New Magazines Target Niche Audiences

By Jack Speer

Published August 3, 2004 at 12:00 AM EDT

The summer issue of <I>Modern Dog</I> magazine features Paris Hilton and her Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, on its cover. — The summer issue of *Modern Dog* magazine features Paris Hilton and her Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, on its cover.

The debut issue of <I>Fugue</I>, a Los Angeles-based lifestyle and culture magazine. — The debut issue of *Fugue*, a Los Angeles-based lifestyle and culture magazine.

Stacks of new magazines, with titles like Sync, Beach Houses and Modern Dog, are hitting newsstands, targeting specific niches even more precisely than the specialized publications of the 1980s and '90s.

Among the new crop, Modern Dog features photos of fashion models and celebrities with their canine companions. Think Vogue or Vanity Fair -- with dogs.

Technology has driven down the startup costs, but 60 percent of the new publications won't last until their first birthday. Yet just enough of the new magazines will survive to make the risks seem worthwhile, industry specialists say. NPR's Jack Speer reports.

Jack Speer

Jack Speer is a newscaster at NPR in Washington, DC. In this role he reports, writes, edits, and produces live hourly updates which air during NPR programming.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Protect Connecticut Public