niNe. magazine is a publication aimed at teenage girls. The magazine is a production 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 (and the District of Columbia) and four Canadian provinces.
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Nine Magazine, Inc. was formed in Colorado by Melinda Laging and Louise Wo.[1] While attending the University of Colorado-Boulder,[2] 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.[3]
With the economic conditions of the late 2000s,[4] Nine Magazine, Inc. began restructuring to improve upon its initial platform[5] 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.
The niNe. title stands for nine characteristics the founders believe lead to a quality life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.[6] The capitalized N is intended to draw attention to the reader's inner world, to promote inner beauty and faith in one's self.[7]
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.[8] In focusing on both everyday topics and weighty issues niNe. magazine does not photoshop 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.[9] The creators of niNe. magazine use this direct and unabashed approach to educate its audience and reconstruct the manner in which media communicates to a youth-oriented audience.[10] This philosophy engages the audience in the discussion of a topic without having conflicting messages in its advertising.[11] 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.[12] niNe. avoids advertisements that demean women or young girls, instead it seeks out advertisers that reinforce the beauty, intelligence, worth and strength of women.[13]
The magazine covers issues significant to the daily lives of its audience. Whether the subject is serious or casual, the magazine strives to dig deeper into these topics. Presenting forums for teenagers in this way empowers them to express themselves in a healthy way rather than turning to food, alcohol or self harm, often in the form of cutting. This approach helps teens move beyond those crutches and encourages them to positively express themselves.[14]