Business of Magazines

This option is designed to give trainees a thorough understanding of the magazine industry and how magazines work.

The programme of study includes: the roles of B2B, general consumer and specialist consumer magazines; the importance of identifying and writing for an audience; company accounts; the roles of editorial, marketing, advertising and other departments; revenue streams; editorial strategy; and means of distribution.  

Assessment is by examination in which candidates have 1 hour and 45 minutes to answer questions covering the full syllabus.

This module is available as a distance learning unit.

The business of magazines elective module will be withdrawn from the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism from September 2021 for new registrations, following an industry-wide review of the elective modules for this qualification. The unit end date for the module is 30 September 2023. Please see published transition arrangements below.

Business of magazines transition arrangements