Magazine journalism is not dead, despite the demise of many giant publications, but is thriving in new forms on the threshold of a new era whose trademark is urbanism. New publications recently appearing are primarily special audience magazines designed to fill the specific information needs of new groupings of readers. Since most of these new magazines survive on circulation revenue more than on advertising costs, they are able to exercise greater editorial freedom and wider content selection. Also, the new periodicals appeal to the advertisers since they offer a "pre-screened," selected audience. (Bibliographical data is provided and statistical tables show that new magazines reflect social changes and that Black publications have increased in number.) (DS)