Teen Vogue: background reading and textual analysis
1 What was the article that announced Teen Vogue as a more serious, political website – with 1.3m hits and counting?
25-year-old Lauren Duca, a Teen Vogue contributing editor and award-winning writer for the likes of Vice and the New Yorker published an excellent piece regarding Donald Trump gaslighting America. She also readers excellent advice, stating “Refuse to accept information simply because it is fed to you, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
2) When was the original Teen Vogue magazine launched and what was its original content?
The original Teen Vogue was launched in 2004 as a little sister to US Vogue. It focused on traditional fashion content and celebrity gossip.
3) How did editor Elaine Welteroth change Teen Vogue’s approach in 2015?
In 2015, Elaine (then beauty editor) and the team decided to do something extremely unconventional and unheard of. They placed three unknown black women on the cover of the magazine, breaking all traditional rules. Although a commercial risk, the issue became the best seller of the year.
4) How many stories are published on Teen Vogue a day? What topics do they cover?
50-70 stories are published a day. They cover a range of topics- from fashion to entertainment, to current affairs.
5) What influence did digital director Phillip Picardi have over the editorial direction?
Phillip Picardi was the reason that Teen Vogue began to focus on more serious issues, such as reproductive rights, gender, and politics.
6) What is Teen Vogue’s audience demographic and what does ‘woke’ refer to?
Teen Vogue's audience demographic include people aged 18-24 and 'gender-less'. They also describe themselves as a 'woke brand', meaning that they are sophisticated and conscious about themselves and the world they live in- they are socially aware.
7) What issues are most important to Teen Vogue readers?
The issues that are most important to Teen Vogue readers include identity, politics and career advice
8) What does Tavi Gevinson suggest regarding the internet and ‘accountability culture’ with regards to modern audiences? Can you link this to our work on Clay Shirky?
Tavi Gevinson suggests that the relationship with readers is closer and more transparent, and says brands have had to respond to that.
9) What social and political issues have been covered successfully by Teen Vogue?
10) What do Teen Vogue readers think of the magazine and website?
They like both the magazine and the website. Truthfulness and trust are the main reasons they read the magazine.
Teen Vogue textual analysis and example articles
Homepage analysis
Go to the Teen Vogue homepage and answer the following:
1) What website key conventions can you find on the Teen Vogue homepage?
2) How does the page design encourage audience engagement?
The homepage feels neatly organised and contains many images to prompt the reader to click on an article. Furthermore, once clicking on an article, the social media links appear which prompt audience engagement.
3) Where does advertising appear on the homepage?
Advertisements don't appear on the homepage. There may be an article featuring some makeup or other products that have sponsored the magazine. Furthermore, once clicking on a news story, there are sponsored stories placed right at the end of the page- in a small box. This highlights how Teen Vogue is more concerned about quality journalism and how they present their website, rather than advertising.
4) What are the items in the top menu bar and what does this tell you about the content of Teen Vogue?
News & Politics, Fashion, Entertainment, Beauty, Lifestyle, Wellness, Homecoming.
The wide range of topics suggests how Teen Vogue are keen to cover a diverse range of topics, not just fashion. The fact that news & politics is the first topic on the menu bar (we would expect fashion to be there) is worth noting on. It shows how Teen Vogue are aware of their target audience is well educated, open-minded people who are interested in current affairs around the world.
5) How far does the homepage scroll down? How many stories appear on the homepage in total?
The homepage scrolls down a fair amount, but not as much as Daily Mail's. In total there are 33 stories on just the homepage.
Lifestyle section
Now analyse the Lifestyle section of Teen Vogue and answer the following:
1) What are the items in the top menu bar for the Lifestyle section?
Tech, Campus Life, Careers, Decorating ideas and Food
2) How is the Lifestyle section designed to encouragement audience engagement? Think about page design, images, text and more.
The page mainly consists of large images relating to the headline of the article. These grab the readers attention. Furthermore, there are many stories to choose from as you scroll down.
3) What do you notice about the way headlines are written in Teen Vogue?
The headlines are written in a quite 'click bait' way to encourage readers to click on them. Teen Vogue use personal pronouns like 'you' which makes it seem like the writer is addressing the reader personally and this is very tempting to make audiences read the articles.
4) What does the focus on education, university and ‘campus life’ tell you about the Teen Vogue audience demographics and psychographics?
This shows that Teen Vogue is targeting an audience between the ages of 18-24-year-olds who are 'woke' (conscious and interested in the world around them).
5) Choose three stories featured in the Lifestyle section – why do they fit the Teen Vogue brand?
'7 Things You Should Actually Do When Applying to Colleges'
'3 Reasons the XR Should Be Your Next iPhone'
'A Harvard Undergrad Just Became the First DACA Recipient to Receive a Rhodes Scholarship'
These all fit with the Teen Vogue brand because they link with university life, readers will be able to relate to them as they are going through the same thing at the moment. The article on the XR is relevant because of the fact that this phone is cheaper than the XS which means students would actually be able to afford it.
Five key articles
Read the following five notable Teen Vogue features then answer the questions below for EACH feature.
For each article:
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The article is by Lauren Duca and it is about how Trump is manipulating America. How he is always making false promises and contradicting himself. Essentially, the article is very anti-Trump and is encouraging the readers to act against him.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
3) Why is this article significant?
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
The modern Teen Vogue readers are more left-wing than right wing, so they will disagree with having Trump as president and are not happy with what he is doing to America.
The new face of teen activism
The modern Teen Vogue audiences are reformers.
Black Teens Have Been Fighting for Gun Reform for Years
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is Alexis Manrodt and the article is about how the internet has allowed many people to become journalists and activists.
Teen Vogue readers are reformers.
Netflix and strong female leads
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is De Elizabeth and the article is about how females have become more represented in series by playing strong female leads.
Teen Vogue readers are reformers and aspire.
How to Break Away From the Gender Binary
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is Samantha Riedel and the article is about getting rid of gender roles and pronouns.
The modern Teen Vogue readers are more left-wing than right wing, so they will disagree with having Trump as president and are not happy with what he is doing to America.
The new face of teen activism
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
3) Why is this article significant?
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
The modern Teen Vogue audiences are reformers.
Black Teens Have Been Fighting for Gun Reform for Years
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is Alexis Manrodt and the article is about how the internet has allowed many people to become journalists and activists.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
3) Why is this article significant?
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
Teen Vogue readers are reformers.
Netflix and strong female leads
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is De Elizabeth and the article is about how females have become more represented in series by playing strong female leads.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
3) Why is this article significant?
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
Teen Vogue readers are reformers and aspire.
How to Break Away From the Gender Binary
1) Who is the writer and what is the article about?
The writer is Samantha Riedel and the article is about getting rid of gender roles and pronouns.
2) How does the article use narrative to engage the reader? Try and apply narrative theory here if possible.
3) Why is this article significant?
4) How does this article reflect the values and ideologies of the modern Teen Vogue?
Teen Vogue readers are reformers.
Teen Vogue readers are reformers.
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