Shar-Lyn Tay
ENG 210.0876
Prof Lerner
11 October 2007
Rolling Stone Magazine
The editors for Rolling Stone are:

Jann S. Werner – editor and publisher

Will Dana – managing editor

Joe Levy – executive editor

Eric Bates, Nathan Brackett, John Dioso, Jason Fine – deputy managing
editors

David Fricke, Melissa Maerz, Jonathan Ringen, Peter Travers – senior editors

Brian Hiatt, Coco McPherson, Austin Scaggs, Evan Serpick, Thomas Walsh,
Sean Woods – associate editors
These are the main editors of the magazine. There are a few other categories of
editors: assistant editors, editorial staff, and contributing editors. The editor-in-chief
oversees the entire production of the magazine, and makes sure that the contents of the
magazine are up to standard. The managing editor is in charge of selecting the content
that makes it into the magazine. Instead of having section editors, Rolling Stone recruits
deputy managing editors to fulfill those roles of choosing stories for different sections of
the magazine.
Rolling Stone is divided roughly into three major sections. The front of the
magazine contains regular sections that readers can expect in every issue. The letters
page, a comic strip and masthead are right after the table of contents, and serves as an
introduction to the magazine. There is a “rock and roll” section that contains snippets of
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news regarding the music world. Although Rolling Stone is primarily an entertainment
magazine, there is a “National Affairs” section as well. Rolling Stone’s political
commentaries are a major contributor to the magazine’s popularity.
The well of this particular issue focuses on “The Hot List of ’07”. It features
articles and interviews with the major stars of 2007 in music, movies, television, sports,
and a few other fields. There is also a black-and-white picture spread of Amazonian
tribes. The magazine is concluded by another set of regulars – reviews and charts.
The main difference between this magazine and newspapers is that it caters to a
particular audience instead of a more general one. This magazine focuses on music and
movies. Newspapers report on breaking news that happens locally to international events.
As magazines are not published daily, the issue of timeliness can be sidestepped slightly.
In Rolling Stone’s case, the political writers do not have to write about an important
event instantly as it is only published biweekly. Newspaper reporters have to be on the
story the moment it happens in order to get the story published in the next edition of the
paper.
Since magazines take a more laid-back approach towards the writing of their
articles, they have more time to uncover more facts about their story and verify their
facts. Hence, magazines usually make fewer mistakes than newspapers.
The first element of journalism states that journalism’s first obligation is to the
truth. Rolling Stone seems like a reputable magazine that does not indulge in made-up
headlines or fake gossip designed to entice readers, unlike tabloids. Hyperbole may be a
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bit common in some articles, but it is an entertainment magazine and it does not have to
be so rigid as long as the truth is not stretched.
In the “rock and roll” section, there is an article with the headline “Hip-Hop
Under Attack”. This article by Evan Serpick addresses the issue of derogatory words in
hip-hop lyrics and a hearing called by Illinois congressman Bobby Rush. Serpick got two
sides of the story represented in the article – the people who wanted these vulgarities
banned, and those who feel that they have the right to express themselves. A short article
that cuts to the point, it informs readers of lingering issues in the aftermath of the Don
Imus name-calling scandal.
Popular Rolling Stone political columnist Matt Taibbi has a spot in the
magazine’s “National Affairs” section. In this issue, he writes a three-page article about
Arizona senator John McCain.
The articles contained in the main feature of this issue – “The Hot List of ’07” are well-written and give readers an in-depth look into up-and-coming actors and
musicians of the year. The artist who graces this issue’s cover, Kid Rock has a three-page
article written about him. The Rolling Stone editors seemed to take a rather risky step in
putting a man most well-known for marrying Pamela Anderson on the cover of their
“Hot” issue. They may have done it because of his recently increased popularity and the
three-day interview conducted with him shows that there may be more to the man than
his scandalous love life.
Rolling Stone may not be the first choice of readers who want breaking news on
current events, at least those not in the entertainment world. The magazine has even come
under fire from readers who complain that they focus too much on non-deserving artists.
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However, their well-established political commentaries and honest, heartfelt interviews
with some of the most influential musicians in the world causes the magazine to earn a
reputation of good journalism. Music and movie reviews, or even a mere mention in the
magazine, are coveted and most artists aspire to achieve such an accomplishment in a
famous magazine.
The writing style of most of their articles are true to the subject, go right to the
point, and have a dash of humor thrown in. They do not have to rely on fake, sensational
headlines and anonymous “family friends” who happen to report just what they want to
hear and print, and that encompasses good journalism.
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