It’s a chilly, grey, dull day in dreary London today. As my husband popped out to pick up a paper I asked him to buy a magazine, with the criteria “any one will do” that I don’t currently have. So he had quite a few to choose from! He came back with “REAL“.
When this was first published ... Read review
Advantages: Aimed at "Real" women, aimed at "professional" woman, markets to a wide age range Disadvantages: Busy, fuss, crowded layouts. Too "serious".
...Sorry, but I’ve got real life issues of my own to worry about without being concerned about whether someone like Tara Palmer-Tompkinson has had a raw deal. Again, this kind of article I’d expect to find in Cosmopolitan. Am I being too harsh? Maybe I am, but this comes across as being one very confused magazine. It seems to be trying to hard, not sure which other publications are its competitors.
OK, so there is a positive side. The ... ...the real-life Clarice Starling*, where REAL talks to a woman that’s spent a lifetime interviewing the world’s most notorious serial killers.
It’s articles like these that used to make REAL a force to be reckoned with. Previously, every issue was jam packed with features like these . However, I guess that this unique selling point (USP) hasn’t been enough and didn’t hold wide enough appeal. So much so, that REAL is now somewhere between ... more
It’s a chilly, grey, dull day in dreary London today. As my husband popped out to pick up a paper I asked him to buy a magazine, with the criteria “any one will do” that I don’t currently have. So he had quite a few to choose from! He came back with “REAL“.
When this was first published a few years ago, it was trying to compete with the high quality glossies and was printed as such. It’s published by H Bauer Publishing and was it’s first attempt at venturing into the upmarket women’s market. It hasn’t performed well in this market place and in the middle of August this year, Bauer Publishing sold the titled to Essential Publishing, amid rumours that the title would close. Whether Essential Publishing can ensure the magazine’s success where Bauer has failed remains to be seen.
There are a couple of unique factors about “REAL”. Firstly, it’s a fortnightly publication (current cover price £1.50), and secondly it’s marketed to a fairly broad age range. My research suggests that it’s aimed at 25-40 year olds, but it could be argued that it has a wider appeal, and you could possibly find something in here to suit all women from ages 20 through to 60.
For some reason in “REAL” (probably due to the number of inset pictures), you get two pages of Contents Listings (3&4). Contents are broken down into “Trends” (yup, just another word for Fashion!), “Features”, “Fashion” (yup, why don’t they put this with Trends?), “Health & Beauty”, “Food & Interiors” and “Regulars”. I know lots of magazines index their publications like this, but it really does irk me. It’s not as if I look at the Contents page and think “oh yeah, I want to read an article about Health & Beauty!” I’d much rather they didn’t bother.
I must admit it’s been a little while since I read this; I had thought it went downhill after its initial launch, and I haven’t read anything in this issue to convince me otherwise. In the early days of “REAL”, it did have a slightly alternative feel to it and seemed to cover much more interesting topics. For example, the publication used to handle issues like prostitution and drugs use with sensitivity and a non-judgemental attitude. Those days are gone. As I flicked through this fortnight’s offering, I truly felt that “REAL” had lost its individuality and the unique niche it had filled in the women’s glossies market.
The offerings are staple fodder from a woman’s title. Let’s see. We have articles about fashion and beauty - why it’s “cool to be brunette this year”. I can breathe a sigh of relief then! Quite frankly, I’m not interested; I’m past caring! There’s criticism of celebrity style and information on “who should sack their stylist”. This, I can get from Heat thanks. And then there’s a feature on “Poor little rich girls”, “Can being an It girl really be that bad”? Do we really care? Nope. I don’t. Sorry, but I’ve got real life issues of my own to worry about without being concerned about whether someone like Tara Palmer-Tompkinson has had a raw deal. Again, this kind of article I’d expect to find in Cosmopolitan. Am I being too harsh? Maybe I am, but this comes across as being one very confused magazine. It seems to be trying to hard, not sure which other publications are its competitors.
OK, so there is a positive side. The title does a series of “Special Reports” that cover a wide range of topics. Even I have to admit that the quality of journalism here is top notch.
*There’s a diet article about “Can the new diet pills live up to the hype?” Here, we get an analysis of appetite suppressants, fat burners and metabolism boosters that is quite useful, and the articles always try to be fairly balanced.
*We also have “The Sinister World of Skin Bleaching”, an in depth look t the practice of “skin-lightening”, the illegal substances used to do so and why some of these products have been banned in Britain.
*Another title is “Meet the real-life Clarice Starling*, where REAL talks to a woman that’s spent a lifetime interviewing the world’s most notorious serial killers.
It’s articles like these that used to make REAL a force to be reckoned with. Previously, every issue was jam packed with features like these . However, I guess that this unique selling point (USP) hasn’t been enough and didn’t hold wide enough appeal. So much so, that REAL is now somewhere between She and Woman’s Own and that’s a pretty weird position to be in.
REAL’s style directory is also fair. New look and Etam can be featured on the same page as French Connection and River Island. They make a concentrated effort to provide a balance between economy and flair, realising that their pages will be read by women on a budget, as well as those with a bit of extra cash to spare on treating themselves.
As is normal from a publication of this kind, full page colour advertising is quite heavily featured. REAL does well in maintaining a balance. In this issue 20 pages out of 120 were full page advertising, which seemed a little heavy to me, but not nearly as heavy as a publication like Glamour or Cosmopolitan.
MY VERDICT?
I guess because I used to REALLY like this magazine, I’ve maybe been a little harsh. But it’s a harshness borne out of disappointment. I do wonder if the publication may have been more successful had it stuck to its grass roots and not tried so hard to compete with the other upmarket glossies out there? However, it’s a competitive world we live in, and us little old consumers are driven by advertising and marketing. REAL’s initial content clearly wasn’t a successful enough formula to let it continue in that way ad infinitum.
You know, it’s OK really. If you want to read articles about “REAL” women that are not covered by the ordinary run of the mill glossies, yet are too serious to make it into the realms of Woman’s Own, That’s Life or Take a Break, this could be just the magazine for you.
At £1.50 a fortnight, it represents reasonable value too.
Advantages: True stories, cheap, interesting to read Disadvantages: Too many advertisements,
Real is a magazine for women. It came out last year, so it is quite a new magazine on the market. It comes out every fortnight and costs only £1.50, which is not that bad a price at all. This magazine is now selling for £1 which is a real bargain, and definitely worth the money.
The front page of the magazine is glossy and always has a different woman on the front. The front page also advertises some of the stories that are featuring in the magazine.
... ...in the previous copies of Real magazine. They always have a star letter, who wins something, which is different every fortnight. This time it is some skincare products.
Real Men - Here you will find a story based on a man. The story this time is called "What men think makes us good in bed".
Real Life - Here is true stories from people who read the magazine. One of them is called "Greeting Greedy". This story is based on a couple who have won the ...
tabyorky 15.03.2002 (28.05.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Real
Advantages: More to read than so many other magazines Disadvantages: Some sections don't appeal to me
...for that. Duh!
Real is a magazine targeted, as far as I can make out, at professional middle aged women. I match one of these in that, until someone tells me otherwise, I'll believe I am female, but that's about it. Still, now and then when I'm either short of change or have read everything else on the newsstand I'll pick it up. Published fortnightly Real and costing £1 makes the magazine unusual on two counts, but once inside the pages each section ... ...Sunday Times' Style.
Real likes to tell you more about Real things going on in the Real world, so the REAL LIFE section would seem a good place to start. This is the largest single part of the issues and includes interviews with women doing different things around the world, exposes on everything from internet porn to gambling addiction and the occasional article on something very topical such as London or Bali bombings. The magazine does ...
zoe_page 28.04.2006
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Advantages: Clothes that fit my fat ass, a measly 100 pennies Disadvantages: Can be like an episode of 'This Morning' on paper
...for me!). This is where Real comes into its own, in one fashion article you could have George, Chanel, right up to some obscure designer you've never heard of and charges £500 for a pair of knickers! My only criticism is that they are featuring more and more pricey items. Celeb fashions aren't really my thing, but I know some people will be interested in where you can buy the clothes MArtine McCutcheon or Clare Sweeney wear in High Street versions.
... ...bit of a failure, but Real do manage it really well. Things is, I think the novelty of all the different types of articles has worn off a little now, and they put the cover price up I probably wont buy it, only if there is an article I really want to read.
Anyway, got to go, got a few Take A Break competitions to do! ...
Emma1973 18.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Real
Advantages: Good price and relevant Disadvantages: Too many adverts (as usual)
...another recipe page then give Real a read. I have been an avid reader since the launch of the magazine and thoroughly recommend it.
The cover price is £1.50 each fortnight. Sections include travel, food, family life , fashion and homes and shopping alongside a tempting selection of features and regulars such as the usual horoscopes page and letters page.
Each fortnight there is a section called Heartland which tackles everyday issues from different ... ...the rest but I think Real have done a good job. We're not all size 10 career women but that doesn't mean that we want to read womans own and have a free knitting pattern with every mag cos we've had a child. The other side of the coin (ie Cosmo) are too cosmetic and beauty biased which is fine if you want that kind of thing.
Every magazine goes through ages and stages but I feel that in my mid 30's with a child and a job that Real addresses issues ...
Cinnamonsam 08.03.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Real
Advantages: Different from the run of the mill Disadvantages: None can think of
I have been buying this magazine more or less since the first issue and look forward to every new one! If, like me, you are bored with the 'how to improve your sex life' articles in company, cosmo and the like, then I recommend you give 'Real' a try.
It was originally priced at £1.50 and issue, but is now £1 (bargain!) and is published fortnightly on a Tuesday.
I have seen many articles about interesting subjects in this magazine - the plight of ... ...changes in child custody legislation. There is also the usual fashion, food, home and problem pages - but all are usually well written and interesting. There is also some light hearted jokey stuff, it isn't all politics - a good mix really. I would say the magazine is aimed at women who are late 20s upwards as there are quite a few articles about kids and families.
Buy it, lock the door and while a way a couple of hours once a fortnight! ...
AlisonW30 26.10.2003
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Advantages: Interesting, Some good things to try out (not in a criminal way) Disadvantages: Gives criminals ideas ?
~~~ What's it About ? ~~~
The Real Hustle involves 3 con artists carrying out scams on unsuspecting members of the public. The type of scams vary from being card tricks on the street to selling property which doesn't belong to you.
The skill involved also varies greatly. Some of the things which are done take years of practice and others just relying on people's trusting nature and their eye for a good deal.
The shows is on BBC 3 and usually runs for around 30mins. The show has been expanding in recent years, heading to America and other countries. This is probably so they're less well known.
All of the money which is earned is given back.
~~~ Who's in it ? ~~~
*Paul Wilson* - The star of the show. Paul is the one who peforms all the high skill cons and is extremely talented with cards and all that related stuff. He ...
Wils0408n 08.11.2009
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Advantages: Some fantastic auction moments. Disadvantages: David Dickinson....
Dickinson's Real Deal is hosted by David Dickinson who is an 'expert' in the antiques industry.
Members of the public are invited to come to a particular auction room or place of public interest and they will bring their treasured possessions along with them. There are a few different experts on the panel, one of whom will look at the items on offer and then make an offer to purchase the product. The member of the public can then haggle to try and get more money, choose to take the offer or just decide to take the item to auction and see how they get on there instead. David Dickinson will be standing by and if he feels that people are getting short changed or if the independent valuer thinks that the item is worth more or less than David will step in and give the panellist and the member of the public his opinion on whether the cash ...
Advantages: Cheap and Cheerful Disadvantages: News of the World articles
manager wouldn't refuse me one little pleasure even if my mean old boyfriend would.
I'm in the newsagents, three teenage girls are crowded around the problem pages of Just Seventeen, looking extremely pensive which was quite a shock as I thought the only expression teenage girls could pull was vaccous boredom.
So many magazines! Which one to choose? Cosmopolitan is a little expensive and the cheaper ones seem a little frightening with headlines such as 'I ate my husband then had his baby'. Then, shining like a lighthouse in a storm the fluorescent green banner read 'Only £1'.
I picked up the glossy and read the front cover. The magazine is called Real and its logo is an italic R in various colours depending on the mood of the editor situated in the top lefy hand corner. The usual waif like models in floaty dresses adorn the front ...
PERFIDIOUS 01.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Real - Magazine
