Topics coverage in the lithuanian children's magazines: commercialization's dimension

The object of this thesis is children’s magazines. This object is not researched in Lithuanian academic literature neither is an expert of children‘s media in Lithuania. The problem analyzed is: whether topics coverage of Lithuanian children’s magazines satisfies audience’s interests and whether process of media’s commercialization doesn’t have negative influence to the content of children’s magazines. The hypothesis raised is that children’s magazines concentration to the profit outbalances the meeting of audience’s interests. The purpose of the thesis is to analyze the topics coverage of the children’s magazines in the aspect of commercialization. The tasks for reaching this purpose are: to consider the features of topics coverage of children’s magazines; to analyze the problem of children’s magazines commercialization; to review the role of children’s magazines to their audience; to analyze the topics coverage of the Lithuanian children’s magazines. To analyze the topics coverage of Lithuanian children’s magazines five magazines were examined: Naminukas, Flintas, Bitutė, Laimiukas ir Su P.E.R. Periodicals were analyzed using the methods of content analysis, comparativeness and observation. Considering the material presented and the survey performed the conclusion is made that media’s commercialization process determines decrease of the editorial publications in the Lithuanian children’s magazines. Entertaining publications, contests, offering to win various prizes, and advertisements, which are often unrecognizable and inseparable from the editorial content, occupy more places in Lithuanian children’s magazines. Those children’s magazines, which are sponsored by state’s foundations, are more resistant to the effects of media’s commercialization and competition. Bigger part of their content covers high quality, creative and original editorial publications. The topics coverage of those magazines is wider, oriented to various interests of the audience. This thesis could be useful for journalists of the children’s magazines – practicians, in order to find out the interest of the audience and successfully satisfy them. As well for the students of communication, psychology, sociology and those, who are interested in the topics coverage of children’s magazines