Bicycling.

Bicycling is a magazine that offers the latest information on the best riding suites, bike models, safety tips for riding, and other exercises for keeping in shape. The purpose of the magazine is to introduce new bicyclists to important information and keep other readers updated on the bicycling world.

The total audience for Bicycling magazine is 2.1 million. 70% are men, 29% are women, and the average age is 42. The average household income is about $60,000. 51% of readers are married, 42% graduated college, and 77% are employed. Bicycling primarily appeals to middle aged men who are passionate about bicycling, and staying in shape.

Most of the ads are for riding suites, oil, tires and bikes, but there are other things related to fitness in general like vitamins, sneakers, and treadmills. There are a few ads for cars as well, one of them being a Prius which is known as a high end car. Another thing advertised in Bicycling is the Tanta scale that measures not only your weight but also your body fat, muscle mass, bone mass and metabolic age. This product is aimed at people trying to get or keep in shape, and with a few extra dollars to spend, priced at $130. There is another advertisement for a cookbook, “The Feed Zone,” that features healthy recipes. There is also an article about natural vs. vitamins, ending with natural food considered best for athletes.

 Most of the items above are stereotypically thought to be men’s items, but the magazine works at creating a female presence. They include photography of female riders, and a female rider on the front cover, advertisement for more feminine looking bicycling items, and feature article “The Perfect Ride” by Evelyn Spence, which is about bicycles made specifically for woman’s bodies. The larger audience is men so the magazine primarily appeals to them, but women are becoming a larger demographic for the magazine, so their trying to appeal more to them.

At first glance Bicycling appears to be a narrow magazine that would only offer information solely on bicycles. Obviously it mostly focuses on bikes, but there is other useful information included that other people besides a bicyclist can use for their fitness regiment.

SP 212 CNN and Al Jazeera

The topic was China’s Vice President, Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States. Both videos start with talking about why Jinping’s visiting, and the economic relationship between the two countries. One major difference is CNN is covering Obama’s opinions on the matter, while Al Jazeera is using a separate reporter to cover the event. Of course the president is allowed to make any critiques he wants, but he’s less likely to do so while he’s about to welcome an international leader. Obama speaks about us needing China to improve our commerce in the Pacific/Asian region. The reporter from Al Jazeera, Alan Fisher, speaks a little more about Jinping himself. We get the feel of a behind the scenes coverage at Al Jazeera. Fisher mentions the doubts the Chinese have about Jinping’s affiliation. Some described him as a moderate, a U.S diplomat described him as a “redder than red communist.” I do not believe either news organization has demonstrated an unfair bias on this issue. Like I said earlier Al Jazeera has a little more liberty, then Obama did at the moment to point out all the flaws. Fisher even says towards the end of the Al Jazeera video that neither can afford a major falling out, especially the U.S, during Obama’s re-election year. The U.S purpose for coverage was different from Al Jazeera’s, they were mostly just announcing that the visit will take place.

We all know CNN normally follows a Social Responsibility model, but we couldn’t see that in this clip. Not that were turning into an authoritarian model or a communist model, but CNN did get a limited perspective of Xi Jinping’s visit. The idea is if Obama said something unfavorable, CNN would have been allowed to post it anyway. Al Jazeera is based in a part of the world where it’s almost impossible not to be bias when reporting, and I think they’ve done a good job at following the Social Responsibility model. They have their facts correct about Xi Jinping, and the China and U.S economic relation, they don’t appear to be favoring any particular side, although the coverage on Xi Jinping would probably be considered unfavorable to him.