March 11, 2005
Teen Magazines, Part I
Trying to squeeze in some teen magazine readings to add to my YA class assignment (which is coming down to the wire, so there will hopefully be a bunch of postings about it this week)
Cosmo Girl
Feb 05 Issue (this cover image is the current issue, not February's)
cover story:
360 Ways to be Irresitible!
Throughout the issue, find secrets, tips, and tricks to look -- and feel -- hot!
interesting features:
- Calendar with daily code work -- go to cosmogirl.com/wintoday to enter each day (what a great way to drive traffic to the site and to assure that readers look at that page of the magazine every single day!)
Grand prize: a cellphone encrusted with diamonds (?!?!)
- Embarassing stories, fun secrets, LOL jokes
- personality linked to one of the elements quiz: I got "wood" and it suggests that I keep a small tree (i.e. a bonsai) in my room to enhance my inner wood energy
- Cool ways to paint your walls
- ad for Zoey 101, 8pm Sunday on Nick (you can IM or email her at zoeybgirl)
- Behind the scenes at Electra, Racing Stripes, Coach Carter
- "Ask College Girl"
- Runway to Hallway (fashion)
- Become an Activist (and Change the World)
- 20 Ways to Love Yourself (adapted from Swim Naked, Defy Gravity and 99 Other Essential Things to Accomplish Before Turning 30
- Girls' Night In! "You've IMed the world, you're out of gossip, and Everwood is a repeat. Now what are you going to do?" I was pleased to see that there were books in the options -- including a suggestion of starting a love short story book club!
Who's hot?
- profile of Matt Long from Jack & Bobby
- 6 degrees of Mandy Moore
- lots on Lindsay Lohan
- poster boys: Chirs Carmack (Luck Ward on the OC), Steve Hower (Van Montgomery on Reba), Josh Dehamed (Danny McCoy on Los Vegas), George Stults (Kevin KinFirk on 7th heaven)
"As its name suggests, the new CosmoGirl! borrows heavily from Hearst's juggernaut Cosmopolitan. Take away the sex, substitute "backpack" for "bedside" astrologer, use younger fashions and models, include Hollywood's younger hunks (and throw in some stickers of the stars), focus on giving girls confidence to be themselves, have lots of contest giveaways--and you have CosmoGirl!." (Cosmo Gets a Little Sister, Folio, 9/1/99)
"Already the oldest (launched in August 1999) and biggest (1.25-million ratebase) of the teen-sister titles, Cosmogirl! got even stronger when Hearst acquired teen leader Seventeen in May from Primedia. With that addition, says a Cosmogirl! spokesperson, "Hearst essentially owns the teen category." George Janson, senior partner and director for print at MediaEdge: CIA, calls the title the "cheerleader" of the bunch, "for girls who are still figuring out who they are,"whereas the magazine markets itself as something that "gives power to girls,"says publisher Kristine Welker. Either way, adds Janson, "I've been very impressed with Cosmogirl!'s growth, their numbers and how they're performing on the newsstand." Other media buyers agree that Cosmogirl! has the healthiest spot in the marketplace. Welker reports the 10-times-yearly title is planning to raise its ratebase in 2004, and points out that it made it onto Adweek's "40 Under 40" list for 2002. On the competition: "From a marketing and advertising standpoint, it is rare that Cosmogirl! gets compared to the other titles. Cosmogirl!'s distinct voice offers a realistic approach to a teen's budget." (Face-Off: Younger Sibling Rivalry, Folio, 7/1/03)
A recent Detroit News Article talks about Cosmo Girl and other magazines:
Teen girls' mags turn a new page
'Little sister' publications give jolt of excitement to a tired genre
By Lauren Bishiop / Cincinnati Enquirer
Take a look at the girls' teen magazine section of any bookstore or newsstand, and you'll find the choices -- not to mention the neon colors and dazzlingly white smiles of teen idols -- dizzying.Posted by Emily at March 11, 2005 06:25 PMNot that long ago, young women in the market for a teen magazine had few choices: Seventeen, Teen and YM. But things are changing. The market is now dominated by so-called "little sister" publications, namely Teen People (the first to debut, in 1998), CosmoGirl!, ElleGirl and Teen Vogue.
Now, 60-year-old Seventeen is the last of the old-guard teen magazines on the newsstands. Because of declining circulation, YM ceased publication after its December-January issue, two years after Teen's demise.
The remaining magazines that target this market -- including newcomers such as Justine and a batch of celebrity-obsessed publications such as Twist and J-14 -- all are vying for the dollars of the roughly 33 million 12- to 19-year-olds who spent more than $175 billion last year, according to Illinois-based market research firm Teenage Research Unlimited. Contrary to prevailing wisdom, teens are not turning exclusively to the Internet as their information source.
"If Teen Vogue says something is in style, then (teens) believe it. Seventeen is seen as the big sister and best friend all rolled up into one," says Michael Wood, vice president of Teenage Research Unlimited. "These magazines have worked very hard to position themselves with authority, and I just don't see girls going elsewhere for that kind of information."
On the pages
What's the difference in girls' teen magazines? Here's a peek at what's in the March issues of some.
Teen People -- Ashlee Simpson gets the cover of this issue featuring prom dresses less than $100 and "Shocking True Stories!," such as "My parents are in jail." A new section on boys includes quizzes and dating advice. The cover boasts of 10 pages of hair, makeup and other beauty info.
CosmoGirl! -- Cover shows Destiny's Child and promotes a 24-page pull-out shopping magazine inside. The issue also includes an article on a teen who died after popping some pills -- "Read This Before Your Next Party," the magazine warns -- and a story on what guys say behind girls' backs.
ElleGirl -- Are you addicted to bad boys? Interested in a $40,000 camp for socialites? Want "247 Ways to Look Fabulous"? The magazine includes all of these stories, as well as an article on "The Lindsay Lohan no one knows."
Teen Vogue -- Highlights spring fashion, mastering the use of eyeliner, dressing for the prom, an interview with Emmy Rossum of "The Phantom of the Opera" and an article questioning whether the drinking age should be lowered.
Justine -- Serves up 247 prom essentials, a girls' guide to driving and the story of a bone marrow donor. Shane West also gets a mention on the cover, along with a reference to a quiz to determine how adventurous you are.