Us Weekly
Encyclopedia
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine
, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company
, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Along with Jann Wenner
, the individuals currently in charge of Us Weekly are Editor in Chief Michael Steele and Publisher Victoria Lasdon Rose. As of 2007, its circulation averaged over 1.85 million.
The magazine currently features a sharply different style from its original 1977–2000 format. Originally a monthly industry news and review magazine along the lines of Premiere
or Entertainment Weekly
, it switched format in 2000 to its current themes of celebrity news and style.
The web site Usmagazine.com was launched in fall 2006 and gets approximately two million visitors per month. In addition to features from the magazine, the site has a breaking celebrity news blog, exclusive photos, red carpet galleries from premieres and events, plus games, videos, quizzes and polls.
Us Weekly has several signature issues each year including the Hot Hollywood special issues, in the spring and the fall celebrating young Hollywood; the Best Bodies issue and the Best Makeovers issue.
and Men’s Journal.
In 1999, the company announced plans to shift the Us publication schedule from monthly to weekly. The shift coincided with a change in style from industry news and reviews to a celebrity- focused news magazine. The move was a response to several market forces, including the success of Time, Inc.’s Entertainment Weekly
and People
magazines. Wenner expressed his intention to keep Us "celebrity-friendly" in contrast with the more gossipy character of its competitors. He told the New York Times: "We will be nice to celebrities. A lot of my friends are in the entertainment business." The publication focuses on celebrity fashion as well as Hollywood gossip; Kelli Delaney
, current New York designer for Members Only
, formerly served as Fashion Director of the publication (1992–95).
The magazine changed from a monthly to a weekly format in March 2000. In February 2001, Wenner partnered with The Walt Disney Company
. But, in August 2006, Wenner Media re-acquired Disney's 50 percent stake, making the publication once again fully owned and operated by Wenner Media. In July 2003, Janice Min
took over as Editor in Chief with Victoria Lasdon Rose as Publisher, and Michael Steele as Executive Editor. Steele took over for Min in 2009. London-born Melanie Bromley became West Coast Bureau Chief in 2007 and is based in Los Angeles. Lara Cohen is the magazine's News Director.
Us Weekly Important Dates:
article, Janice Min
, Us Weekly editor-in-chief, cited People for the increase in cost to publishers of celebrity photos:
In a June 2007 New York Magazine article, Tina Brown
was asked, "Do you actually read the tabloids?"
From a May 2007 New York Post
article profiling New York's 50 Most Powerful Women,
The magazine was criticized for allegedly biased coverage of the 2008 Republican National Convention
. The September 5, 2008, issue featured Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
on the cover with the headline "Babies, Lies & Scandal", while the June 19, 2008, issue featured U.S. Senator
from Illinois Barack Obama
and wife Michelle Obama
with the headline "Why Barack Loves Her". Senior Editor Bradley Jacobs claimed that the "lies" on the cover referred to unspecified "liberal bloggers" who had speculated on the parentage of Governor Palin's child, not to the governor herself. However, nothing on the cover indicated "liberal bloggers" were the alleged liars. It was reported that the magazine had lost over 10,000 subscribers. Since then Michelle Malkin
's blog reported that Us Weekly sent e-mails to each of those subscribers, apologizing for the cover, and promised to send them five free copies of the magazine.
Gossip magazine
Gossip magazines feature scandalous stories about the personal lives of celebrities. This genre of magazine flourished in North America in the 1950s and early 1960s. The title Confidential alone boasted a monthly circulation in excess of ten million, and it had many competitors, with names like...
, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company is an American media company best known as the publisher of its namesake, The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. has served as Chairman of the Board since 1997. It is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City....
, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment. Along with Jann Wenner
Jann Wenner
Jann Simon Wenner is the co-founder and publisher of the music and politics biweekly Rolling Stone, as well as the owner of Men's Journal and Us Weekly magazines.-Childhood:...
, the individuals currently in charge of Us Weekly are Editor in Chief Michael Steele and Publisher Victoria Lasdon Rose. As of 2007, its circulation averaged over 1.85 million.
The magazine currently features a sharply different style from its original 1977–2000 format. Originally a monthly industry news and review magazine along the lines of Premiere
Premiere (magazine)
Premiere was an American and New York City-based film magazine published by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., published between the years 1987 and 2007. The original version of the magazine, Première , was started in France in 1976 and is still being published there.-History:The magazine originally...
or Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, it switched format in 2000 to its current themes of celebrity news and style.
The web site Usmagazine.com was launched in fall 2006 and gets approximately two million visitors per month. In addition to features from the magazine, the site has a breaking celebrity news blog, exclusive photos, red carpet galleries from premieres and events, plus games, videos, quizzes and polls.
Us Weekly has several signature issues each year including the Hot Hollywood special issues, in the spring and the fall celebrating young Hollywood; the Best Bodies issue and the Best Makeovers issue.
History
Launched as a bi-monthly publication in 1977, Us Magazine was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986 and is a part of Wenner Media LLC, which also publishes Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and Men’s Journal.
In 1999, the company announced plans to shift the Us publication schedule from monthly to weekly. The shift coincided with a change in style from industry news and reviews to a celebrity- focused news magazine. The move was a response to several market forces, including the success of Time, Inc.’s Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
and People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazines. Wenner expressed his intention to keep Us "celebrity-friendly" in contrast with the more gossipy character of its competitors. He told the New York Times: "We will be nice to celebrities. A lot of my friends are in the entertainment business." The publication focuses on celebrity fashion as well as Hollywood gossip; Kelli Delaney
Kelli Delaney
Kelli Delaney is the president, designer, and creative director for the re-launch of the clothing line. Before that, Delaney spent 14 years creating and editing fashion, beauty, and celebrity news publications, including Glamour and Allure....
, current New York designer for Members Only
Members Only
Members Only is a brand of clothing that became popular in the 1980s with the Members Only jacket. The brand was created in 1975 and introduced to American markets in 1979 by Europe Craft Imports .Members Only was renowned for their brand of jackets, which were first introduced in 1981 and...
, formerly served as Fashion Director of the publication (1992–95).
The magazine changed from a monthly to a weekly format in March 2000. In February 2001, Wenner partnered with The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. But, in August 2006, Wenner Media re-acquired Disney's 50 percent stake, making the publication once again fully owned and operated by Wenner Media. In July 2003, Janice Min
Janice Min
Janice Min is a Korean-American editor and writer who rose to prominence as the longtime editor of Us Weekly and .A graduate of Columbia College, and later Columbia University’s School of Journalism, Min began her career as a newspaper reporter in Westchester County, NY...
took over as Editor in Chief with Victoria Lasdon Rose as Publisher, and Michael Steele as Executive Editor. Steele took over for Min in 2009. London-born Melanie Bromley became West Coast Bureau Chief in 2007 and is based in Los Angeles. Lara Cohen is the magazine's News Director.
Us Weekly Important Dates:
- 1977: Us founded by The New York Times Company
- 1980: Us acquired by Macfadden Media
- 1986: Us acquired by Wenner Media
- 1991: Us changes its bi-weekly frequency to become monthly
- March 2000: Us changes from a monthly format and goes weekly, changing its title
- February 2001: Us Weekly partners with The Walt Disney Company
- January 2006: Us Weekly increases rate base to 1.75 Million
- July 2006: Us Weekly launches Usmagazine.com
- August 2006: Wenner Media re-acquires Disney’s 50 percent stake in Us Weekly
Sections of the magazine
- Just Like Us: photos of celebrities doing things everyday people do. Inspired by a regular Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
feature about animals. - Who Wore It Best? : reader polls of which celebrity wore an outfit better
- Hot Stuff: the latest gossip from inside Hollywood
- The Red Carpet: the looks and styles from Hollywood’s hottest parties and premieres
- Hot Pics: celebrity sightings of stars around the globe
- Fashion Police: famous comedians cite the fashion disasters of the stars, and the best “look of the week”
- The Record: a roster of changes in the lives of stars — births, marriages, divorces, etc.
- Loose Talk: quotes from the stars
- Us Musts: according to Us Weekly, the must-see films, TV shows and DVDs
Us Weekly in the news
In a July 2006 VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
article, Janice Min
Janice Min
Janice Min is a Korean-American editor and writer who rose to prominence as the longtime editor of Us Weekly and .A graduate of Columbia College, and later Columbia University’s School of Journalism, Min began her career as a newspaper reporter in Westchester County, NY...
, Us Weekly editor-in-chief, cited People for the increase in cost to publishers of celebrity photos:
In a June 2007 New York Magazine article, Tina Brown
Tina Brown
Tina Brown, Lady Evans, CBE , is a journalist, magazine editor, columnist, talk-show host and author of The Diana Chronicles, a biography of Diana, Princess of Wales. Born a British citizen, she took United States citizenship in 2005 after emigrating in 1984 to edit Vanity Fair...
was asked, "Do you actually read the tabloids?"
From a May 2007 New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
article profiling New York's 50 Most Powerful Women,
The magazine was criticized for allegedly biased coverage of the 2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
The United States 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008...
. The September 5, 2008, issue featured Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
on the cover with the headline "Babies, Lies & Scandal", while the June 19, 2008, issue featured U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Illinois Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and wife Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
with the headline "Why Barack Loves Her". Senior Editor Bradley Jacobs claimed that the "lies" on the cover referred to unspecified "liberal bloggers" who had speculated on the parentage of Governor Palin's child, not to the governor herself. However, nothing on the cover indicated "liberal bloggers" were the alleged liars. It was reported that the magazine had lost over 10,000 subscribers. Since then Michelle Malkin
Michelle Malkin
Michelle Malkin is an American conservative blogger, political commentator, and author. Her weekly syndicated column appears in a number of newspapers and websites. She is a Fox News Channel contributor and has been a guest on MSNBC, C-SPAN, and national radio programs...
's blog reported that Us Weekly sent e-mails to each of those subscribers, apologizing for the cover, and promised to send them five free copies of the magazine.
Recognition
Awards and Recognition by industry observers:- Adweek's "The Hot List: Top 10 Magazines" 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Advertising Age's Magazine of the Year, 2004
- Adweek Magazine's Editor of the Year, Editor in Chief Janice Min
- Advertising Age A-List, #3 in 2005, #1 in 2004
- Capell's Circulation Report "Top 10 Best Performers in Circulation" in 2005