A literary journal is intended to connect writer with reader; the role of the editor is to mediate.
You read about somebody, and it doesn't really matter whether or not they really exist - the point is that you get into them like real characters.
I have a huge span of fans, some who know all my radio songs and are familiar with my popular stuff and then some who have their own personal favorites. When I do my show, I try to take into consideration all those people.