The Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel

Magazines as preferred sources of information?

Several studies report that magazines are an important source of information, particularly with regard to sexual health (Davis and Harris, 1982). A medium so successful in identifying with the needs of adolescents could also serve as a credible reference with regard to health behaviour (Davies, 1986). Readers are at an impressionable and insecure age and the vast number of letters received by agony aunts suggest that girls value the advice given by magazines. Problem pages, in turn are the most popular among readers (Mitchell, 1996).

Luff himself acknowledged the part that magazines can play in encouraging freer discussion of sexuality and provision of facts. In the absence of reliable sources of information on the topics of greatest interest, the evidence is that young people frequently search for sexual references in any source which is to hand. These include dictionaries, 'dirty' books, popular sex manuals and 'bodice rippers' and - most commonly - magazines aimed at young women (Thompson et al, 1992). A study by the Children's Literature Research Centre of the Roehampton Institute attached to Surrey University has shown that more than three quarters of girls and nearly two thirds of boys preferred to get their information from printed sources rather than adults (C Hall, 23.2.96 Daily Telegraph).

Problem pages are frequently cited as sources of sexual information. Of a sample of 85 letters to the agony aunt of the teenage magazine Mizz, a third were about relationship problems (Personal communication with Tricia Kreitman).

".. magazines and other sources such as books and sex manuals often provided the young women we spoke to with their sole source of information concerning sexual pleasure".
(Thompson et al, 1992).
"I knew you could [get pleasure from sex] but I can't remember anybody telling me that. I mean you read about it in books and things".

The potential for teenage magazines is therefore considerable. The seeking out of information in their covers which is not to be found elsewhere imposes on them a major social responsibility. But can editors be expected to have young people's pedagogical interests at heart? Magazines have to be commercial and there is a tension between gaining more readers and selling more copies and providing a service. Magazines naturally represent entertainment rather than education. All the same, there is clearly an important role for magazines in sex education.

TMAP Research - Role of Teen Magazines in the Sexual Health of Young People

The Luff Bill

Age rating

Editorial balance

Encouraging early activity

'Herding' instinct

Is early sexual activity bad?

Arguements for delaying intercourse

Contraception

Educational role of magazines

Preferred sources of information



			Magazines as preferred sources of information? Several studies report that magazines are an important source of information, particularly with regard to sexual health (Davis and Harris, 1982). A medium so successful in identifying with the needs of adolescents could also serve as a credible reference with regard to health behaviour (Davies, 1986). Readers are at an impressionable and insecure age and the vast number of letters received by agony aunts suggest that girls value the advice given by magazines. Problem pages, in turn are the most popular among readers (Mitchell, 1996). Luff himself acknowledged the part that magazines can play in encouraging freer discussion of sexuality and provision of facts. In the absence of reliable sources of information on the topics of greatest interest, the evidence is that young people frequently search for sexual references in any source which is to hand. These include dictionaries, 'dirty' books, popular sex manuals and 'bodice rippers' and - most commonly - magazines aimed at young women (Thompson et al, 1992). A study by the Children's Literature Research Centre of the Roehampton Institute attached to Surrey University has shown that more than three quarters of girls and nearly two thirds of boys preferred to get their information from printed sources rather than adults (C Hall, 23.2.96 Daily Telegraph). Problem pages are frequently cited as sources of sexual information. Of a sample of 85 letters to the agony aunt of the teenage magazine Mizz, a third were about relationship problems (Personal communication with Tricia Kreitman). ".. magazines and other sources such as books and sex manuals often provided the young women we spoke to with their sole source of information concerning sexual pleasure". (Thompson et al, 1992). "I knew you could [get pleasure from sex] but I can't remember anybody telling me that. I mean you read about it in books and things". The potential for teenage magazines is therefore considerable. The seeking out of information in their covers which is not to be found elsewhere imposes on them a major social responsibility. But can editors be expected to have young people's pedagogical interests at heart? Magazines have to be commercial and there is a tension between gaining more readers and selling more copies and providing a service. Magazines naturally represent entertainment rather than education. All the same, there is clearly an important role for magazines in sex education.
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	Contact: Kerry Neilson , TMAP secretariat, kerry.neilson@ppa.co.uk, 0207 400 7520

	Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) 28 Kingsway London WC2B 6JR tel: 0207 400 7520 - fax: 020 7404 4167 - email: kerry.neilson@ppa.co.uk - web: www.tmap.org.uk - Terms and conditions site contact: Kerry Neilson - this site is audited by ABC Electronic -