Billboard Analysis

Billboard Regulation

In the UK outdoor advertising is regulated by the Town and County Planning system and requires their explicit consent; the displaying of content without consent can face the charge of £2,500.

Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) guidance
The Advertising Standards Authority is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media. We apply the Advertising Codes, which are written by the Committees of Advertising Practice. Our work includes acting on complaints and proactively checking the media to take action against misleading, harmful or offensive advertisements.
CAP Code
The UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing covers ads that appear in a wide array of media including newspapers, magazines, cinema, billboards, mailings, leaflets, paid for space online, sales promotions (wherever they appear), texts, e-mails and on UK based company websites.

History of Magazines

1663	World's first magazine created ‘Edifying Monthly discussions’ published in Germany.
1731	First General Interest magazine The Gentlemen’s magazine is published in England designed for entertainment purposes.
1739	The Scots magazine created Remains the oldest publication to date and is still in circulation
1741	General magazine attempts to be published. Franklin tries to publish America’s first magazine.
1770	First women's magazine. The Lady’s Magazine published focusing on fashion and embroidery patterns.
1843	The Economist starts Magazine solely concerntrating on the economy and politics.
1895	The first weekly magazine starts publication Collier’s magazine runs until 1957; highly influential in the magazine industry.
1896	Pulp Fiction magazines created. Magazines begin to be published on cheap wood pulp paper, making magazines more accessible and cheaper to print.
1897	Saturday Evening Post circulation Becomes the most widely circulated weekly magazine.
1912	Photoplay begins circulation The first magazine aimed at the Film industry; convergence starts.
1912	Time magazine starts circulation. First news magazine in the US.
1933	Esquire starts publication First specific men’s magazine.
1936	Conglomerate media begins Life is started as a branch of Time magazine
1944	Seventeen magazine First magazine aimed at adolesents.
1967	Rolling Stone Mag Shows the demand for special interest magazines unlike previously.
1967	New York magazine First regional magazine to hit publication.
1990	Entertainment Weekly begins One of today’s largest grossing magazines begins publication http://www.uncp.edu/home/acurtis/Courses/ResourcesForCourses/MagazinesHistory.html

Distribution and Fall in Sales Figures

Distribution’s typical sales are through newsstands, vendors, mail order whilst free distribution favours selected pick up locations which have set redistribution patterns at regular intervals.

The three main circulation methods are paid, free and controlled depending on the means of the magazines intent:-

·         Paid: Sold to the reader and relies on that revenue to fund its resources and content.

·         Free: The issues are freely distributed but rely upon advertising revenue to fund the issues.

·         Controlled: Generally a ‘free’ publication distributed to only those who are eligible such as consumer magazines.

Although, in recent years the trend of magazines has declined significantly; the ABC figures show a vast decline in the yearly circulation of NME magazine by 17.6% from 56,000 to 18,000. This appears to be a trending event throughout all magazines with Q magazine fell by 20% respectively. As of 2012, the biggest selling music magazines Mojo’s circulation also fell by 2.4% to 85,000.

This correlation of falling magazine sales and the distribution increase of free title magazines such as Fly to 108,827 copies displays the trend in which magazines are going, relying upon advertising rather than selling to the public.

Title	Publisher	Jun End 2012	Yr / Yr Change
Empire	Bauer Consumer Media	167,096	-2.3%
Total Film	Future Publishing	68,897	-4.1%
Mojo	Bauer Consumer Media	85,149	-2.4%
Q	Bauer Consumer Media	64,596	-19.7%
Uncut	IPC Media	63,003	-4.5%
Kerrang!	Bauer Consumer Media	40,203	-6.6%
New Musical Express	IPC Media	23,924	-17.6%

In relation to regional magazines Time Out magazine has recently advocated to a free title instead of paid after being established for more than 40 years. ABC figures in 2009 show Time Out’s circulation figures from 44.6% to 61,397 in the 2^nd half of the year; a trend which was further exploited by the annual year by year drops of 20.7% of annual readership and subscribers.  In Time Out’s first monthly debut as a free title the publication reached its 3month target in the first 4 weeks of 305,000 copies. This represents clearly the powerful effect which free distribution has on the climate and on the method of publication emerging as the most prominent in the industry, especially when compared with its distribution peak as a paid for title of only 50,000 annually.

Front Cover Analysis

Contents Analysis

Key Theories

Key theories from jed06eh1

Convergence of Media

The Time Out franchise aims to reach out to readers no matter of their consumption habits. Above shows a range of Time Out Apps in order for their audience to engage their audience on the move when reading the magazine isn’t possible. The application also displays extra information from the magazine. With almost 320,000 downloads it is clear to say that integrating a mobile function for the brand optimises user interactivity and ensures more readership as a result of expanding the knowledge base of the brand. August 2012 saw Time Out release an app for the iPad, further expanding into the handheld faction of media.

Time Out’s Website hits for the 2011 year came to 5.75million mostly consisting of the age group 15-34 which shows them to be a primary target group within the digital age. 5.75 million users is a huge base for expanding audiences and to ensure readership continues to expand and grow. The website also integrates social-media, highlighting the need for interactivity to be a crucial aspect of engaging with the audience.

In order to make a successful product I will have to make a magazine which expands into the new digitial age and fully utilizes and embraces social media.

Now Then and Time Out Audience and Distribution

Now Then and Time Out Audience and Distribution from jed06eh1

Magazine Regulation

 

Levison Inquiry

The Inquiry will examine culture, practises and ethics within the media in order to establish whether or not the British press has too little restraint. There are 4 modules of inquiry consisting of:-

Module 1: The relationship between the press and the public and looks at phone-hacking and other potentially illegal behaviour.

Module 2: The relationships between the press and police and the extent to which that has operated in the public interest.

Module 3: The relationship between press and politicians.

Module 4: Recommendations for a more effective policy and regulation that supports the integrity and freedom of the press while encouraging the highest ethical standards.

Currently the only regulation in place in terms of magazines and newspapers is self regulation. The Levison Inquiry calls this into question with Lord Justice Leveson saying on the 14th November 2011, “The press provides an essential check on all aspects of public life. That is why any failure within the media affects all of us. At the heart of this Inquiry, therefore, may be one simple question: who guards the guardians?” but this could backfire in the face of free-speech and could impede upon accurate reporting.

 When creating my magazine I must take into account these factors that I will have to be self-regulating my content; with the Levison Inquiry further and solid regulation could in be in place in order to have strict guidelines on what content is included.

 National Union of Journalists

"Ensure that information dissemination is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair"

and for all stories to be obtained throguh honest and straightforward means. The Phone Hacking scandal explicitly breached these rules while also the PCC failed to protect the interests of those involved, highlighting the need for less voluntary measures of regulation and solid guidelines to be placed.

In purpose of creating my magazine strict editorial guidelines would be in place to ensure the upmost respect for the magazine but also to protect the interests of the reader.

In purpose of creating my magazine strict editorial guidelines would be in place to ensure the upmost respect for the magazine but also to protect the interests of the reader. This shows that my magazine will be subject to rules and restrictions; so I will refrain from using profanity and nudity in my product so not to arouse complaints about the content and give my magazine a tainted name.