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''Us Weekly'' is a weekly celebrity and entertainment magazine based in New York City. ''Us Weekly'' was founded in 1977 by
The New York Times Company The New York Times Company is an American mass media company that publishes ''The New York Times''. Its headquarters are in Manhattan, New York City. History The company was founded by Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones in New York City. ...
, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986, and sold to
American Media Inc. A360 Media, LLC (branded a360media), formerly American Media, Inc. (AMI), is an American publisher of magazines, supermarket tabloids, and books based in New York City. Originally affiliated with only the ''National Enquirer'', the media company ...
in 2017. Shortly afterward, former editor James Heidenry stepped down, and was replaced by Jennifer Peros. The chief content officer of American Media,
Dylan Howard Dylan Howard (born 19 January 1982) is an entertainment journalist and media executive. He is best known for his work as editor-in-chief of the ''National Enquirer'' tabloid between 2014 and 2020, a period in which he oversaw a number of scanda ...
, oversees the publication. ''Us Weekly'' covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment. As of 2017, its paid circulation averaged to more than 1.95 million copies weekly and total readership of more than 50 million consumers. 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 A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its fi ...
'' or ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular ...
'', it switched format in 2000 to its current themes of celebrity news and style. The web site Usmagazine.com was launched in fall 2006. 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.
Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...
's June 5, 2006, ''Us Weekly'' cover currently holds the record for the publication's biggest selling issue in history.


History

Launched as a fortnightly publication in 1977, ''Us'' by
the New York Times Company The New York Times Company is an American mass media company that publishes ''The New York Times''. Its headquarters are in Manhattan, New York City. History The company was founded by Henry Jarvis Raymond and George Jones in New York City. ...
. The magazine lost money before turning its first profit in 1980. It was sold later that year to Macfadden Media. It was acquired by
Jann Wenner Jann Simon Wenner ( ; born January 7, 1946) is an American magazine magnate who is a co-founder of the popular culture magazine ''Rolling Stone'', and former owner of '' Men's Journal'' magazine. He participated in the Free Speech Movement while ...
in 1985 and is a part of Wenner Media LLC, which also publishes ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' and '' Men's Journal''. In 1991, ''Us'' became a monthly publication. 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'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular ...
'' and ''
People A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...
'' 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 ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'': "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 change took effect in March 2000. In February 2001, Wenner partnered with
The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on Octobe ...
. Bonnie Fuller worked as editor-in-chief of the publication from 2002 to 2003. She redesigned the title, creating the modern celebrity newsweekly. She created such signature sections as "Stars Are Just Like Us." In July 2003,
Janice Min Janice Byung Min (born August 13, 1969) is an American media executive. She started her career in journalism, working at ''People'' magazine and ''InStyle'', and was editor-in-chief at ''Us Weekly'' from 2002 to 2009. As an executive, she revam ...
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. Melanie Bromley served as the magazine's West Coast bureau chief from 2007 to 2012. 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 2017, the publication was sold to American Media, Inc.


Timeline

* 1977: ''Us'' founded by The New York Times Company * 1980: ''Us'' acquired by Peter J. Callahan's Macfadden Group. :The staff of '' Photoplay and TV Mirror'', the merger of ''Photoplay'', ''Movie Mirror'', and ''TV-Radio Mirror'', is merged. * 1986: ''Us'' acquired by Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc., now known as Wenner Media LLC * 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'' * March 2017: American Media, Inc. bought Us Weekly from Wenner Media LLC


Sections of the magazine

* Just Like Us: photos of celebrities doing things everyday people do. Inspired by a regular ''
Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Workshop until June 2000 ...
'' 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


In the media

In a July 2006 '' Variety'' article,
Janice Min Janice Byung Min (born August 13, 1969) is an American media executive. She started her career in journalism, working at ''People'' magazine and ''InStyle'', and was editor-in-chief at ''Us Weekly'' from 2002 to 2009. As an executive, she revam ...
, ''Us Weekly'' editor-in-chief, cited ''People'' for the increase in cost to publishers of celebrity photos: In a June 2007 '' New York'' article, Tina Brown was asked, "Do you actually read the tabloids?" From a May 2007 ''
New York Post The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com. It was established ...
'' article profiling New York's 50 Most Powerful Women, Of her front cover appearance in November 1997, Courtney Love remarked, The magazine was criticized for allegedly biased coverage of the 2008 Republican National Convention. The September 5, 2008, issue featured
Alaska Governor The governor of Alaska ( Iñupiaq: ''Alaaskam kavanaa'') is the head of government of Alaska. The governor is the chief executive of the state and is the holder of the highest office in the executive branch of the government as well as being the ...
Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin (; Heath; born February 11, 1964) is an American politician, commentator, author, and reality television personality who served as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She was the 2008 R ...
on the cover with the headline "Babies, Lies & Scandal", while the June 19, 2008, issue featured
U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and power ...
from Illinois
Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...
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 it was 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. In 2009, ''Us Weekly'' partnered with
Involver ''Involver'' is a mix album by Welsh DJ Sasha. It was released on 14 June 2004 through British record label Global Underground. Tracks by other artists which Sasha admired were chosen for the album and have each been remixed to give his own i ...
to become the first media company to sell sponsorships on their Facebook Page.


Recognition

* ''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"''Adweek Magazine''s Editor of the Year, Editor in Chief Janice Min"
* ''Advertising Age'' A-List, No. 3 in 2005, No. 1 in 2004 * Capell's Circulation Report "Top 10 Best Performers in Circulation" in 2005


References


External links

*
The Official Jann S. Wenner Website
{{American Media Lifestyle magazines published in the United States Weekly magazines published in the United States Celebrity magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1977 Magazines published in New York City Biweekly magazines published in the United States Supermarket tabloids