If the first class last week was all about identifying a niche and defining a reader profile, the second class in the series focused on CONTENT and 'the reader's journey through the magazine'. We were given the job of analysing the composition of our chosen magazines; counting the number of pages dedicated to editorial or non-advertising content, and to break down the structure of the magazine in terms of reviews, tutorials, letters, news, interviews, and so on. Many of these sections are in every issue ('regulars'), with the content varying superficially between issues, which engenders a sense of stability or predictability that is desired by readers (we like what we know). It is true that successful magazines are quite formulaic; if a certain topic works well, then why change it? It is entirely about giving the readers what they want.
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I've always wanted to write an Ode to something/-one [as an aside, I'm a big fan of the Keats poem Ode to a Nightingale, for its rich imagery and the central theme contrasting the transience and imperfection of human life to the immortality of art. This relates in absolutely no way whatsoever to my Ode, and is, in fact, the most tenuous link, ever. I just wanted to sound literary. However, while I'm at it, I also very much like Keats' Ode on a Grecian Urn, especially the closing couplet: 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty, - that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know'. So lovely!]...
... and I've settled on the London Underground. I began the Introduction to Magazine Publishing short course at Anglia Ruskin University last Wednesday evening, and here are some of the preliminary insights I've gained into the magazine publishing world:
And so to Wordfest, the literary festival that takes place twice a year in Cambridge to celebrate all that is wonderful about the written and spoken word! It has been in existence for 10 years so this was a special occasion, reflected in an eclectic and upbeat programme that catered for all tastes. I attended three events: a biographical lecture on Virginia Woolf by Alexandra Harris; an Industry Panel discussion on the publishing world; and a seminar on the brain, delivered by academics from the University of Cambridge. I am nothing if not a random punter.
The Guardian's science correspondent Alok Jha wrote a piece yesterday highlighting the latest update in the science research publishing drama, which has been simmering away nicely for many years but was brought to the boil by Timothy Gower's blog post earlier this year (see here).
So, I love music. Everyone says that but I am definitely special (I'm sure Anthony wouldn't argue with me there) and I REALLY mean it. The first album I ever purchased was in tape format, naturally (as an aside, I have so many memories of attempting to extract loops of tape guts from various cassette players over the years, followed by rolling it all up again using a pen. However, the tape had usually gone all crinkledy from the trauma of being eaten by the mechanism and things never quite sounded the same again. This was always devastating), and it was by Madonna, who I didn't particularly admire but I was fascinated by her beauty spot. I can't even remember which album it was... the cover was red and black and there may have been a hat. (I'm sure I could Google it but I'm far too lazy to do proper research for my blog.) Then I started buying every issue of Smash Hits and refusing to part with any of them, so after several years I had a tower of Smash Hits that I could refer to as necessary (never). Eventually I gave in and threw them out, but it hurt and took me some time to get over the loss (it was less painful for my mother who had been campaigning for their eviction for many years)... I especially loved the song lyrics section in each issue, which contained the words to a number of singles that were charting at the time. This was fantastic because I could sing along to the radio. I actually have a very vivid recollection of being ecstatic to finally have the words to Phil Collins' 'Another Day in Paradise'...
I have recently started an internship with a drug addiction charity, and the experience has really made me think about addiction and how the problem should be addressed. I worked for many years as a preclinical researcher in this field, investigating the neurobiology of addiction and the mechanisms underlying the transition between 'liking' a drug and 'needing' a drug. We also looked at ways of preventing or reversing addiction-like behaviour through pharmacological and other neural manipulations. However, there is a world of difference between academic research and the reality, and I am just beginning to understand the practicalities of treating a disorder that has such a grounding in issues that cannot be adequately modelled in the laboratory.
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About my blog
Really, it contains a little bit of everything, from a celebration of science and the English language to the joys of travel and the Shipping Forecast. The title ('Meanderings') is a fairly accurate description of its content: I write about different things as the mood takes me, but hopefully there's something in here for everyone... Categories
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March 2021
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And on another note... |
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