NiNe. magazine
niNe. magazine is a publication aimed at teenage girls. The magazine is an entity of Nine Magazine, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2005. In an initial publication run, the magazine reached a circulation of 20,000 with a subscriber-base throughout 43 states (including the District of Columbia) and four Canadian provinces.
History
Nine Magazine, Inc. was formed in Colorado by Melinda Laging and Louise Wo.[1] While attending the University of Colorado-Boulder,[1] Laging and Wo sought to present a magazine spotlighting current issues and interests affecting youth. Following graduation, the pair organized a board of directors and established the framework of the publication.
The mission of niNe. magazine is to advocate strong principles, good character, and high self-esteem for teenage girls, while still maintaining focus on their interests and desires.[1]
As a non-profit organization, the magazine controls its advertising content. This allows its producers the ability to maintain the mission and vision of the publication by restricting advertising content that may mix messages with the content of the magazine.[1] niNe. will not take advertisements that demean women or young girls, instead it seeks out advertisers that reinforce the beauty, intelligence, worth and strength of women.[1]
Following its initial run, the magazine went into hiatus. With the economic conditions of the late 2000s,[1] the non-profit entity began restructuring to improve upon its initial platform[1] for a return to publishing content through a renovated online interface. The new version will focus on consolidating media, new content and interactive forums for its audience.
Etymology
The niNe.TM title stands for nine characteristics the founders believe lead to a quality life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.[1] The capitalized N is intended to draw attention to the reader's inner world.[1]
Content Philosophy
In focusing on both everyday topics and weighty issues niNe. magazine does not [blemishes] or serve up the latest celebrity gossip. Addressing the facts of important issues head-on, the magazine can dedicate its pages to promoting self-esteem, volunteerism, philanthropy, positive journalism and literacy for adolescent girls.[1] Current media outlets focus on entertaining, selling and engaging an audience through content that is in the interest of the outlet rather than the audience.[1] The creators of niNe. magazine use the head-on approach to educate its audience and reconstruct the manner in which media communicates to a youth-oriented audience.[1]
Subjects and Topics
The magazine covers issues significant to the daily lives of its audience. These discussions - whether the subject is serious or casual - strive to dig deeper into topics. Presenting forums for teenagers in this way empowers them to express themselves in a healthy way instead of turning to food, alcohol or cutting. This approach helps them move beyond those crutches and encourage teens to positively express themselves.[1]
Cover Articles
- June/July 2006 - Bethany Hamilton, a teen surfer who lost her left arm in a shark attack.
- August/September/October 2006 - Bethany Dillon, a Nashville, TN-based singer with Sparrow Records.
Article Subjects
- June/July 2006 - summer styles (fashion, hair, makeup), summer fitness report, skin care, eating disorders, upcoming artists of 2006 (Flyleaf, OneRepublic), peer pressure, grudges and forgiveness, Miss Colorado Outstanding Teen profile (Jocelyn Story), volunteering, reader's art gallery
- August/September/October 2006 - fashion, metabolism, what guys look for, school lunch, conflict in relationships, coping with pushy parents, materialism, must-hear artists (Dropping Daylight, Mars Ill, Krystal Meyers, Anathallo), upcoming TV season, time management, sleep habits, reader's art gallery
References
- Statistical data on subscriptions provided by Nine Magazine, Inc. subscriber database
- Televised Interview with Editorial Director, Melinda Laging, The CW2, Denver, CO, October 4, 2006