Exposure to popular magazine covers is widespread among even those choosing not to read a particular magazine. With news racks in all grocery and convenience stores, the American public cannot escape at least a quick glance at the material presented on the cover. Because of this, it is vital that we analyze the messages being disseminated each month through these publications.

This study will attempt to analyze and categorize the messages sent out via the covers of the five most popular general interest women's magazines with the highest circulation during the year 2000: Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, Woman's Day, and Redbook.

Prior to beginning this study, several current women's magazines were viewed to determine commonality of content. Following this, seventeen categories for material content were created. These are food/cooking; relationship (family, friends, etc.); weight loss; fashion; beauty (makeup, hairstyles, etc.); home (decorating, cleaning tips, etc.); celebrity/entertainment; fitness/mental health; finances/career; fiction; editorials/personal experience; medical; travel; parenting/grandparenting; holiday/seasonal; body fixes; and miscellaneous.