Why do today's magazines target specialized audiences for readership? Give at least three specific examples of the phenomenon and the reasons for each.

Magazines are my favorite medium. They are tangible items that carry a wealth of information that is delivered in interesting and entertaining ways. The commentary written into each article keeps my attention.

As most people, the magazines I read are about my personal interests and not just general interest. It makes me feel as though the magazine understands me, relates with me, and that I'm part of an exclusive group in society. Why are most magazines like this?

Survival is the biggest reason. Magazines are very dependent upon advertising to make a profit. In fact the first magazines published by Andrew Bradford and then Benjamin Franklin failed.  Bradford only made it three issues while Franklin made it six.  They learned it was expensive to produce magazines and they had to sell them at a very high price.  Advertising changed this. The more specific the audience for the content, the more specific the audience for the advertising.  This meant the magazines and advertisers could partner up to reach the same audience.  This is why you will find a magazine like Muscle & Fitness filled with protein ads but Women's Weekly will not, instead Women's Weekly would have ads for household goods.  This holds true for consumer magazines.

Professional magazines have a great niche working for them. How does your dentist stay up to date with the latest advancements in technology and resources? Likely they subscribe to a professional magazine related to the dental field. These magazines can carry useful information that appeals to this narrow audience.  Where else would a dentist find information on the latest laser whitening system for teeth? The information is so unique, it draws out an audience that is dependent upon the information.

Target puts out a company magazine every month called The Bullseye. This magazine is distributed throughout the break rooms at every location in the company. This is an attempt to keep employees informed about company initiatives, little known facts, and to maintain a relationship with the employees.  The audience is built in, as team members want to know what Target is doing. They want to be informed.