Seventeen. Editor-in-Chief: Ann Shoket. Hearst Corportation. ISSN: 0037-301X.Description:
Seventeen is currently the most popular magazine for teenage girls, outselling the next highest almost two to one. It was first launched in 1944 for girls aged 12 through 19. In addition to the American publication, there are also 7 international versions and a Hispanic American version. There are 10 print magazines published each year, as well as numerous articles on their website. Though the primary focus of the magazine is fashion and beauty, it does have some more serious content. The articles are divided into subjects, such as fashion, love life, and health, which are then grouped together for easier reading. The December /January issue features country singer Taylor Swift with an article about her latest album.
Critical Evaluation:
Seventeen is the most popular magazine with teen girls for a reason. Its combination of fashion, beauty, celebrity culture, pop culture, relationships, and serious topics cover almost everything of interest to its target audience. Unlike other fashion magazines for teens, only a little over half of the content is devoted to fashion and beauty. The rest focuses on culture, health, self-help, and other topics. This provides a good mix of articles. Also unique to the magazine is the affordability of many of the products featured, though the abundance of ads is kind of an issue. The staff seems to be very in tune with what are the latest trends among teen girls. The magazine is colorful, has a fun and useful layout, and features interesting and easy to read articles. The self-help sections and the articles over topics such as pregnancy, family issues, body image, school, and other serious topics are informative and never judgmental. They don’t sugar-coat the issue and they do offer resources for those experiencing the same thing. This is a good magazine for the “typical” teenage girl.
Reader's Annotation:
Seventeen is the number one source for fashion, dating, friend, and school advice for teen girls.
Author Information:
Ann Shoket was born June 16, 1972 in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. She attended New York University where she graduated cum laude. She also has a certificate in Media Management from The New School, also in New York. After college she was a reporter for The American Lawyer. She created a strictly online magazine called Tag. She then spent several years working for Parade magazine and launched their teen counterpart. After Parade, she was senior editor and then executive editor of CosmoGIRL! before becoming editor-in-chief of Seventeen in 2007.
In her time with Seventeen she has helped the magazine become the number one teen magazine in newsstands for the first time since Hearst bought it. She also relaunched the website, which is now in the top ten of teen sites. She was named one of the most powerful magazine editors two years in a row by Forbes. She also serves on the board of several committees benefiting teen girls, including The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Genre:
Young Women's Magazine
Curriculum Ties:
None
Booktalking Ideas:
N/A
Reading Level/Interest Age:
13 and older
Challenge Issues:
Sexual content
Challenge Defense Ideas:
- Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
- If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
- Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
- Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.
Reasons for Selection:
Seventeen has been a popular magazine for teenage girls for over 60 years.
