Sponsor (magazine)

''Sponsor'' was created by Norman R. Glenn for radio and TV advertising sponsors. The first issue of the magazine was published in November 1946 as a monthly, before being published twice a month from January 1949. It became a weekly in 1956 and the last issue was published in May 1968.

History

Founding

Norman R. Glenn is the creator, publisher, and founding editor of ''Sponsor''. Glenn was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, on September 3, 1909. Glenn left college his senior year at the University of Chicago because of financial issues. Glenn took a job with the ''Chicago Daily News''. There, Glenn was introduced to the general manager at WLS radio where he initially started working as a placard holder for WLS's weekly show, ''The National Barn Dance''. While at WLS he would be promoted to information clerk and eventually prompted to promotion director in 1933. In 1945, Glenn married Elaine Cooper. Glenn then worked as executive director of ''Frequency Modulation Magazine''.Jason Scott. ''Sponsor''. Internet Archive. June 2014. Web. November 7, 2016.

While at ''Broadcasting'' magazine, Glenn envisioned a trade journal aimed towards the service and concerns of broadcast media, broadcasters, and advertisers. With this vision came the first publication of ''Sponsor'' magazine in November 1946. In the credo section of ''Sponsor''s first issue, president and publisher Glenn stated five reasons of objectivity for his magazine. One, "to give the sponsor what he needs to understand and effectively use broadcast advertising in all its forms." Two, "to sort out the four broadcast advertising mediums -AM, FM, TV, FAX -in their present -day perspective." Three, "to make every line of editorial content vital and vivid to the sponsor." Four, "to look at broadcast advertising issues fairly, firmly, and constructively." Finally, "to promote good broadcast advertising - advertising that is good for the sponsor and good for the listener."

The first issue of ''Sponsor'' featured an offer for a five dollar yearly subscription on its cover. Their offices were located at 40 West 52 Street, New York, New York.Glenn, Norman R. "Sponsor Magazine for Buyers of Broadcast Adversity" ''Sponsor''. Nov. 1964: pp. 1-5. Media History Digital Library. Web. November 7, 2016.

Content

''Sponsor'' magazine was a popular, successful, and influential magazine among the broadcasting community. ''Sponsor'' editorials exercised focus on sound TV and radio practices, creation of a television ad bureau, a revitalized radio ad bureau, improved research, and media buying professionalism. While in production ''Sponsor'' would occasionally run series not directly connected to broadcasting or advertising. One of the first series was titled, "This We Fight For". This series of articles dealt with ethical standards in America during the time of the 1950s. Sponsor also ran a series titled, "Red Channels" in the early to mid 1950s. The Red Channels' series focused on McCarthyism. From this series, ''Sponsor'' was able to win the George Polk Awards for distinguished journalism.

Frequency

''Sponsor'' was a monthly magazine for its first four years and became a bimonthly magazine starting in January 1949. It became a weekly on October 27, 1956.

Sale

Glenn sold ''Sponsor'' to Ojibway Press of Duluth, Minnesota, in 1963, and, after 18 years and over 500 issues, his last issue as publisher was the December 28, 1964, issue.

Closure

Harcourt, Brace & World acquired Ojibway Press in April 1968 and, after being in circulation for 22 years, ''Sponsor'' ceased publication in May 1968 citing falling advertising revenues.

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline, Sponsor (American magazine)

Norman R. Glenn papers
at the University of Maryland Libraries

Magazines about advertising
Defunct magazines published in the United States
Monthly magazines published in the United States
Magazines published in Philadelphia
Magazines established in 1946
Magazines disestablished in 1968