Dissection Time
Module 1, Activity 8.3 - How are Magazines Made?
Student Page
(teacher lesson for this lesson)

Introduction:

Magazines and newsletters are a common, increasingly popular way to reach a specific audience. The start-up of each new magazine includes numerous steps and key people to ensure success. In this lesson, you will learn the basics regarding who and what is needed to run a successful magazine.

Activities:

Task One - Roles and Responsibilities
In order to understand the magazine industry, you must understand the major players. Each magazine will have a unique staff based on their target audience and circulation. However, there are also some jobs that exist at every magazine.

For example - every magazine will have an editor-in-chief or publisher.

Read the handout on types of jobs at a magazine. and complete the worksheept - Whose Job is it Anyway? You must decide which person at the magazine should be dealing with each of the listed problems.

Task Two - Publishing the Magazine
Once you have an understanding of the key roles in running a magazine, you must also look at the steps taken in order to publish an issue.

Look at the page on the steps in publishing an issue of a magazine. Discuss why your steps for developing a classroom magazine will be different than the steps involved in publishing a real world magazine.

Task Three - Oh My Goddess
Bonnie Fuller is one of Canada's most infamous media personalities. Her reputation as a hard to please perfectionist who jumps from job to job, is only overshadowed by her ability to dramatically increase the circulation of every magazine she comes in contact with.

Here are some links to begin your research:
Bonnie Fuller - I Want Media
Bonnie Fuller is shaking up the world of magazines
Bonnie Fuller - Life and Times

Task Three - Continued . . .
In partners, spend some time researching Bonnie Fuller. When you have read at least 3 different articles on Fuller, you will prepare for your simulation activity. Within your partnership, one person will become Fuller and the other a magazine staffer.

As you begin your research and start to create a script for the interview, your teacher will go through the evaluation criteria with you.

Each person in the partnership has specific responsibilities.

As the staffer, you will:
1. Create a list of 4-6 real problems that might come up at a magazine.
2. Ask "Ms. Fuller" for her advice/input on these problems
* Remember - having done some research on Ms. Fuller, you should ask for her advice in the areas you know that she has experience in.

As Fuller, you will
1. Help a "staffer" problem solve by answering his/her questions.
* Remember - you must understand Fuller's philosophy for running a magazine and answer as she would.

The interview should be approximately 20 minutes in length. Hand in your interview on a VHS tape.