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Troy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 02:55 pm: | 
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I'm not a big fan of Essence magazine (Of course as a man I understand I'm not there target demographic so I don't hold it against them). Despite that our family has had a subscription forever and I almost always scan it, in much the same way one scans the sidewalk for loose change.
That said, it seems like the magazine is improving lately. The most recent issue October 2003, (the one on the Essence's web site today) is one of the better ones I've seen in a while. Is it me or is there a trend.
If you can get by the fact Oprah is one the cover, there is some interesting content in this issue. There is an except of Morrison's most recent book Love (http://authors.aalbc.com/toni.htm) along with an interview of Morrion by Diane McKinney-Whetstone. There is a decent article on powerful women (justifying the Oprah cover). The book section is decent. If I had the magazine in front of me I could point out more examples.
Is it just me or is Essence becoming a "meatier" magazine.
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NeeCee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 03:02 pm: |
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I love my Essence magazine. I used to dislike it years ago, when I was younger and didn't understand or appreciate the content. But I think they are doing women a great service by providing articles and features on empowerment, success stories, health issues, letting us know that our challenges are conquerable. I think it's much better than Ebony which I consider quite fluffy at times. |
yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 03:46 pm: |
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too bad there is not a black men's magazine.....
Hmmmmm...i've always liked Essence. I do think perhaps the change is a result of their staff being younger and they try to appeal to a more diverse black female population(ie African American, African, Caribbean), so that the content is a bit richer.
Also, there is always room for improvement in all magazines.....but they are doing a ok job! |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 03:56 pm: |
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Yukio:
There a black men's magazines but they primarily appeal to prurient interest--
I thought Essence was really good when it first came out (was that the 70's) it declined an became little more than an ad vehicle and now I do think it's on the way back--
Oprah on the cover? Well we still have work to do |
Yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 04:20 pm: |
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CH:
Nice word, "prurient." Yes, i know they appeal to prurient interests...lmao! I was talking about something that mixed fashion, politics, education, health, etc...like Essence does.
There is the SAVOY, but it is so thin, there was CODE, which had nice clothes and ok articles, and back in the day EBONY MAN......I wonder why Black Male magazines can't get a following?
What is ya beef w/Oprah?
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Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 05:27 pm: |
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Yukio:
Re a black magazine the thing is what is the target demographic? I don't know about other Black males, but I would want a black magazine that specializes. I don't care for fashion. I ain't going back to school. My health is shot. I might llike a black political magazine like New Republic or something. Understanding that a magazine that caters strictly to black males is going to be dealing with a smaller base to begin with---CODE was good when Quincy Troupe was the editor, but Larry Flynt got impatient with the sales figures and decided to turn in to a girly format.
Younger men like clothes, cars, music, celebrities. Maybe Sports. I could say that most black men don't want to read nothing but the funnies and the sports page, but folks would call me a dirty old bum.
Oprah. Ah, Oprah. I don't have a beef with Oprah. Well, I do, but--it's so silly, heh heh. It stems from the time--I know its silly--she went down to Forsythe Georgia. Remember that was the all white community in Georgia and Hosea Williams and some Blacks I think from Atlanta were leading protest marches there.
She did a program which purported to get to the bottom of the controversy. She had this audience which consisted only of the white residents of Forsythe county. We were treated to an hour, less commercials, of these hillbillies talking about how they didn't want no niggers in their community and how there's black people and then there's niggers like Hosea Williams and all culminated in a moment when a white lady, no doubt good hearted said, "Y'all been sayin' nigger in here and--oop. I'm sorry Oprah, you ain't no nigger."
All this time, homegirl is looking like a squirrel that been sideswiped by a Mack Truck. Well, I know it's my fault for watching it, so it's my fault I got so po'd I punched a hole in the wall. Then, she promised that she would be back to do a program with the black protesters, telling their POV. Of course that never happened.
Now, I suppose it is too much to figure that the most powerful woman in media might not have said to her staff, "We ain't putting that on unless I can go down and get the black folks' side, too" so I won't suggest it.
So what is my beef with Oprah. Nothing really. Oprah is Oprah and she is doing what she is doing to make the money and if she would listen to me she would starve.
I guess my beef is with the O-maniacs, the little nickname I have given those who think she, no doubt in my mind the best and most talented day time talk show host on the planet, walks on water. I guess I make little cracks now and then to see if I can get to them.
I must say they are weakening. At one time I could rouse them to fits of fury and death threats by suggesting that Ms. Winfrey is, human, all too human, like the rest of us. Now, they just get a little miffed.
Too bad. They are spoiling all my fun. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - 06:34 pm: |
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What happened to "Emerge" magazine? Wasn't it slanted toward the thinking black American male? (Is that an oxymoron?)And was it the financially troubled magazine that Bob Johnson "rescued." All of which is grounds for it going out of business if, in fact, it has.
As for Ooooooprah. I fail to see why this know-it-all blabber mouth inspires such adulation in other women. All she inspires in me is jealousy because my being a know-it-all blabber mouth never got me anywhere. Meooow. (But at least I don't envy her for having that dork Steadman at her beck and call.)purrrr. |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2003 - 11:03 am: |
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Cynique:
My understanding of what happened to Emerge (and that magazine was too good) was a combination of low circulation and not enough advertising revenues--it is an open secret that most publications make their money from ads now rather than sales or subscriptions. Ads might have been hard to come by after those Clarence Thomas covers (one showing him with a handkerchief on his head and the other I think showing him shining Scalia's shoes). I think the original editor and publisher, George Curry is doing a syndicated column.
As for Oprah, I honestly feel she is the best since Arthur Godfrey in doing what she does, which is hosting five shows a week and appearing bright eyed, bushy tailed, showing interest and empathy in her guests and getting teary eyed when necessary don't hurt. I think her fans see a little of themselves in her and like her underdog makes good lifestory--though I understand a lot of them feel she is not as down to earth as she was when she started--money WILL change you. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2003 - 12:10 pm: |
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Yeah, Oprah is good at what she does, Chris. What makes me cynical is that her audiences are so predominately white; suburban housewives and upscale career girls who want to be perfect in everything they do, and as a result, are dysfunctional and unhappy. Obviously black woman aren't that receptive to Oprah's simplistic little formulas, and they are slightly miffed that she is making money preaching the survival skills that are second nature to sistas. |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2003 - 02:25 pm: |
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Essence is my favorite magazine and I look forward to each issue. The only other magazine out there, that I am aware of for Black Women is Heart and Soul. Essence celebrates us in all shades and sizes. It also gives input on financial matters, health, and family. The only thing black about Oprah's magazine is her on the cover. Peace |
yukio
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2003 - 03:31 pm: |
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CH:
I didnt see that story, but i heard about it!
Essence has it all: fashion and politics...november issue on black men....etc..... |
Mike Evans
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2003 - 01:48 pm: |
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When Essence came out in the seventies it was a more "meatier" magazine than it is currently. Marcia Ann Gillespie was the editor and it featured such then young authors as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, June Jordan, Clarence Major[ who was fiction editor for a while],& many others. It contained provocative essays & interviews, great music reviews & critiques and coverage of the BAM. When Susan Taylor took over the focus gradually changed with a much heavier emphasis on being more consumer oriented. Part of that was also a product of changing times & adapting to the interests of its target audience.
Essence has survived & thrived by catering to its audiences desires. The black news magazines like Encore [which was edited & published by a black woman], Joe Davidson's National Leader and Emerge were not paricularly consumer oriented and therefore found it hard to get advertising dollars. Bob Johnson published Emerge but in the end changed it to the more soft focus Savoy. George Curry the editor of Emerge has a book out which excerpts the best of that magazines features. He is also the editor of BlackPressUSA.com, the website of the NNPA. |
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