Teen Ink Magazine

Young Author's Foundation, Inc. (December, 2010). Teen Ink. 22(4). 

Summary

  Teen Ink is a national magazine for teens 13 - 19 years old. This magazine provides an outlet for teenage writing, art, photos, and forum. This magazine offers teens the opportunity to have a magazine created by them and just for them. It is an independent publication of the Young Author's Foundation, Inc. Teen Ink is funded by advertisers in the magazine who want to reach teens, tax deductible donations, payment for subscriptions purchased by schools or libraries and all royalties from the sale of the Teen Ink books. This magazine offers a space for expression in all formats, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, lyrics and much more. There are no staff writers or artists, as everything is created by teenagers after going through the creative and selection process by staff members. A new issue comes out each month and current copies can be downloaded for free from their website.

Critical Evaluation

  With so many newspapers, magazines, and books being written for adults, it was such a nice change to see something made by teens, for teens. You can feel the words that these teens write and hear the music their lyrics make. It is an outstanding magazine, and this creative outlet is something that teens crave. With their lives always flipping upside down, having somewhere to vent is critical.

Readers Annotation

  Let the creativity begin!

Creators

  Teen Ink started in 1989 and was called The 21st Century. The reasoning for the name was because this magazine was for the next generation. Now that we are actually in the 21st century, the name no longer fit, and it was changed to Teen Ink, to set the stage for a whole new generation of artists.

  Teen Ink is not affiliated with any group or organization and is an independent publication of the Young Author's Foundation, Inc., which is a 501(c) 3 non profit organization. Big companies like Pepsi-Cola and Ford help fund the magazine by advertising in it. There are no staff writers or artists as all the contribution is submitted by teens. There is advisory boards and staff members that choose submissions and put the magazine together.

Genre

 Magazine

 

Curriculum Ties

  Over 5,5000 schools in all of the 50 states receive a class set of this magazine. With budget and program cuts, many schools are no longer able to provide services such as the school newspaper. With this magazine reaching over 300,000 teens and even more on the Internet, teens creativity does not have to diminish. Schools can use this magazine in English classes or writing workshops. Art classes can use these magazines to show teens creativity and to inspire others.

Reading Level/Interest Age

  9-12th grade/ Young Adult

Challenge Issues

  n/a

Reason for Selection

  I asked my YA Librarian what top magazines she recommended to teens, and this was first on her list.