Scholarly engagement with the magazine form has, in the last two decades, produced a substantial amount of valuable research. Authored by leading academic authorities in the study of magazines, the chapters in The Routledge Handbook of Magazine Research not only create an architecture to organize and archive the developing field of magazine research, but also suggest new avenues of future investigation. Each of 33 chapters surveys the last 20 years of scholarship in its subject area, identifying the major research themes, theoretical developments and interpretive breakthroughs. Exploration of the digital challenges and opportunities which currently face the magazine world are woven throughout, offering readers a deeper understanding of the magazine form, as well as of the sociocultural realities it both mirrors and influences.

The book includes six sections:

-Methodologies and structures presents theories and models for magazine research in an evolving, global context.

-Magazine publishing: the people and the work introduces the roles and practices of those involved in the editorial and business sides of magazine publishing.

-Magazines as textual communication surveys the field of contemporary magazines across a range of theoretical perspectives, subjects, genre and format questions.

-Magazines as visual communication explores cover design, photography, illustrations and interactivity.

-Pedagogical and curricular perspectives offers insights on undergraduate and graduate teaching topics in magazine research.

-The future of the magazine form speculates on the changing nature of magazine research via its environmental effects, audience, and transforming platforms.

"This comprehensive, 33-chapter compendium of essays is bursting with theoretical insights and analysis, all underpinned by a clear understanding of the practicalities of magazine-making. Synthesizing research in a diverse range of areas including design, literary journalism, editorial practices, religious magazines, globalization, and curricular perspectives, Abrahamson and Prior-Miller's volume is likely to be regarded as the seminal text on the subject for many years to come." -Richard Lance Keeble, University of Lincoln, UK "Focusing on the vibrant and continually evolving magazine form, this anthology brings together 38 top scholars and educators to document the major themes and theoretical perspectives occurring in magazine research in the last 20 years. Their comprehensive approach provides a new benchmark in the study of magazines." -Sammye Johnson, Trinity University "If you are looking for an idea or an angle for research, begin here, and you will discover what topics have and have not been researched in the magazine literature. You will discover the major authors in the field. This 650-page volume will become an indispensable "bible" and starting point for any kind of magazine research." -David E. Sumner, Journal of Magazine and New Media Research "Magazines have contributed much to the development of literary journalism. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that magazine professors would champion the genre in a handbook of magazine research. With that in mind, it is only fitting that Abrahamson and Prior-Miller's thorough and meticulously researched volume should find its way onto the bookshelves of professors, practitioners, and students at the undergraduate and graduate interested in the field of magazine journalism." -Amber Roessner, Literary Journalism Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1 "The main interest of The Routledge Handbook of Magazine Research lies in the fact that it offers a very complete bibliography of recent publications in American magazine scholarship. This handbook will prove to be an invaluable resource for anyone involved in periodical studies." -Maaike Koffeman, Journal of European Periodical Studies