Are there dangers in having large corporations dominate the magazine publishing industry?
Playboy, Cosmopolitan, and Ms.—three magazines that influenced social trends—all came on the scene before 1980. Are there any more current magazines that have been influential in shaping American culture and society? If not, why not?
Is it possible for a magazine to become too specialized? How big does a specialized audience have to be to support a print magazine? A Web-only magazine?
Muckraking by magazines never reappeared after its heyday in the early 20th century. Why not?
Read the boxed insert "Teen Magazine Web Sites: What's the Message?" (See page 114), and consider the following: Do these Web sites have a responsibility to present a more realistic and well-rounded view of young womanhood? How might the emphasis on beauty and beauty products affect young women who may not be able to afford the "right" cosmetics? Would the same messages be contained in Web sites for magazines targeted at adult women?
