61.

Targets. Titles, and Terminology

by VIRGINIA

In a magazine like TRANSVESTIA, which is designed for per- sons with a special interest, it might seem a minor matter to give any consideration to the audience which we are appealing to for it is obvious that we are dealing with the subject of oross dressing and appealing to persons who are interested in it. However, there is more to it than this.

There are publications on the market whose sole purpose is to cater to and sell to persons whose interests are in the fields of bondage, spanking, flagellation, etc. These publications have no purpose other than to make money, they are strictly commercial ventures. Many of these deal with Transvestism in some way and many TVs buy them, but I conceive of TRANSVESTIA as being consider- ably more than a commercial adventure, having more goals than just making money. (Even this goal has not yet been achieved). I think of TRANSVESTIA as serving the three purposes outlined on the cover of the very first issue: To provide Expression, Education,

and Information. All three of these areas are above and beyond the commercial. This is what sets TRANSVESTIA off from any other mag- azine serving the special interests of a particular group, with the probable exception of ONE, THE MATTACHINE REVIEW and the LADDER all three of which are serving the interests and helping the cause of the Homosexual.

Well, if TRANSVESTIA is to serve the interests of a special group in the fields of Expression, Education, and Information it naturally poses the problems of just what the limits of that group are and what material should be printed in the magazine to accom- plish these ends. Here is where the problem arises--i.e. how am I to think of the TARGETS--the audience--that I am shooting at. Nat- urally I have no restrictions on who buys the magazine, but I have to formulate an idea of the characteristics of the target in order to aim properly. So it seems timely for me to discuss the matter with you, the readers. That this problem is a significant one is indicated by the fact that I have perhaps half as many cards in the file for persons who have bought one or two issues and then