| Product: |
Now |
| Date: |
11/07/00 (223 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Cheaper than most other mags; a young and fresh approach; good advice; lots of gossip
Disadvantages: needs to be thicker!!
They claim that if it is happening then it is in "Now Magazine", so is this true? What do you actually get when you hand over your 95p for a copy of Now magazine?
Now is basically a weekly celebrity gossip magazine and I believe that it has a target audience of women of younger ages, although don't quote me on that, I am sure it appeals to a great deal more, but from the types of articles and make-up/ fashion tips that they give I get that impression. It appeals to me anyway and I'm in my twenties. However, as well as all the gossip it contains a great deal more, from recipes to the must have looks to travel information.
The covers of Now are always full of celebrities faces and bright writing headlines. You then open the front page and are faced with a contents lost which not only gives you the title of the article, but a brief description as well which gives you a good idea what to expect. On this page there is also a section which gives a viewpoint on something that has been in the news. For example in the last but one edition dated 28th March 2001 it talks of Jordan, the glamour model and her increasingly irratic behaviour, including frequent drunkeness and bitching with other celebrities. It basically concludes that she should stop bitching about the "real" celebrities and that if she wants to be a real star then she should stay in once in a while. Ok, nothing ground breaking, but it gives them a chance to have a rant on something topical and usually on something that has come in at the last minute and they have not had time to do a full article on.
~~~~FEATURES~~~~~
Each week they have quite a few major articles which can stretch between one and four pages. These are the articles that are featured on the front cover and are extremely topical. Recent articles include "Martine's loverly new man" talking of Martine McCutcheon and her new romance with Steve John Shepherd the actor who sta
rred in the hit tv programme "This Life". Also, Renee Zelwegger who is the star of the upcoming Bridget Jones Diary gives an interview, telling of how she had to gain weight for the part, how she finds parts of Bridget Jones in herself and where she sees her future. In the most recent issue there have been many Oscar related stories. Most of the stories will have probably been mentioned in the newspapers the week prior and these are just a more in depth look on it. They are great for anyone that takes a great interest in celebrity news and is probably less stuffy than celebrity magazines like Hello and OK. Of late the magazine has featured quite a lot of interviews and features with the popstars "Hear'Say".
~~~WEEK IN VIEW~~~~
The "week in view" section is a number of pages that show the week in pictures. Basically pictures of things that don't really warrent a full article, but are of interest anyway. These are always a great insight into celebrity parties and what people were wearing!
~~~FASHION~~~
These are actually some of my favourite features as they show all the latest fashions such as all the mad prints that are on the high street, or how to get the Oscar look at a fraction of the price. How many times do you look in Cosmo or Marie Claire and love the clothes only to discover that they are buy some designer in Selfridges and you have no chance of affording them. Now always shows clothes that are on the high street and are so more affordable and accessible to all.
~~~DEAR NOW~~~
Dear Now is the chance for Now readers to have their say, you can write in to say how much you loved something or hated something and articles of both are equally common. Every letter which is included will get a £20 prize. On the same page there are also chances to send in your photos of you with an celebrities, ask for any fashion or beauty advice or ask for extra info on a celebrity.
~~~IN
SPECT A GADGET~~~
It may be aimed at women, but it doesn't presume that all women are interested in lipstick and clothes, indeed there is usually a section where an expert has reviewed a number of products. They include a brief review, details of costs, stockists and any relevent internet sites.
~~~RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW~~~
This is a section which deals with all the latest gossip written by journalist Claudia Connell. It also features a section called "grapevine" which contains any snippets of gossip that have been heard.
~~~NOW STAR STYLE~~~
Have you ever wanted to know how you can look like Cameron Diaz, Catherine Zeta-Jones or any of your favourite stars, then this section takes a different star each week and shows you how you can do just that. Recent examples have been how to get Audrey Hepburn's style. It gives you the names of some beauty products they have found on the high street to get the look, how to do you hair and high street ways to dress like them. I actually always really like this section and although I have never really actively tried to follow it, I read it out of curiosity.
~~~BEAUTY BUZZ~~~
Beauty Buzz contains all the latest beauty news. It features reviews of new products and often shows a range of products to achieve a certain result but in different price ranges for different budgets. There are also tips from make-up artists on how to get the latest looks and easily. Also, there is further mentions of how the celebrities do it and the products they use.
~~~FASHION FLASH~~~
Another fashion section on one page which gives the best buys to achieve certain looks, for example the "3 best......" It also shows some fashion Faux Pas, which are always good to make the rest of us feel better.
~~~HOME FEATURES~~~
There are usually a number of features on home and how to make your home look just great. It takes a number of approaches, either choosin
g a specific room and showing different ways to do it or conducting make-overs for people. I have actually found some really good ideas on these pages and ones which I have actually followed.
~~~TRAVEL~~~
Every week they feature articles on travel. At times this will feature on a certain venue and then it had sub sections on the page like "Shopping tips", "Need to know", "must see", "food and drink", "getting around" and "getting there". It is a really simple yet useful guide to travel. However, at other times they have had articles on "the 10 most romantic destinations". "the best weekend breaks" to give you some choice as to destination.
~~~MIND AND BODY~~~
As if providing you with all the latest celebrity gossip, fashion and beauty advice they also try to help out your mind and body! This section of the magazine always interests me as they have lots of articles on things like complementary medicines, how to drink healthily and women who think they are ugly just to name a few issues. They also have a "vital health news page" which gives infor on the latest health breakthroughs, with a question and answer section.
~~~DINING~~~
The dining section if fabulous and a real aid for dinner parties. The food is always quite contemporary and follows a theme such as "Vegetarian" or "Meditarian".It gives all the essential information like preparation time, cooking time and the number of people it serves.
~~~THE WORLD OF X~~~
Each week Now magazine takes a celebrity or a band and gives a number of key aspects about that person/ group. For example in the "World of Five" they talk of a number of key issues, including, relationships with Billie Piper, Mel C and HollyOak's Danielle Brent, their manager, creator, one of their dads, basically important influences in their lives. To be honest most things in
these sections are nothing new and we will have heard the gossip before, but I guess it is always interesting to see it in one whole section.
~~~ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE~~~
One of the final sections in Now features all the details of entertainment, released movies, videos, dvd's, singles, must see tv and soap previews. I always read the film guide with interest as it seems to be quite accurate and keeps you up to date with what is on at the cinema and whether it is really worth watching.
~~~HOROSCOPES~~~
No magazine would be complete without the horoscopes and here every week David Wells gives you a guide to the week ahead as well as a major profile of the star sign we are currently in. This week it told me I would be juggling money, old loves and new prospects...gee sounds like I will be busy!
~~~PARTY ANIMAL~~~
A double page feature on all the weeks partys, always good for the gossip and the embarrassing things that celebrities got up to!
~~~PROBLEM PAGE~~~
Caroline Buchanon answers all the problems readers have written in each week. As far as problem pages go it is pretty mediocre.
~~~X'S PASSIONS~~~~
The very final page of the magazine takes a star and lets them show you their passions. Not especially interesting, I mean who really wants to know that Presenter Katy Hill loves Pasta?
~~~ADVERTISEMENTS~~~
How many times do you get fed up with turning another page in a women's glossy magazine to find.....you guessed it....another advert. Well, Now magazine isn't that thick and so as a result there aren't too many adverts which pleases me no end.
***MY THOUGHTS***
Now magazine won't change your life that is for sure, but for 95p it is easy frivilous reading that I look forward to every weekend. I have been reading it for a couple of years now and have seen it improve a great deal. It's celebrity gossip can be a bit rehashed from the papers, but
I find that I get the most from the other sections like fashion and beauty. I think this will definitely appeal to women and is well worth the 95p which makes it much cheaper than most other magazines I have to say. It has a much fresher approach than many other magazines like Hello and Ok, so will probably appeal to the younger generations a great deal.
Buy it next Thursday and see for yourself!
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