Close-Up | Elle's "Serious Journalism"

Hey Fashionable Guys&Girls!

A couple weeks ago (on 18 June), Roberta "Robbie" Myers of Elle published "Women's Magazines Do Serious Journalism".

She seemed to make some solid points-

  • Yes- Elle has been nominated in the "Columns and Commentary category for an ASME (American Society of Magazine Editors) award in the past decade"
  • Yes- millions of smart and stylish women read Elle. In fact according to their media kit, of a total audience of 5,897,000, 88% are women, the median age is 34.4, and the average HHI (household income) is $70,293 (47.1% of which make over 75K). 71.9% have attended college, 66.1% are employed, and 42.6% are single.
  • Yes- They do publish quite a few articles way above the 2,000 word mark.

But, this is their website's homepage-



One conversation in the article's comments brought up some interesting points too.


As I love men's fashion I visit GQ and Esquire's website almost as often as I visit Elle or Vogue. I don't recall ever having read a serious article from the mens magazines, but I have had Elle's "Control Freak-Out" (by Rachael Combe) on my wall for a couple years and the last article I actually read on their site was "One is the Loneliest Number" (by Daphne Merkin).

After paying closer attention to Elle's serious and light articles the last couple weeks, I can't decide how serious I would call Elle overall, but I read more serious articles from them than any other fashion magazine.

Though really... is it so bad if we pick up Elle or any other magazine because we want to live vicariously through the lives of the shiny (somewhat airbrushed- and that's a whole other story) celebrities or drool over that Chanel bag?


Stay Fabulous,
xoxo Aimee 

10 comments:

  1. I definitely never read these magazines for serious stories. Not saying they can't have some great ones, but I enjoy it for what it is. I want to see what the latest is in fashion and there isn't anything wrong with that! :)

    xo, Yi-chia
    Always Maylee

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  2. I think most people pick up fashion magazines for pure escapism. I know I do. If I wanted deeper, more newsworthy content I know where to find it.

    xoxo,

    Jules of Canines & Couture
    www.caninesandcouture.com

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  3. I read almost all of the women's fashion mags (I mean technically it's part of my job), and in my opinion Elle and Marie Claire do the best serious stories of the fashion mags. Vogue does have serious stories but they are much shorter than Elle's and MC's. Elle is actually probably one of my faves since I think it does brilliant job blending fashion and serious stories together in one magazine.

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  4. I think it does a good job for a fashion magazine. It is a fashion magazine so it's not promising serious stories in the first place so I don't think people need to get upset about its content. I'm not gonna go to Macdonalds and get upset the burger isn't healthy. Thought provoking blog post!
    xo
    Tiffy
    Blog: CuteLA.com

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  5. I think Elle and Vanity Fair are just two of the smarter fashion magazines. When I was younger, I didn't pay attention to the articles (LOL), but as I've matured they are quite informative and interesting.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  6. I really enjoy reading your posts. Each time more and more intresting content ^_^

    Keep up good job!

    Nicole

    www.nicoleta.me

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  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Really silly huh when you think it about it, it is a...wait for it...a ummm a ...FASHION magazine!!! And yes Elle does have a lot of interesting and serious articles but again folks it is a fashion magazine and you buy it to read about, find out about and to look at FASHION. It is not a news magazine or a political magazine or a technology magazine. AGAIN fashion. If you do not like fashion do not read it. If you want to read something more "serious" then do so. Don't pick up a fashion magazine. You don't pick up TIME or go online to read TIME and complain that is too serious and there is not enough fashion in it. We're women, we're smart, we get it. Fashion can not make your life something that is not...but it can make it more fun. Enough said.

    Ali of

    Dressing Ken

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  9. I never read this site !
    Thank for the discovery

    New post - Kisses
    http://www.mademoisellemode.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. I never by this type of magazines, but i do read them when I'm waiting at a Dr. office!!!
    Or waiting on line at the super market!

    www.plogstyle.com

    ReplyDelete

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