Staying up to date with Newsweek

During the past six weeks, I have had the opportunity to scan and sometimes thoroughly read the pages of the Newsweek magazine. This collection of current issues and leisure activities into one comprehensive yet neatly packed magazine is an essential tool for the savvy and well-informed individual.

I'm also being completely honest when I say that reading articles in the Newsweek magazines has been sort of an "assignment" for me since I began reading it for my College Reading and Study Skills class. But, after reading several articles on the current impending war with Saddam Hussein and the horrible acts of terrorism committed throughout the world, I decided that this magazine is exactly what I wanted.

Newsweek magazine is published weekly (well, if you read the title, it says NewsWEEK) and is crammed full of current headlines and topics.

On the front of the magazine, you will always see a close up picture of something...more than likely it will be the face of an individual, perhaps George Bush, Saddam Hussein, or any other newsworthy person. At other times, you might see a picture of a disastrous event. An example would be the recent Columbia tragedy. The magazine also does its best to lure you into reading its contents by placing a captivating headline on the top of the front cover.

[FEATURES OF NEWSWEEK]
In every issue of Newsweek you will have a large collection of newsworthy articles. The latest issue (for the week of March 10th) contains a main article about "Bush and God", and how our President has used Biblical phrases and scriptures in his speeches for many different purposes.

Here are some categories that you would typically find in the Newsweek magazine, followed by an example of what would be contained in that category:

{POLITICS}:Again, you may find an essay on George Bush, or perhaps the current effects on the country due to the declining stock market. Worldwide politics will make their appearance.

{TARGET: IRAQ} We currently face a tough situation with the possible war with Iraq. Newsweek is at the forefront of the action and will bring you the headlines from Iraq. Other comprehensive articles on Iraq, such as the "mastermind behind Iraq", or the "Banality of Fear", which covers Saddam's followers, will get you even more interested in the worldwide war debate.

{NATIONAL AFFAIRS} Here you will scan over articles that have surfaced over the past week on current issues within our own country, such as Homeland Security or maybe even the Stock Market.

{HEALTH/MEDICINE} Self-explanatory. In the issue of Newsweek I am currently looking at, there is an issue about premature babies, and how they typically grow up like everyone else. Graphs and charts are used here to support stated facts.

{BUSINESS} Interested in the Enron scandal? Okay, so maybe that was last year, but I'm sure you'd find an essay or article on it in a past issue of Newsweek. Ever since the Enron collapse, we've seen the comprehensive circumspection of many other businesses that have been a bit "suspicious", such as K-Mart and Adelphia.

{PEOPLE} Sometimes specific races, such as African-Americans, make a definitive impact and/or statement on our society. In the March 3, 2003 issue of Newsweek, we have a cover page depicting "Black Women", and how they are rising more quickly in power than black men. As stated by the front cover:

From Schools to Jobs, Black Women Are Rising Much Faster Than Black Men. What It Means for Work, Family And Race Relations.

This is a particularly interesting section for me, as I find it very encouraging to see members of the black race becoming successful in our country, as it shows that we are taking big steps towards not only racial, but sexual (I'm speaking about gender) equality in the U.S.A.

So, you want categories on leisure activities? Well, Newsweek dishes up a platter of those too. Here are just a few categories:

{SPORTS} So Tiger Woods won the Masters again, eh? You would definitely find an article on golf, bowling, racquetball, auto-racing, fishing, wrestling, or any other sport each week in Newsweek.

{FOOD} Most people love to eat. How could Newsweek forget that? Well, they didn't. Perhaps you will see an article about the benefits of Vitamin C, which is found in oranges; maybe an intriguing piece on green vegetables will be found. Whatever the food or vitamin or maybe even restaurant covered, it is sure to interest you and be fresh in the news world.

{MUSIC} Keeping up with the rhythm of the world, Newsweek will also have its pages sound off about music. Maybe an article about a new generation of pianists re-working and making their own form of jazz? You never know about this category, but again, it will be sure to open up your ears and mind.

{ARCHITECTURE} Recently there has been a "contest" so to speak, on what should be done about the new World Trade Center memorial plan. The winner, Daniel Libeskind, has decided to have a "spire" building that will be 1,776 foot tall, supposedly the tallest building in the world, symbolic for the year the United States celebrated its first day of independence. Glorious freedom!

You will usually see graphics and/or pictures of new and interesting, and sometimes extreme designs of buildings/habitats/workplaces around the world. A very intriguing section.

{BOOKS} What was last week's bestseller? Who's hot? What is going on with Stephen King lately? Are there any books on the market about the current situation in Iraq? Find out here.

There are so many other categories that could be covered, such as Television, Lifestyle, Religion, Race, Freedom, and Movies (and that's not even naming a quarter of the rest of the categories), that I would never have the time to write about them all. The main point is that this magazine contains a WHOPPING, and I do mean WHOPPING assortment of features and articles designed and cleverly written to keep you interested and reading for a long period of time. Sometimes I wonder to myself how these guys can put so much material into a magazine in one week. Amazing.

[SHORT BIT ON ADS]
As with any other magazine, you will find commercial advertisements in Newsweek. They might range anywhere from Winston cigarettes to the Toyota Tundra. Nothing very interesting here, really.

[PICTURE QUALITY]
The pictures in Newsweek look like they are taken by skilled photographers. All pictures are clear and many of them effectively convey the cliched "thousand words". Bright and colorful graphs and statistical figures are also included and are used very well.

[LENGTH OF MAGAZINE]
The Newsweek magazine varies in its length from week to week, but a rough yet decent estimate would be anywhere from 55 to 85 pages in each issue. Quite a bit of information for your brain, especially considering the font size used in this magazine is pretty small.

[COST]
Newsweek usually sells for $3.95 per week, as denoted on the front cover. You will also see an insert in the magazine that you can use to subscribe to the magazine for only 79 cents an issue, but that may be only for a limited time, I'm not sure. Luckily, I only paid $8.00 for what will be around 16 issues since these magazines were an integral part of my college class, and were included in the class fee.

[OTHER INFORMATION]
The Newsweek will always feature a table of contents somewhere around the first page. You'll see the Cover Story along with a picture and a brief explanation of that story, along with the headlines in black bold for other articles in that respective issue of the magazine. Pretty comprehensive, although I wish they didn't have to use that small font! It wouldn't be easy for elderly people to read this without their glasses...but how many actually DO try to read without their glasses? I don't know. :)

[MY CONCLUSION]
You couldn't find a more comprehensive and top of the line magazine on the market. Newsweek covers virtually all current and pertinent news headlines in a clear and concise fashion while still being interesting (or am I just a geek). A bit on the long side as far as content, but that's not really a big problem. Great photographs accompany many of the articles, and the magazine is organized in a well-developed manner. Most of all, it has that "newsy" look, so the magazine actually looks like it is doing its job. Read the articles, and you'll be SURE of that statement. :)

While it is around $4 dollars an issue, purchasing an issue at least once a month isn't a bad idea. Whether you're a college student interested in worldwide headlines, an avid reader who thrives on information, or just a casual glancer who finds a home with interesting and unusual articles, this magazine was made for you. Stay on top of the world with Newsweek.

The "From Schools to Jobs" article headline is copyright 2003 Newsweek and its respective owners. No challenge to ownership is implied.

Review Copyright 2003 Aaron Coffey