Teen Vogue: background reading and textual analysis blog task
Teen Vogue: background reading
Read this Guardian feature from 2017 on Teen Vogue and answer the following questions.
1) What was the article that announced Teen Vogue as a more serious, political website – with 1.3m hits and counting?
The article titled 'Donald Trump gaslighting America' was the articles which portrayed Teen Vogue as a more serious website which also highlights current political affairs.
2) When was the original Teen Vogue magazine launched and what was its original content?
Launched in 2004 as a little sister to US Vogue, Teen Vogue used to focus on the standard cocktail of fashion must-haves and celebrity worship. (A classic coverline from a 2005 edition was How To Get Perfect Party Hair.)
Launched in 2004 as a little sister to US Vogue, Teen Vogue used to focus on the standard cocktail of fashion must-haves and celebrity worship. (A classic coverline from a 2005 edition was How To Get Perfect Party Hair.)
3) How did editor Elaine Welteroth change Teen Vogue’s approach in 2015?
Elaine Welteroth published an issue of Teen Vogue featured three unknown black models. This was deemed risky in this business as people told her it wouldn't sell. (It broke all the rules of not having a famous person on the cover and that no Caucasian faces on the cover is a commerical risk).
4) How many stories are published on Teen Vogue a day? What topics do they cover?
Teen Vogue publish between 50 to 70 stories a day about fashion, entertainment and current affairs.
Teen Vogue publish between 50 to 70 stories a day about fashion, entertainment and current affairs.
5) What influence did digital director Phillip Picardi have over the editorial direction?
He made Teen Vogue highlight topics such as reproductive rights, gender and politics. It bought the site's traffic up and after a year and a half it had over 10million unique users.
He made Teen Vogue highlight topics such as reproductive rights, gender and politics. It bought the site's traffic up and after a year and a half it had over 10million unique users.
6) What is Teen Vogue’s audience demographic and what does ‘woke’ refer to?
Teen Vogue target a young audience, primarily between the ages of 18-24. They describe their audience as sophicated and conscious (woke).
Teen Vogue target a young audience, primarily between the ages of 18-24. They describe their audience as sophicated and conscious (woke).
7) What issues are most important to Teen Vogue readers?
Issues which are most important are on topics of beauty, politics and career advice.
Issues which are most important are on topics of beauty, politics and career advice.
8) What does Tavi Gevinson suggest regarding the internet and ‘accountability culture’ with regards to modern audiences? Can you link this to our work on Clay Shirky?
"She believes the internet has created an “accountability culture”, where the relationship with readers is closer and more transparent, and says brands have had to respond to that".
9) What social and political issues have been covered successfully by Teen Vogue?
- Gun control
- Rise of transgender models in fashion
- Racially-charged attacks and action from the police
- Articles relating to homecoming, graduation and career advice.
10) What do Teen Vogue readers think of the magazine and website?
Teen Vogue readers think that the magazine and website are a reliable source of information which encourages them to interact with the business and engage in politics and other current affairs.
Teen Vogue readers think that the magazine and website are a reliable source of information which encourages them to interact with the business and engage in politics and other current affairs.
Teen Vogue textual analysis and example articles
Homepage analysis
Go to the Teen Vogue homepage and answer the following:
1) What website key conventions can you find on the Teen Vogue homepage?
The top menu-bar of the website features the news and politics section first on the left. This highlights the importance that Teen Vogue take in their journalism (accountability journalism). It also shows which aspect of their company they find most important as it is the first option. The articles are also all written in personal pronouns in order to try and engage with the audience, whilst the most popular stories are at the top of the page.
The top menu-bar of the website features the news and politics section first on the left. This highlights the importance that Teen Vogue take in their journalism (accountability journalism). It also shows which aspect of their company they find most important as it is the first option. The articles are also all written in personal pronouns in order to try and engage with the audience, whilst the most popular stories are at the top of the page.
2) How does the page design encourage audience engagement?
The website is designed in an extremely simplistic way with large images of articles which are complimented with personal pronoun titles. The audience can quickly scrim through all the headlines on the website easily with a #trending section which allows the readers to read the most relevant and popular stories which people are discussing at the moment.
The website is designed in an extremely simplistic way with large images of articles which are complimented with personal pronoun titles. The audience can quickly scrim through all the headlines on the website easily with a #trending section which allows the readers to read the most relevant and popular stories which people are discussing at the moment.
3) Where does advertising appear on the homepage?
Not much advertising is seen on the homepage. Articles which feature advertisement are labelled as 'sponsored'.
4) What are the items in the top menu bar and what does this tell you about the content of Teen Vogue?
- News and politics
- Fashion
- Entertainment
- Beauty
- Lifestyle
- Wellness
- Homecoming
It shows how Teen Vogue have adapted and changed to social trending, expanding beyond just fashion.
5) How far does the homepage scroll down? How many stories appear on the homepage in total?
The homepage almost has an infinite scroll featuring up to 20 stories from all the different contents which Teen Vogue provides its audience.
Lifestyle section
Now analyse the Lifestyle section of Teen Vogue and answer the following:
1) What are the items in the top menu bar for the Lifestyle section?
- Tech
- Campus life
- Careers
- Decorating Ideas
- Food
2) How is the Lifestyle section designed to encouragement audience engagement? Think about page design, images, text and more.
Large images are complimented with article headlines in order to catch the readers attention. The page has a lot of content featuring a lot of articles however it maintains its simplistic look making it easy to navigate without overcrowding the page and bombarding the audience with articles (Much like the Daily Mail),
Large images are complimented with article headlines in order to catch the readers attention. The page has a lot of content featuring a lot of articles however it maintains its simplistic look making it easy to navigate without overcrowding the page and bombarding the audience with articles (Much like the Daily Mail),
3) What do you notice about the way headlines are written in Teen Vogue?
Teen Vogue uses clickbait along side personal pronouns to encourage the reader to click on the article. The use of personal pronouns makes it seem that Teen Vogue are addressing the audience directly which could tempt the audience to click the article. The articles are written in
Teen Vogue uses clickbait along side personal pronouns to encourage the reader to click on the article. The use of personal pronouns makes it seem that Teen Vogue are addressing the audience directly which could tempt the audience to click the article. The articles are written in
4) What does the focus on education, university and ‘campus life’ tell you about the Teen Vogue audience demographics and psychographics?
This shows that Teen Vogue are targeting a young audience aged between 18-24 who are conscious and interested in the world around them (woke).Psychographics - Aspirers, Achievers, Succeeders, Mainstreamers.
5) Choose three stories featured in the Lifestyle section – why do they fit the Teen Vogue brand?
Teen Vogue 21 Under 21 class of 2018 - This article targets young people and encourages them to 'make a change'. Attempts to empower young people.
3 Reasons the XR should be your next iPhone - An article which may interest a younger audience as it is about the latest technology releases on the market
Instagram just added a new way to share your stores - Audience may find this article interesting as they're likely to be users on Instagram and therefore find this article useful.
Teen Vogue 21 Under 21 class of 2018 - This article targets young people and encourages them to 'make a change'. Attempts to empower young people.
3 Reasons the XR should be your next iPhone - An article which may interest a younger audience as it is about the latest technology releases on the market
Instagram just added a new way to share your stores - Audience may find this article interesting as they're likely to be users on Instagram and therefore find this article useful.
Five key articles
Read the following five notable Teen Vogue features then answer the questions below for EACH feature.
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The article is written by Lauren Duca and she writes about how Trump is manipulating America. The article gives a very anti-trump approach and would clearly give a more liberal view point. It talks about Trumps presidency and how it has impacted America and made people start to doubt themselves as well as their own beliefs.
The article is written by Lauren Duca and she writes about how Trump is manipulating America. The article gives a very anti-trump approach and would clearly give a more liberal view point. It talks about Trumps presidency and how it has impacted America and made people start to doubt themselves as well as their own beliefs.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
Propp's character theory can be applied to this article as Trump is labelled as a 'false hero'. He is portrayed as a hero or savior to America and his attempt to 'make America great again' whereas in reality he is manipulative.
Propp's character theory can be applied to this article as Trump is labelled as a 'false hero'. He is portrayed as a hero or savior to America and his attempt to 'make America great again' whereas in reality he is manipulative.
3) Why is this article significant?
This article is significant because it is relevant and familiar for American audiences; it is also something which directly impacts onto these readers, which makes it a very important and politically informative article for them, as it 'uncovers the truth'.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
The article encourages liberal, progressive ideas, accepting of followers from all backgrounds and races rather than supporting division between different demographics.
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The article is written by Alexis Manrodt and it talks about the role of the internet and how digital media has increased in social activism. It covers how bloggers have used the internet as a platform to discuss and express themselves, resulting in more activists coming together with similar ideologies and views.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
Todorov's theory of equilibrium can be applied to this article as the article talks about how society is in a current state of disequilibrium with social injustice. The new equilibrium could be Teen Vogue and it's attempt to recreate a new, more progressive world for future generations.
3) Why is this article significant?
This article is significant as it highlights current issues in society today and enables the reader to understand how the internet is so powerful and how a simple tweet can bring other like minded people together.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
Presents Teen Vogue as a 'woke' brand as they attempt to encourage other to join the movement and replicate their progressive attitudes whilst forming their own opinions.
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is Lincoln Anthony Blades and the article discusses the necessity of gun control that teenagers are fighting for all over the country. The increasing number of protest carried out around the country due to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were 17 people died.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
Continuity narrative is used here as it is an ongoing story and topic of discussion that has been discussed multiple times throughout various different media outlets. The article talks about students who have suffered from school shootings and have held rallies at an attempt to fix this problem.
3) Why is this article significant?
This article is significant as gun violence and gun control and topics which are ongoing and increasingly popular due to the increasing number of school shootings. Teenagers which read this article may be effected by this and therefore can relate to it.
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
Teen Vogue here uses an example of how teenagers from across the country are campaigning for a change and using their voices to express their opinions on issues which they may be effected by.
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