Editing Us Weekly

{{Short description|American celebrity and entertainment magazine}}
{{Redirect|US magazine|magazines of the U.S.|List of United States magazines}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Us Weekly
| image_file = Us Jen John In Love Cover.jpeg
| image_caption = ''Us Weekly'' (January 13, 2014)
| frequency = Weekly
| total_circulation = 2,032,581<ref>{{cite web|title=Consumer Magazines|url=http://abcas3.auditedmedia.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp|publisher=[[Alliance for Audited Media]]|access-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>
| circulation_year = 2013
| editor = Jennifer Peros
| editor_title = Editor
| editor2 = [[Dylan Howard]]
| editor_title2 = Chief content officer
| category = [[Celebrity]]
| company = [[A360media|A360 Media, LLC]]
| language = English
| founded = {{start date and age|1977|5|3}}
| country = United States
| based = [[New York City]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.usmagazine.com}}
| issn = 1529-7497
}}

'''''Us Weekly''''' is an American weekly celebrity and entertainment magazine based in New York City. ''Us Weekly'' was founded in 1977<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 U.S. Magazines by Circulation|url=http://www.psaresearch.com/images/TOPMAGAZINES.pdf|work=PSA Research Center|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=November 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115225953/http://www.psaresearch.com/images/TOPMAGAZINES.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> by [[The New York Times Company]], which sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986, and sold to [[American Media Inc.]] in 2017.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|title=Us Weekly Is Sold to National Enquirer Publisher|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/business/media/us-weekly-national-enquirer-american-media.html |work= The New York Times|date=March 15, 2017}}</ref> Shortly afterward, then editor James Heidenry stepped down, and was replaced by Jennifer Peros. The chief content officer of American Media, [[Dylan Howard]], oversees the publication.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dool|first1=Greg|title=Us Weekly Editor James Heidenry Out at American Media, Inc.|url=http://www.foliomag.com/us-weekly-editor-out/|publisher=Folio|date=October 26, 2017}}</ref>

''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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Snider|first1=Mike|title='National Enquirer' parent buys 'Us Weekly' from Wenner Media|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/03/15/national-enquirer-parent-buys-us-weekly-wenner-media/99232236/|work=USA Today|date=March 15, 2017}}</ref>

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 (magazine)|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. 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.

== History ==
Us was launched as a fortnightly publication in 1977 by [[the New York Times Company]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Us Weekly Is Sold to National Enquirer Publisher |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/business/media/us-weekly-national-enquirer-american-media.html |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=15 March 2017}}</ref> 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]] in 1985 and is a part of Wenner Media LLC, which also publishes ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' and ''[[Men's Journal]]''. In 1991, ''Us'' became a monthly publication.<ref>{{cite news |title=Disney Will Add Us Weekly To Its Entertainment Lineup |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-02-28-0102280388-story.html |access-date=29 October 2020 |publisher=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref>

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 (magazine)|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."<ref>{{cite web|title=Striking Back at the Empire; Wenner Media Takes on the Mighty Time Inc. In Transforming Us to a Monthly Magazine|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/27/business/striking-back-empire-wenner-media-takes-mighty-time-transforming-us-monthly.html?pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times|date=September 27, 1999|access-date=April 21, 2016}}</ref>  The publication focuses on celebrity fashion as well as Hollywood gossip. [[Kelli Delaney]], current New York designer for [[Members Only (fashion brand)|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]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kuczynski |first1=Alex |title=Disney to Take 50% Stake in US Weekly Magazine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/28/business/disney-to-take-50-stake-in-us-weekly-magazine.html |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=28 February 2001}}</ref> [[Bonnie Fuller]] worked as editor-in-chief of the publication from 2002 to 2003. She redesigned the title, creating the modern celebrity newsweekly.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carr |first1=David |title=Seasoned Celebrity-Watcher Turns From Print to Web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/business/media/17fuller.html |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=16 July 2009}}</ref> She created such signature sections as "Stars Are Just Like Us."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaufman |first1=Amy |title=Bonnie Fuller Joins Penske's HollywoodLife |url=https://www.thewrap.com/bonnie-fuller-joins-penskes-hollywoodlife-4367/ |access-date=29 October 2020 |publisher=The Wrap |date=16 July 2009}}</ref> 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. [[Melanie Bromley]] served as the magazine's West Coast bureau chief from 2007 to 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenneally |first1=Tim |title=Melanie Bromley Moves From Us Weekly to E! News (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/melanie-bromley-moves-us-weekly-e-news-35717/ |access-date=29 October 2020 |publisher=The Wrap |date=24 February 2012}}</ref>

In August 2006, Wenner Media re-acquired Disney's 50 percent stake, making the publication once again fully owned and operated by Wenner Media.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tronc Is Said to Pursue Us Weekly for More Than $100 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/business/media/tronc-is-said-to-pursue-us-weekly-for-more-than-100-million.html |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=7 March 2017}}</ref> In 2017, the publication was sold to American Media, Inc.<ref name="auto"/> American Media, Inc. (AMI) became A360media in October 2020 and then merged with the McClatchy local news and information company to operate as the McClatchy Media Company (MCC) as of December 2024.

==Timeline==
* '''1977''': ''Us'' founded by The New York Times Company
* '''1980''': ''Us'' acquired by [[Macfadden Media#Macfadden Group|Peter J. Callahan's Macfadden Group]].
:The staff of ''[[Photoplay|Photoplay and TV Mirror]]'', the merger of ''Photoplay'', ''Movie Mirror'', and ''TV-Radio Mirror'', is merged.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5hDG6auRCJ4C&q=Photoplay&pg=PA71|title=Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine: A History of Star Makers, Fabricators, and Gossip Mongers|first=Anthony|last=Slide|date=February 26, 2010|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=9781604734140|access-date=August 17, 2018|via=Google Books|quote=On April 15, 1980, Photoplay published its last issue, its pink and scarlet cover ... Peter J. Callahan, president of Macfadden, which he had acquired five years earlier, said that the decision to cease publication was made “very reluctantly."}}</ref>
* '''1986''': ''Us'' acquired by Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc., now known as [[Jann Wenner|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 ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File: Us weekly fashion police.png|thumb|right|The popular "Fashion Police" section of ''Us Weekly'' features comedians commenting on celebrity fashion faux-pas.]] -->
* '''Just Like Us''': photos of celebrities doing things everyday people do. Inspired by a regular ''[[Sesame Street]]'' feature about animals
* '''Who Wore It Best?''': reader polls of which celebrity wore an outfit better<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hinant|first1=Cindy|title=Who Wore It Best|journal=Piecrust|date=2013|volume=Spring–Summer|issue=4|pages=n.p.}}</ref>
* '''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 (magazine)|Variety]]'' article, [[Janice Min]], ''Us Weekly'' editor-in-chief, cited ''People'' for the increase in cost to publishers of celebrity photos:
{{Blockquote|They are among the biggest spenders of celebrity photos in the industry. ... One of the first things they ever did, that led to the jacking up of photo prices, was to pay $75,000 to buy pictures of [[Jennifer Lopez]] reading ''Us'' magazine, so ''Us Weekly'' couldn't buy them.

That was the watershed moment that kicked off high photo prices in my mind. I had never seen anything like it. But they saw a competitor come along, and responded. It was a business move, and probably a smart one.<ref>[https://variety.com/2006/film/news/people-who-need-people-1200340454/ "People who need people"]. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. July 2006.</ref>}}

In a June 2007 ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' article, [[Tina Brown]] was asked, "Do you actually read the tabloids?"
{{Blockquote|Of course. I read everything. I adore ''Us Weekly''. I think it's a genius magazine. I'm a big fan of magazines that fulfill the goal of what they're trying to be.<ref>[https://nymag.com/nightlife/partylines/2007/06/12/ "Book Party for Tina Brown's 'The Diana Chronicles{{'"}}]. ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]. ''June 11, 2007.</ref>}}

From a May 2007 ''[[New York Post]]'' article profiling New York's 50 Most Powerful Women,
{{Blockquote|Janice Min, 37, editor, ''Us'' magazine. With her mag's profits placed as high as $90 million a year and readership up 191 percent in the last five years, Janice is not just like us. Nonetheless, the success of ''Us'' is attributed partly to the mother of two's reputation as perky and well liked – as well as its addictive features like the new "Faux Biz", which makes fun of off-base gossip.<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/05132007/news/regionalnews/new_yorks_50_most_powerful_women_regionalnews_mandy_stadtmiller.htm?page=0 "New York’s 50 Most Powerful Women"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017010513/http://www.nypost.com/seven/05132007/news/regionalnews/new_yorks_50_most_powerful_women_regionalnews_mandy_stadtmiller.htm?page=0 |date=2007-10-17 }}. ''[[New York Post]]''. May 13, 2007.</ref>}}

Of her front cover appearance in November 1997, [[Courtney Love]] remarked,
{{Blockquote|"I wanted to do a kind of mock-[[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], decadent '70s California-type thing, and I ended up looking like [[Pamela Anderson]] on the cover! Bad, dirty Pam! It was terrible. But I didn't do it on purpose and it was gone in thirty days."<ref>Moran, Caitlin: "The girl who wanted to be God", ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'', September 1999, p. 92</ref>}}

The magazine was criticized for allegedly biased coverage of the [[2008 Republican National Convention]]. The September 5, 2008, issue featured [[Governor of Alaska|Alaska Governor]] [[Sarah Palin]] on the cover with the headline "Babies, Lies & Scandal", while the June 19, 2008, issue featured [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from Illinois [[Barack Obama]] and wife [[Michelle Obama]] with the headline "Why Barack Loves Her".<ref>McCormack, John. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080903201404/http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/09/us_weekly_adores_barack_obama.asp "US Weekly Adores Barack Obama and Smears Sarah Palin"]. ''[[The Weekly Standard]]''. September 3, 2008.</ref> 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.<ref name=fnelection>{{cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/us-weekly-defends-controversial-cover/|title=Us Weekly Defends Controversial Cover|date=September 2, 2008|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]}}</ref>

In 2009, ''Us Weekly'' partnered with [[Involver, Inc.|Involver]] to become the first media company to sell sponsorships on their Facebook Page.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://adage.com/article/media/weekly-sells-facebook-fan-page-ad-state-farm/136214/ |title='Us Weekly' Sells Facebook Fan Page Ad to State Farm|date=April 23, 2009}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
* ''Adweek''{{'}}s "The Hot List: Top 10 Magazines" 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* ''Advertising Age''{{'}}s Magazine of the Year, 2004<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adage.com/images/random/alist04_full.pdf|title=Advertising Age's Magazine of the Year, 2004}}</ref>
* ''Adweek'' Magazine's Editor of the Year, editor in chief Janice Min<ref>[http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/spotlight/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000837269 "''Adweek Magazine''{{'}}s Editor of the Year, Editor in Chief Janice Min"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008105326/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/spotlight/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000837269 |date=October 8, 2007 }}</ref>
* ''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==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.usmagazine.com}}
* [http://www.jannswenner.com/ The Official Jann S. Wenner Website]

{{American Media}}

[[Category:Lifestyle magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Celebrity magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1977]]
[[Category:Magazines published in New York City]]
[[Category:Biweekly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Supermarket tabloids]]