your ideas that will be used no matter what. Another advantage of using independent publishers is that as it is usually aimed at a niche audience, your audience will be likely to stay loyal. Therefore the profit made will be consistent.
On the other hand, a disadvantage of independent publishers would be that as you do not own any or fewer companies, you will spend time trying to find companies throughout the stages of productions. Additionally, as you do not own anything you would be required to pay a higher price. Furthermore, having your own ideas could sometimes be risky, which leads me to another way of distributing, self-publishing.
Self-publishing is by far the riskiest method. This is because there is less chance of the magazine becoming successful. This would be because self-publishing is usually a publisher posting their product on a blog or another web page. Therefore, profit and fame as a result would be minimal. Self-publishing is more of a hobby, rather than actually trying to reach your audience.
Another way of distributing my magazine is through major publishers. Major publishers can be both vertically integrated and horizontally integrated. Major magazine is when the media company owns every stage of its products productions. This is useful as they would not have to pay as much money as the say if they were an independent or self-publisher. In this situation, there were 3 phases. The first phase is the production phase. This is the way the magazine is built and produced. The second phase is the distribution phase, this is how the magazine reaches the audience. The final phase is the exhibition phase. This is the phase where the magazine is consumed. All of these stages are very important as they determine how successful your magazine is bound to be.
Here is an example of a magazine published by a major publisher. This magazine is of great quality and looks very professional. As well as that, it would look appealing to a lot of people. Possibly not all of those people would like my magazine, however a large number could. As well as that, major publisher produced magazines are more likely to reach a wider audience.
The advantages of major publishers are that they would have more money as they own most of the stages of production, which means that they would have more power. As philosopher Karl Marx said, ‘power resides with those who have ownership and control of the means of production’. As well as that, major publishers are fairly quicker at publishing their magazine and getting it to the audience. As well as that, they generally sell their magazines at a lower cost too. This would help me reach my target audience as my audience isn’t a niche audience and wouldn’t be willing to spend too much money on my magazine.
However, as major magazines produce a great range of magazines, there will be a lot of competition. Hence I would have to make my magazine unique and stand out from the competitors. Whereas if it was produced for niche market by an independent publisher, there will be less competition and the product is more likely to be of better quality. Additionally, another advantage would be accessing stars to feature in your magazine. This would help gain a very wide range of people.
Overall, I have concluded that I would like to use major publishers simply because I want to reach out to the widest range of audience as possible. Also, generally the process of producing and distributing my magazine would be easier and quicker.
The advantages of major publishers are that they would have more money as they own most of the stages of production, which means that they would have more power. As philosopher Karl Marx said, ‘power resides with those who have ownership and control of the means of production’. As well as that, major publishers are fairly quicker at publishing their magazine and getting it to the audience. As well as that, they generally sell their magazines at a lower cost too. This would help me reach my target audience as my audience isn’t a niche audience and wouldn’t be willing to spend too much money on my magazine.
However, as major magazines produce a great range of magazines, there will be a lot of competition. Hence I would have to make my magazine unique and stand out from the competitors. Whereas if it was produced for niche market by an independent publisher, there will be less competition and the product is more likely to be of better quality. Additionally, another advantage would be accessing stars to feature in your magazine. This would help gain a very wide range of people.
Overall, I have concluded that I would like to use major publishers simply because I want to reach out to the widest range of audience as possible. Also, generally the process of producing and distributing my magazine would be easier and quicker.