Transworld Skateboarding

BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:

Transworld Skateboarding June 2011. Transworld Media. ISSN7482008839

PLOT SUMMARY:

The cover promises 20 questions that will be answered by Nestor Judkins and the rebirth of night skating, featuring a guy skate boarding down a railing. Inside there are tons of ads, a question and answer column about skating issues ranging from ‘my friends and I broke into and abandoned building to skate, we got arrested and weren’t charged, but now were getting a skate park’ to which movie to you like better, cool skater clothes, the 10 best-selling boards of all time and features articles.

CRITICAL EVALUATION:

I picked this as a representation of magazines for teen guys. I am way out of my element here. I really did not get most of what I was reading. What I did see was an unbelievable amount of ads. While I understand that they are a necessity, this magazine has more than I’ve ever seen in a magazine. I think that this is something that teen guys that are into skateboarding would like. The articles are about people in the skateboarding world that I’m sure the reader knows. I had no idea who they were. I also did not see one female in the whole magazine. I don’t know if there are less females involved in the sport or not. It just seemed odd that the whole gender seemed to be excluded from the magazine. It’s a good pick for teens that are into skateboarding

READER’S ANNOTATION:

If you’re into skateboarding this magazine is for you.

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE:

SKATEboarding is a skateboarding magazine, website, and production company owned by Bonnier Corporation. Founded in 1983, TWS was a response to Thrasher Magazine and specifically to the December 1982 article ‘Skate and Destroy’ written by C.R. Stecyk III under the pen name ‘Lowboy’, and the February 1983 advertisement for Independent Trucks that featured a topless model with Independent decals on her breasts.

Transworld began publishing under the ownership of Larry Balma, owner of Tracker Trucks, and Peggy Cozens. Initially, the publishing and editorial team were known as the ‘United Skate Front’. Balma later spoke of the magazine’s beginnings as a reaction to Thrasher, saying ‘They were pretty harsh, sex and drugs and using four-letter words and all that and in the early '80s, the sport started growing and (Thrasher) wasn't the best magazine for young kids'.

The first issue of TWS contained the article ‘Skate and Create’ and its author Peggy Cozens noted ‘I have become increasingly concerned about a new skate attitude being pushed on skaters: Skate and Destroy’ The article went on to highlight the positive and creative side of skating. The stance of the magazine remained positive to the extent that Thrasher owner Fausto Vitello wrote ‘They were about Skate and Create; we were about Skate and Destroy.’
The magazine was sold to Times Mirror in 1997 and in 2000 became a part of AOL Time Warner. In late 2001 the magazine was famously packaged with an AOL software disc which prompted the editorial note the following month that stated ‘Sorry for the poly-bagged edition with the 1,000 hours of free Internet access from AOL. We here at the magazine didn't even find out about the atrocity until (the magazines) made it into the office. We feel just as violated as you’. Internal tensions between the magazine staff and owners AOL Time Warner prompted a walkout of several key editorial members.

On September 12, 2006, Time Inc. announced the sale of Time4 Media, comprising eighteen print magazines, including the TRANSWORLD group of titles. The eighteen Time4 properties were eventually sold on January 25, 2007 to the Bonnier Corporation—a 200-year-old Sweden-based media and entertainment company. (Unknown, Transworld Skateboarding)

GENRE:

Magazine

CURRICULUM TIES:

New York State: None

BOOK TALKING IDEAS:

Not Applicable

READING LEVEL/INTEREST AGE:

Age 15 and up

CHALLENGE ISSUES:

None.

In order to prepare yourself should this magazine be challenged you may wish to take the following steps:

•Read the magazine or familiarize yourself with its content.
•Refer to the library’s collection development and circulation policy.
•Try to locate reviews of the magazine from places websites like amazon.com or parents.com.
•Seek the opinion of teen readers that have read the magazine.

Should this book be challenged you should follow the additional steps below:

•Advise the senior staff of the challenge.
•Let the patron know that their challenge will be filed and that senior library management will review their request and notify them once a decision has been made.
•Offer any further assistance should the patron have additional questions.

WHY DID I INCLUDE THIS MAGAZINE?

It was on the table in the teen room with the other current magazine issues.