A few of my favorite magazines: Self, All You and Publisher’s Weekly

Self magazine encourages women

When I think about magazines that I read and admire, I realize my list isn’t nearly as sophisticated as others’. So I asked myself what my criteria were for returning again and again to one publication. Here’s what I’ve discovered: While I may read books to daydream about faraway people and places, I prefer magazines that offer practical information relevant to my life. So my list features down-to-earth selections that I think are especially good at what they do for their intended audiences. And for me, that’s what I consider important in a magazine. Sure, your cover image and captions may grab my eye in the checkout line. But can you deliver interesting, informative content on a regular basis? Will I be compelled to read you every month, to pay for a year’s subscription? My husband constantly teases me for saying, “I read this in a magazine …” But that’s exactly why I read these magazines—to gain knowledge or understanding that I can apply directly to my life, whether at home or at work.

Consumer: Self

I’ve been reading Self magazine for a number of years. When my budget requires me to cut back on my subscriptions, I always keep my Self. I like that the magazine is divided up into clear-cut sections: Easy Beauty, Your Style, Fit Body, Smart Eating, Happy Life and Healthy You. I also enjoy its uncluttered and colorful design. I especially love the tear-out workout cards featuring that month’s hottest workout; one of these days I’ll actually use them.

The magazine encourages a healthy body image, featuring athletic models and articles on finding your “happy weight." A recent article reminds readers of how body image can be inherited from mothers and passed down to daughters. Overall, Self puts the emphasis on eating and exercising for health and wellbeing, rather than to fit some waifish and unrealistic ideal. And they confront women’s health issues head on, including “The true price of cheap cosmetic surgery,” infertility and cancer.

Self also urges readers to develop a healthy mind and heart, with articles on finance, relationships and finding balance in your life. And interspersed throughout the magazine’s articles on current trends, workout agendas, healthy recipes and women’s health issues are interesting facts and statistics, as well as callouts for various charities. 

Self is more than just a magazine, however. They’ve successfully built an online community. Their print book includes multiple plugs for their website, which contains even more information, and QR codes for the latest health and fitness apps. Their editors and writers publish blogs on their site (such as “Eat Like Me” and “Healthy SELF”); they also have active Facebook and Twitter accounts. Self is a reference for balanced, healthy living that I turn to for motivation and education; it speaks to the woman I aspire to be.

Custom: All You

While Self speaks to the woman I hope to be, All You talks directly to the woman I actually am: a busy, working mom and wife. Published for Walmart, the magazine doesn’t push the brand as obviously as you might imagine. I didn’t even know that it was exclusively for Walmart until someone told me years after I started reading it. I never quite connected the dots that I only found the magazine on the stands at that giant discount store. After all, they offer a subscription; I got one so I didn’t have to think about picking it up at the store.

All You has articles relevant to me, from organizing my home to cutting my grocery budget. It offers tips and tricks on saving money when shopping for my kids’ clothes and when cleaning my house.

There are articles on beauty and fashion, featuring products that I can actually afford, with models that look like real women. (And no, not all of the clothes featured are from Walmart.) But here’s my favorite part of the magazine: Every issue has recipes featuring quick, budget-friendly meals, including one monthly staple that offers up five weeknight meals, complete with the grocery list.

The magazine offers a practical approach, helping women navigate the ups and downs of managing a household on a budget. And many of the articles feature actual readers, grounding the advice even more in the real world. It’s definitely not a magazine for affluent fashion plates, but if you’re looking for a great slow-cooker recipe or advice on which drugstore makeup would work for you, this magazine’s a winner.

Business: Publisher’s Weekly

As an English major and subsequent associate editor, I find that the business world is not really my forte. That’s why I like Publisher’s Weekly; it’s a business magazine that’s specifically for the publishing world. It offers a cross-section of topics, including industry news, market trends and book reviews.

Working in custom publishing, you might not think that a magazine for book publishers would be relevant to me. But Publisher’s Weekly does discuss print trends as a whole, as well as the new holy grail of publishing—digital. Check out this recent article about digital hitting comic book stores.

Besides, I think you could safely guess that I love books. And all aspects of the publishing world fascinate me. Publisher’s Weekly has also done a good job of integrating print and digital. Their site includes up-to-date news stories, as well as blogs, such as Barbara Vey’s ongoing revelations from an author. PW also sends out daily e-mails to subscribers highlighting the latest and greatest news and books. For their particular niche in business publishing, I’ll say they’ve cornered the market.

Posted By: Melissa Bragg