Teen Trend Magazine: Being Cool With a Hot Magazine
Written: May 30 '06 (Updated May 30 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Slick looking and loaded with fine articles.
Cons: first issue looked more like a "chick" magazine than one for both genders.
The Bottom Line: I found it refreshing to read a teen-magazine that can be fun and interesting without having to bend to the peer pressure of other "out there" publications.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Teen Trend Magazine |
Being a father of five children including a 19 year old girl that is home from school for the summer and another who is 17 and a Jr. in high school, I live the struggles of finding media that is informative to my daughters and yet not constantly knocking them over the head stating that they have to look the most beautiful, dress to the nines, and have a partner for sexual release. Just as important, it has to be something they are interested in delving into themselves and find entertaining.
I compound that with knowing I have four grand daughters who will grow up in a world that is becoming more and more daring in expressing negative images of teens and has lost some of the values I hold dear.
I recently read the premier issue of Teen Trend Magazine. This is a BIG step in a positive direction. What is found in the pages of this slick looking issue are articles and ideas that are helpful and "hip" (please excuse this ol' timers expressive word) and positive in its outlook.
Monthly Theme
The first issue, out in the beginning of May, featured articles supporting the "What's Hot for Prom" theme. Next read, under what is promised to be a regular column in the magazine, was Style File that presented fashion without going overboard in price. Another regular column, Fashion Trends, demonstrates that it's easy to dress "Classic and Elegant" without being overly temptress in style. This article also presented the fashion trends guys are now wearing with informative text and many colourful photos giving solid dress ideas that also looked quite "cool" (another old man word).
The prom issue was also supported by a feature article giving wise advice supporting Making the Prom Fun and Memorable. In another feature article "All Dressed Up...But Where To Go?" information specifically addresses after-prom options that can be different, a lot of fun and yet safe and sometimes even quite meaningful.
I read that each month will have an angle with the next copy having a Summer theme and a Back to School issue will follow.
Much More Than Fashion and Prom Fun
The magazine made a strong mark in reference to proms but there is so much more within the pages. Regular columns are listed under the contents page with titles like...
...Editor's Note
Flavor of the Month
Web Crawler
Blast from the Past
Book Worm
Reel Reviews
Listen Up!
Get Involved!
Boy Next Door
He Said, She Said
Off the Beaten Path
Best of the Best
Besides the two prom themed feature articles there were more including...
...Become a Volunteen!
The New Summer Camp
Hot Days, Cool Classes
A Guys Point of View
To tell the truth the front cover and a quick thumb through the pages gave me a feeling of "girls magazine". If I were a guy at the teen age I think I might purchase it but say it's for my sister.
It wasn't until reading the articles that I realised this is not a one gender magazine, in fact it's a good source of subjects that I'm sure many male teens would like to learn more about. The article Downloading Your Summer Music gave good information for Ipod and MP3 owners. It was quite helpful to this older guy too. I learned the process and ins and outs of finding many music options and downloading legally from web sites.
The article The New Breed of Summer Camps was particularly helpful in showing the options that are now available for a summer stay including camps featuring drawing, music and theatre arts. Some camps are more into academics and others feature the physical play of sports camps. The article also gives information in reference to over 40 computer camps. Other teens may just want to get away from it all by joining a travel camp as a way to see the world.
I also like the idea that every month a different part of the world is featured under the monthly column Off the Beaten Path. This month's article was about Luebeck, Germany.
I know both genders would be interested in the full page article revealing the Best of the Best column that this month discussed the Top Five Amusement Parks in the USA.
Though I quickly relegate a column like He Said, She Said to the gals I know I was always a big reader of columns like Ann Landers and such so I know guys do read this stuff. This month's advice column jumped right into problematic issues of young people discussing the loss of someone close to them, boy friend/girl friend issues, and what to do when a friend smokes pot. I thought having answers to questions fielded by both a guy and gal was an interesting way to tackle teen questions.
Though I don't believe I will be sending in a question myself, it is an open forum where teens can write for advice that may be printed in future issues.
Thoughts from a Father and Daughter
It was good to see some monthly features were dedicated to teen books, music and movies. It is comforting for me to know that these points of media are covered by a magazine that promises to keep up with teen trends and yet not cave to elements that may not be in the best interest of teens.
I thought the supporting articles to the monthly theme were well placed and made for a complete package. The photos throughout the magazine were excellent and I applaud the multi-racial photos that showed teens of different colour working and playing together.
Most of the magazine was well planned and the layout was sharp. I did think that one article Hot Days, Cool Classes, though excellent in dealing with study options during the summer, showed too much text in one place. I wonder if any teens might be turned off by six columns of text and little in photos to break it up. Every other article seemed to be very well balanced.
Though the first issue at first glance may seem more suited to girls, guys can see there are articles that will interest them.
In talking to one of my daughters who read the magazine I was told she particularly liked the book, movie, and music reviews and thought even more effort and pictures could be placed there. She did complain about not seeing pictures of movie stars that she is so used to seeing in other teen magazines. At the same time she did find this magazine refreshing, (not her word) in that it did relate to things that were on her mind and not just about "pretty people" in the news.
In reading the article promoting citizenship through voting and another well written piece that promotes volunteerism I could see that the magazine is much more than just fluff I see in many other teen mags.
All in all I am quite pleased with this magazine and wish it luck. I did subscribe at an amazing $10 for the year and can honestly say, "That is a VERY SMALL price to pay for fine magazine".
Recommended:
Yes
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