At eMagazines, we support good journalism and believe in its ability to drive social change, broaden our minds and awaken our imaginations. Perhaps there has never been a more important time for us to look to the pages (whether print or digital) of these remarkable collections and be transported. We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic adjusting to roiling disruptions in our daily lives. A momentous presidential election looms in our near future. And as for the remote future, we have very little idea what to expect. But one thing is clear- facts and their presentation in high quality content are just as needed now as they were two hundred years ago when news magazines first made their rounds on the stands in America.
Magazine journalism has a long history of being America’s eyes and ears in the world- whether reporting on conflict or corruption, what is curious or simply compelling. Magazines saw widespread publication in America in the 19th century, mostly in the realms of literature, philosophy and popular culture. But it wasn’t until the era of the Civil War that magazines began to feature more news items as we know them today. During this time, Frank Leslie’s Weekly sent 12 correspondents to the field to report on the Civil War. Illustrations depicted in detail the gruesome battlefields and the true cost of the massive national conflict. For the very first time, Americans could see, hear and touch the world outside their front doors with illustrations and the vivid text that would become a hallmark of later magazines like The Atlantic, which continues a legacy of relevant journalism that challenges the status quo. It was The Atlantic which brought us Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter From Birmingham Jail in 1963. Another famous Atlantic contributor, Martha Gellhorn, turned a microscope on conflicts from the Spanish Civil War in 1937 to the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989 and refused to let readers look away. Frequently the only female correspondent on the field of war, she paved the way for countless women reporters.
Magazine correspondents, photographers, editors and publishers have brought us the stories of our age: civil rights, climate change, the War on Terror, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have risked their lives to do so. eMagazines is their proud partner in conveying these important issues with compelling imagery and gripping content for mobile platforms.
Throughout the next few months, eMagazines will pay homage to high quality magazine content, featuring one story per month on our blog page. We will interview journalists, editors, photographers, and others directly involved in magazine publishing to take you through the process of creating meaningful journalism.
Good journalism is neither dead nor dying. It continues to open our eyes to the world and help us contextualize our place in it. At eMagazines, we see the evolving media landscape and recognize new opportunities for journalism to impact us. We’re proud to be part of this evolution. Good journalism isn’t dead. It’s adapting. It has always been and always will be worthy of our attention and support.
Jessica Gable
LinkedIn
