A trade magazine, also called a trade journal or trade paper (colloquially or disparagingly a trade rag), is a
magazine
A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...
or newspaper whose
target audience
The target audience is the intended audience or readership of a publication, advertisement, or other message catered specifically to the previously intended audience. In marketing and advertising, the target audience is a particular group of cons ...
is people who work in a particular
trade
Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market.
Traders generally negotiate through a medium of cr ...
or industry. The collective term for this area of publishing is the trade press.
History
In 1928, ''
Popular Aviation'' became the largest aviation trade magazine with a circulation of 100,000.
[ "Monthly magazine until this month called ''Popular Aviation and Aeronautics''. With 100,000 circulation it is largest-selling of U. S. air publications." "Editor of Aeronautics is equally airwise Harley W. Mitchell, no relative of General Mitchell."]
As
digital journalism grew in importance, trade magazines started to build their presence on the internet. To retain readership and attract new subscribers, trade magazines usually impose
paywall on their websites.
Overview
Trade publications
keep industry members abreast of new developments. In this role, it functions similarly to how
academic journal
An academic journal (or scholarly journal or scientific journal) is a periodical publication in which Scholarly method, scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. They serve as permanent and transparent forums for the ...
s serve their audiences. Trade publications include
targeted advertising, which earns a
profit for the publication and
sales
Sales are activities related to selling or the number of goods sold in a given targeted time period. The delivery of a service for a cost is also considered a sale. A period during which goods are sold for a reduced price may also be referred ...
for the advertisers while also providing
sales engineering–type advice to the readers, that may inform
purchasing and
investment
Investment is traditionally defined as the "commitment of resources into something expected to gain value over time". If an investment involves money, then it can be defined as a "commitment of money to receive more money later". From a broade ...
decisions.
Trade magazines typically contain advertising content centered on the industry in question with little, if any, general-audience advertising. They may also contain industry-specific job notices.
For printed publications, some trade magazines operate on a
subscription business model known as
controlled circulation, in which the subscription is free but is restricted only to subscribers determined to be
qualified leads.
See also
*
List of trade magazines
*
Professional magazine
References
External links
*"Trade or Industry Magazines" i
Piedmont College.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trade Journal
Magazine genres