THE HISTORY OF MAGAZINE

   A magazine is a periodical containing a variety of articles and generally illustrations of an entertaining, promotional, or an instructive nature. Magazines are designed to be of interest either to the general public or to groups of people with specialized interests. Journals and reviews are magazines that contain specialized subject matter. The essential difference between the magazine and the newspaper is a physical one. The magazine is small in size and is often bound in pamphlet form.

   Magazine history dates from the 17th century, when publishers began to issue catalogues of books. In 1665 the French Journal des Scavans, generally regarded as the first magazine, printed accounts of important European books and original articles on literature, science, and art. The Journal was widely imitated in France, Germany, England, and Italy. Russian periodicals developed more slowly because of frequent repression of the press.

The Gentleman's Magazine

   In 1704 the difference between newspapers and magazines widened considerably in England, when Daniel Defoe printed not only news in his Review but added a section concerning politics, literature, manners, and morals. Steele's Tattler and Addison and Steele's Spectator carried on by adding the informal essay to English literature. The first English periodical to call itself a magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine, was founded in 1731. It contained a record of publications, news, essays on interesting historical and biographical subjects, reports of the proceedings in Parliament and maps.

   The rapid transmission of news in the 20th century brought about the development of news magazines. Time appeared in 1923, while Newsweek appeared ten years later. These magazines, created to keep pace with a rapidly changing world, were joined by illustrated popular weeklies and semi-weeklies such as Life, Look, Paris-Match, and the Illustrated London News.

   Some magazines became international in scope. The Reader's Digest, published in seven languages, developed a world market for its contents. The Soviet monthly Sovietsky Soyuz sought an international readership by appearing in 17 languages. Other magazines achieving more than national popularity were The London Magazine, Paris Review, Realities, and Life.

   Today's magazines are numerous and are available on any given topic or subject matter. From the comical to the serious, to ladies interest to the gentleman's handyman corner, there is a magazine to fit every taste and interest. And, with the booming rate of Internet usage, magazines today are publishing their works online as well as in printed form.