MCM532 Handouts Lectures 1-15

Lesson 01 Evolution Of Print Journalism

In the 10th century handmade press was first established. Book printing was started in 15th & 16th Century in Europe. The emergence of Print Media created doubts in the minds of the rulers and they took it as a threat against their rule. The rulers presumed that people would become aware of their rights and they will challenge the authority. So most of the rulers in Europe took it as a revolt and declared capital punishment for the persons involved in Mass Media. In 1663, the last capital punishment was given to a publisher because he published a book of an anonymous writer. This book contained the idea that rulers are accountable for their deeds and decisions to the masses and if any ruler does not feel himself accountable then masses have the right to overthrow his rule. This was the last capital punishment that was awarded in the history of England. Print media could not get its full growth till the 18th century as illiteracy was the major problem in all the societies and most of the newspapers were read by the elite class because state was not responsible for the education of the masses and elites had a privilege to get private education from the arranged tutors. The first newspaper which was in printed form published in 1642 in England. The first magazine of the world published in 1704 in London with the first issue of a small periodical called The “Review”. In the sub-continent East India Company started the first newspaper in 1780, some papers that were in English language and mostly read by the employees of the East-India company. In 1757 when East India Company conquered Bengal, there were one lac informal institutions that were either run by Hindu Pandits or Muslim Ulamas. So publishing papers entirely in English language means that they ignored the factor of local educated people. Later on the English papers started to publish in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta because East India Company offices were in all these cities. So, it proved that publish of this paper was entirely for Company employees and not for the local Indians. In 1822, first Urdu paper named Jam-e-Jahanuma whose editor Munshi Sada Sikh emerged and English rulers took it as a threat against them and they started to think to impose press laws to outclass local papers. Therefore, in1823 Press Act came to suppress Urdu press and it was made compulsory that the name of the Editor, Publisher and Owner along with the address should be on the first page of the newspaper .So that the government can recognize the authority of these papers. It was named as Press & Publication Ordinance (PPO). So, the era before the division of India was a tough one for the mass communication as many press owners and editors faced punishments several times under this Ordinance.

Magazine:

Magazines, periodicals or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles, generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, or both.

Frequency of a Magazine:

Three days, Weekly, Monthly, Annually.

Lesson 02 Development in Magazine Journalism

The world magazine entered the English in the late 1500s. The term of magazine originally from the Arabic “makhasin” which mean “storehouse”. The term magazine refers in ancient times to a place containing a collection of different items, usually military stores. Still this word describes many kind of military stores. In 1700s early print periodicals called magazine. Magazine depended on technological developments in moveable type, press, printing, and paper as a book and newspaper Magazines are unique medium in print media. Magazine was originally established in London, when the British expanded magazine began to prosper to United States in eighteen century. Magazine was a serious and respected medium serving millions of readers in the end of nineteenth century. During the early twentieth century, magazines played an important role in exposing unacceptable social conditions and stimulating social reforms. Between the two world wars, before television became a household medium, they were one of the major mass media advertising nationally distributed products. After World War 2 the growth of television had a significant impact on the magazine industry. Large-circulation general magazines were severely hurt financially, but new kinds of magazines were founded and the industry thrives today. Magazines have always served specific functions in society that differ from those either

distinct segment of U.S society. Magazines’ functions and audiences have a long and colorful history and although magazines have change greatly in recent times, at lest some remain remarkably as they were from their beginnings. The first magazine was “The Review” published in 1704 as a small weekly periodical and founder of the first magazine was “Daniel Defoe”. Policies of this magazine were against the Crown and Church .The first editor had been arrested earlier because of his critical writings denouncing certain policies of the Church of England. The first magazine published in Sub-Continent was Jam-e-Jaha Numa. Magazine was born as an instrument of politics.

Lesson 03 Magazine · and types of magazines · Magazine

A magazine is a periodical publication containing a wide variety of articles on various subjects.

Periodical

A periodical is a regular issue from a press; it could be a magazine or a review.

Journal

A journal is a professional periodical.

Historical perspective

The term Magazine was first used in 1731 in the title of “Gentleman’s Magazine” which was founded in London; however, magazine in its very early form was available to general public since 1646. In 1691 The Complete Library appeared on the scene which is taken as the first magazine that broke away from book information. The first essay-type periodical was Tattler and the first magazine published from USA was Andrew Branford’s American Magazine.

Magazine Journalism after Independence

Major contribution of periodicals in the history of Pakistan had been in the area of literature. Quite a huge number of literary journals and magazines of high quality were published in the early years of our independence which resulted into this mindset of the readers that a periodical is a literary journal, which is altogether wrong. Since independence different magazines and periodicals have been published and are still being published. These magazines and periodicals can be classified into different categories:

Literary Magazine

A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature. It usually covers poetry, short stories, essays on different topics, critical reviews of different books, interviews of different poets and authors, letters and a lot of other related stuff. Some famous literary magazines that were published but have now vanished from the scene are: Sawera, Naqsh, Naya Daur, Naya adab, Urdu adab, etc. After 60s one by one they vanished and digest magazines took their place. Most of the critics blame radio, TV and newspapers for this. Television and radio are providing entertainment and information in the form of dramas, songs (poetry), discussions etc. and therefore people don’t bother to buy and read these magazines. Another reason is the lack of availability of good piece of writings and the cheap entertainment available in the form of digests.

Religious Magazine

Religious magazine is a magazine devoted to some specific religion. It is usually aimed at preaching some particular religion though religious poetry, religious scholars’ articles and interviews, answering people’s different questions and queries regarding that religion, historical incidents, comparative analysis with other religions etc. In 19th century when journalism was taking its shape in sub-continent the most popular periodicals were religious magazines. Hindus, Muslims and Christian missionaries were publishing their magazines and propagating their religions. Different organizations, sects and people belonging to different religions are publishing their magazines in Pakistan but they are not so popular any more because electronic media particularly private Islamic and other channels are also doing the job in a bit different and to an extent popular way which has ultimately reduced the demand for religious magazines.