Editing Weekly World News

{{short description|American tabloid publication}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Weekly World News
| logo = Weekly World News logo.jpg
| image_file = Recentwwn.jpg
| image_alt = Black and white cover of the ''Weekly World News'' magazine depicting the Garden of Eden
| image_caption = August 15, 2005 cover
| editor = Greg D'Alessandro (2019–present)
| editor_title = Editor-in-chief
| category = [[Supernatural]], [[paranormal]], [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]], [[satire]], [[humour]]
| frequency = Weekly (1979–2007)<br>Bi-weekly
| total_circulation = 1.2 million (in its peak)<ref name="heller"/>
| founder = Generoso Pope, Jr.
| firstdate = {{start date and age|1979|10|16}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn80011201/|title=Weekly World News (New York, N.Y.; Lantana, Fla.) 1979–2007|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref>
| finaldate = {{end date and age|2007|08|27}}, continues online and on social media
| company = [[American Media (publisher)|American Media]] (1979–2007)<br>SpyCat LLC (2008–present)
| country = United States
| based = Los Angeles and New York
| language = English
| website = {{URL|http://www.weeklyworldnews.com}}
| issn = 0199-574X
| oclc = 6010349
}}

The '''''Weekly World News''''' is a [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] formerly published in a newspaper format reporting mostly fictional "news" stories in the United States from 1979 to 2007. The paper was renowned for its outlandish cover stories often based on [[supernatural]] or [[paranormal]] themes and an approach to news that verged on the [[Satire|satirical]]. Its characteristic black-and-white covers have become [[pop-culture]] images widely used in the arts. It ceased print publication in August 2007.<ref name="WP-8-06-07">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/06/AR2007080601293.html|title=All the News That Seemed Unfit to Print|last=Carlson|first=Peter|date=August 7, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post |page=1|access-date=July 5, 2015}}</ref> The company has a library of 110,000+ articles and 300+ original characters.

In 2009, the ''Weekly World News'' was relaunched as an online and social media publication. In July 2021, the ''Weekly World News'' announced the formation of Weekly World News Studios, to develop and produce entertainment projects based on its brand and characters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/bat-boy-tabloid-weekly-world-news-launches-entertainment-division-1234796950/ |title = Bat Boy Tabloid Weekly World News Launches Entertainment Division; Sets Tonya Pinkins Pic 'The Zombie Wedding' as First Project |date = 21 July 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
[[Generoso Pope Jr.]] launched the ''Weekly World News'' in 1979<ref name=closing2>Lori Becker, [http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2007/07/24/0725WWN.html "Weekly World News tabloid to close up shop"], ''Palm Beach Post'', July 24, 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821080334/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2007/07/24/0725WWN.html |date=August 21, 2007 }}</ref> to continue using the black-and-white press that sister tabloid ''[[The National Enquirer]]'' had been printed on before it switched to color printing.<ref name="WP-8-06-07"/> The ''WWN'' was published in [[Lantana, Florida]], until it moved to Boca Raton in the late 1990s. It was unique as a tabloid because it was printed entirely in black and white. Eddie Clontz was its long-time editor, a 10th-grade dropout from North Carolina, and a former copy editor at small newspapers.<ref name="WP-8-06-07"/> In the 2000s, the circulation of ''WWN'' peaked at 1.2 million per issue.  ''WWN'' went on to thrive online from 2009 to 2015 and was relaunched in 2019 by senior editor Greg D'Alessandro, along with investor David Collins.

The editor-in-chief from 2009 to 2018 was Neil McGinness.<ref name="heller">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/10/the-ingenious-sensationalism-of-the-weekly-world-new/381525/|title=Bat Boy, Hillary Clinton's Alien Baby, and a Tabloid's Glorious Legacy|last=Heller|first=Steven|date=October 16, 2014|publisher=theatlantic.com|access-date=July 5, 2015}}</ref> The editor-in-chief since August 2019 has been D'Alessandro.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://weeklyworldnews.com/about/|title = About WWN}}</ref>

==General approach to stories==
The ''WWN'' traditionally claimed that it always printed the truth, but many stories appeared to have comedic intent – more so as time went by.<ref name="Rossen">{{cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/626827/weekly-world-news-bat-boy-oral-history|title=Bat Boy Lives! An Oral History of ''Weekly World News''|last=Rossen|first=Jake|date=7 August 2020|publisher=MentalFloss.com|access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref> As recalled by Joe Berger, a former White House correspondent who served as a ''WWN'' editor from 1981 to 2001, "About 80 percent of the stories were clipped from newspapers. We had three or four clippers who were surrounded by mountains of newspapers. We spent the day looking at newspapers throughout the world, clipping weird stories. About 50 percent were about people narrowly escaping death; someone falling off a cliff, or hanging off a tree branch for four days until they were rescued."<ref name="Rossen"/>  The introduction to ''Batboy Lives!'' states that one person would read the tabloid for real news, whereas another would read it for the humor. The tabloid's main rival ''[[Sun (supermarket tabloid)|Sun]]'' carried a fine print disclaimer, whereas the ''WWN'' never publicly contradicted the accuracy of its own stories until 2004, when it began stating that "the reader should suspend disbelief for the sake of enjoyment." In the 2000s, ''Sun'' moved more toward articles on health and miracle cures, leaving ''WWN'' alone in its niche of supernatural news stories, such as [[Elvis sightings|sightings of Elvis Presley]] and the [[Loch Ness monster]].

Thus, for a significant percentage of its content, the ''WWN'' ran strange-but-true stories, such as "DEVOUT CHRISTIAN ATTACKED&nbsp;– AND HE'S THE ONE FINED!"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050211205756/http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/religion/38719 DEVOUT CHRISTIAN ATTACKED&nbsp;– AND HE'S THE ONE FINED!]</ref> referring to British street evangelist [[Harry Hammond]]. Other verifiable stories included those of a [[Hogzilla|giant mutant hog monster attacking Georgia]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050406070659/http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/suspects/61293 HOG-ZILLA! MUTANT 12-FT. PIG KILLED IN GEORGIA]</ref> and the arrest of a [[Tallahassee, Florida]], man whose pants were on fire at the time.<ref>Weekly World News, April 2, 2005, p. 25</ref> It reported on the discovery of an infant dragon preserved in formaldehyde proving the existence of dragons,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050209181140/http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/suspects/61244 BABY DRAGON IN JAR ROCKS SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY!]</ref> although this was later proven to be a hoax. It also quoted Vatican exorcist Father [[Gabriele Amorth]] on [[Pope John Paul II]]'s battles with Satan<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041215023332/http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/features/religion/29780 POPE BEATS THE DEVIL—THREE TIMES!]</ref> and ran a story on the trademark dispute between ''[[O, The Oprah Magazine]]'' and a German erotic periodical also named ''[[«O»|O]]''. Whether partially fictional or wholly true, the writing style remained as fact-based as possible. As writer [[Bob Lind]] recalled for ''Mental Floss'', "We wrote these things straight, for people who wanted to believe these things. We wrote it like a news story. We wrote a lede with a dash in it, filled it in, and then had a money quote."<ref name="Rossen"/>

In February 1989, ''WWN'' published real, graphic photos on its front page of the post-autopsied body of executed serial killer [[Ted Bundy]]. Managing editor Eddie Clontz defended his decision to run the photos, claiming that he hoped that such images would deter other murderers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-06-mn-1340-story.html|title=MEDIA : Paper Runs Photos of Bundy's Body|date=February 6, 1989|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19890202&id=1rVPAAAAIBAJ&pg=1906,1464030&hl=en|title=Tabloid plans to print Bundy body pictures|last=Lyons|first=Tom|date=February 2, 1989|work=Ocala Star-Banner|page=1|access-date=July 5, 2015|location=Ocala, Florida}}</ref> Angry and surprised officials in Florida vowed to catch the person responsible, eventually arresting a low-level employee of the [[Alachua County, Florida]] Medical Examiner's office and charging him with taking the photographs and selling them to the ''WWN''.

As other supermarket tabloids switched to celebrity gossip, the ''Weekly World News'' remained devoted to its original content, refusing to fact-check its way out of a sensational story, or, as Iain Calder, ''WWN'' co-founder and ''Enquirer'' editor-in-chief from 1973 to 1997, told ''Mental Floss'': "We'd say Elvis was still alive and run a picture of what Elvis would have looked like at that time. We'd get dozens of phone calls. If someone calls and says, 'I saw Elvis,' you didn't try to disprove the headline."<ref name="Rossen"/> Derrik Lang, a [[Stringer (journalism)|stringer]] for the paper, said that "everything in my stories was fake – you know, depending on how you define fake."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_RelishArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769074592&path=!entertainment!general!&s=1037645508970|title=Writing for tabloids was out of this world|last=Lang|first=Derrik J.|work=Winston-Salem Journal|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165052/http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_RelishArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769074592&path=!entertainment!general!&s=1037645508970|archive-date=September 30, 2007|date=January 5, 2006}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20151001054406/https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ParanormalGhostSociety/conversations/topics/33345 Alt URL]</ref> Common ''WWN'' stories involved alien abductions, the Loch Ness monster, [[Bigfoot]], time travel, predictions of an oncoming depression or apocalypse, and other newly found lost prophecies or religious relics. There were also characters who, in later years, became stock fixtures in ''WWN'' news stories, most famously [[Bat Boy (character)|Bat Boy]], a half-bat half-boy discovered in West Virginia caverns, and [[P'lod]], an extraterrestrial who became involved in Earth politics and had an affair with [[Hillary Clinton]].

==Columns and features==
Regular columns included [[Ed Anger]] (opinion), first Dear Babs and later Dear Dotti (outspoken advice columnists), Hi Dolly (relationship advice), Horse Sense (medical advice), Monkey Business (financial and business-related advice and information) and Madame Malisa ([[psychic]]). The most famous of these was Ed Anger, a character created in 1979 by staffer Rafe Klinger; Anger was a perpetually angry conservative (a typical column began "I'm pig-biting mad!"), who railed against illegal immigrants, women, speed limits and rainforests, among many other perceived ills.<ref name="tabloid eaten" />

Beginning on May 9, 2005, the ''Weekly World News'' went "All New" along with other tabloid papers such as the [[National Enquirer]], which had become "Bigger⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠Bolder⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠Better." In the new ''Weekly World News'', Serena and Sonya Sabak's [[psychic]] column was replaced by the horoscopes of Madame Malisa, and Dotti Primrose's "Dear Dotti" was supplanted by an advice column called "Hi Dolly" written by a middle-aged Southern blonde woman. The new ''WWN'' included a weekly "Weird Picture Search" by ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]'' cartoonist [[Sergio Aragonés]]. Other features included Trivia, Test Yourself, Jokes, and "Miss Adventure", a.k.a. "The Gayest American Hero", who has penetrated the [[American Mafia|mob]], gone to [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]], and fought [[DRAG-U-LA]] traveling from the depths of the Earth's center to outer space.

Two pages of comic strips were spun off from feature stories. For two years, in 2004 and 2005, [[Peter Bagge]] created a Bat Boy comic "using celebrities and current events and creating totally absurd and implausible stories and situations for them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/bagge-talks-hate-yeah-and-bat-boy/|title=Bagge Talks "Hate," "Yeah!" and Bat Boy|date=12 May 2011}}</ref> In 2011, IDW Publishing released a hardcover collection of Bagge's strips.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bagge |first1=Peter |title=Bat Boy: The Weekly World News Comic Strips by Peter Bagge |date=May 17, 2011 |publisher=IDW Publishing |isbn=978-1600108969 |pages=104}}</ref> "SpyCat", created by Dick Siegel, was drawn by [[Ernie Colón]]. SpyCat spoke nine different languages ranging from Persian to "dog" and was armed with "[[Adamantium|Adamwestium]]" claws and deadly cat-of-nine-tails. He wrote free-form poetry when not waging war on America's enemies—at home and abroad. "Matthew Daemon", also created by Dick Siegel, was written and illustrated by [[Mike Collins (comics)|Mike Collins]] and was a spinoff from the "SOS Matthew Daemon (Seeker of Obscure Supernaturals)" feature. Daemon's lair was located beneath [[Grant's Tomb]]. Daemon specialized in B-List Monster hunting. "Alien Baby" by Craig Boldman chronicled the adventures of Moogera the deadbeat alien dad, alien baby Ethan, and Stacy, his Earth-born mother.

Though it mainly featured offbeat stories, it also featured legitimate games and quizzes such as crossword puzzles, a segment called "Bedside Manner" where readers choose which celebrity is best suited for the featured celebrity and "Mystery Eyes" which featured photographs of five pairs of eyes which belonged to celebrities and readers have to guess who they are.

==Recurring subjects==

===Bat Boy===
{{Main|Bat Boy (character)}}

[[Bat Boy (character)|Bat Boy]] was first featured in a 1992 issue after being found in a cave in [[West Virginia]] ([[Lost World Caverns]]). He has since led police on a high-speed chase, fought in the war on terror, led the troops to capture [[Saddam Hussein]], bitten [[Santa Claus]], and traveled into outer space. In 2000, he gave his endorsement to [[Al Gore]]. It was foretold that Bat Boy would become president in 2028.

The story of Bat Boy was the basis for an acclaimed off-Broadway musical, ''[[Bat Boy: The Musical]]'', in which Bat Boy meets a tragic end. In addition to articles, Bat Boy has been featured in a [[comic strip]] since 2004, though it is said that only the articles are the "true" story of Bat Boy.

===Page 5 Honey===
Each week a different model was featured on page 5 and on the back page. She was usually wearing a [[bikini]] and a description of her was printed. This feature ended after the Halloween issue of 2006.

==="ALIVE!"===
{{see also|Elvis sightings}}
One of the many other recurring subjects was the occasional "ALIVE!" cover story. Most often the story pertained to some sort of creature such as a mummy, prehistoric creature, or, occasionally, a human who had been frozen in a block of ice (e.g. [[Santa Claus]]).

Another subject often tackled by ''WWN'' is the reemergence of many prominent figures believed to be deceased, including [[Hank Williams]], [[Marilyn Monroe]], [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Adolf Hitler]], and [[Michael Jackson]]. Survivors of the Titanic and Hindenburg were also occasionally featured. Among the most frequently printed reports were those asserting that "Elvis is alive."

The ''WWN'' frequently reported Elvis sightings with a series of articles claiming that [[Elvis Presley]] had faked his death and had recently emerged from years of seclusion to prepare for a comeback. Obviously altered photos purported to show a gray-haired, balding Elvis sneaking into a movie theater and coming out of a [[Burger King]] restaurant. When the [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Postal Service]] conducted a poll to determine the design of the Elvis [[commemorative stamp|commemorative]] [[postage stamp]], the ''WWN'' conducted its own poll pitting the USPS's 1950s Elvis and 1970s Elvis versus its own, 1990s Elvis; the elderly Elvis won.

In 1994, the newspaper ran a front cover with the headline "Elvis Presley Dead!", stating that Elvis was now "really dead" from heart failure after slipping into a diabetic coma. In a 2004 ''Washington Post'' article on Clontz's death, humorist [[Gene Weingarten]] claimed that he and [[Dave Barry]] were the sources of the story.<ref>Gene Weingarten, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A58609-2004Jan28&notFound=true "Aliens Beam Editor To Tabloid Heaven"], ''Washington Post'', January 24, 2004 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827120148/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/?pagename=article&contentId=A58609-2004Jan28&notFound=true |date=August 27, 2018 }}</ref> According to Weingarten, the ''WWN'' later reported that claims of Elvis' (belated) death had been a hoax. In an earlier telling of his story, Weingarten varied some details.<ref>Gene Weingarten (host), [https://web.archive.org/web/20031125203114/http://www.discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/02/r_style_weingarten091002.htm "Funny? You Should Ask"], ''Washington Post'', September 10, 2002</ref>

===The World's Fattest...===
Numerous stories regarding shockingly obese people made the pages of ''WWN'', the most popular of which was Roland Gillespie, the world's fattest man. After Roland was first discovered, ''WWN'' encouraged readers to send in their guesses as to exactly how much they believed Roland weighed. Weighing in at over 576.2 lbs., Roland was featured being weighed and measured and the crew was possibly sat on, by the world's fattest man. Later stories involved Rolands attempts to lose weight through the OMAD diet, his struggle with near fatal obesity, and claims that he ate his family. Other stories featured the exploits of the world's fattest couple at the gym, the world's fattest baby, and even a similar weight-guessing contest featuring the world's fattest dog. One continuing story featured a morbidly obese man named Buster Simcus who had lost so much weight that it left 80&nbsp;pounds of loose skin hanging off his body that he was planning to have surgically removed. By the next story, he had regained the weight, severely damaging his scars.

===Upcoming economic depressions===
''WWN'' covered stories that featured analysis of a coming [[Great Depression]] in the immediate future in which many prominent celebrities, politicians, and icons of business would become penniless. The cover story of the June&nbsp;6, 2005, issue warned that the second Great Depression was "just weeks away." Because of this, Texas oil tycoons were planning to flee to [[Luxembourg]], the only country to survive this economic crash. Consequences of this depression would include mass starvation, a disease epidemic, mobs of looters and a return to pagan religions and [[Satanism]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=2ND GREAT DEPRESSION JUST WEEKS AWAY! |journal=Weekly World News |date=June 6, 2005}}</ref>

===Religion and Biblical relics===
Another typical ''Weekly World News'' topic was new Bible-related findings, including relics from [[Noah's Ark]], the [[Garden of Eden]] (claimed by the tabloid to be in [[Colorado]]),<ref name="christians">{{cite web|url=http://host.madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/theatre/half-man-half-bat-all-good-fun-in-university-s/article_919a45f3-d53d-5d84-ad1e-4209b8081328.html|title=Half-man, half-bat, all good fun in University's 'Bat Boy'|last=Christians|first=Lindsay|date=November 16, 2011|publisher=madison.com|access-date=July 4, 2015}}</ref> the discovery of additional commandments from God, and sandals worn by Jesus. The magazine also reported on when [[Jesus]] will return to Earth, and held an interview with [[Sisyphus]] when he finished his eternal boulder-hauling "workout." Other stories stated that natural disasters such as [[earthquake]]s and human economic activity like [[oil well|drilling for oil]] have opened up gates and portals to [[Hell]] from which demons have escaped to wreak havoc upon the earth. A story shortly after [[September 11, 2001, attacks|September 11, 2001]] showed the face of [[Satan]] appearing in a cloud of dust caused by the [[collapse of the World Trade Center]]. Similar stories, wherein Satan's face had appeared in a thunderstorm, had appeared before.

===Terrorism===
Following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, ''WWN'' featured articles about plans for future terrorist attacks on the United States of America. A 2004 cover story described plans by [[Kim Jong-il]] to eventually invade and conquer the United States. Other stories featured profiles on the location and nature of Iraq's [[weapons of mass destruction]], including the news that Saddam Hussein had an arsenal of giant slingshots, the missing link, and [[dinosaur]]s. In 2003, a series of articles profiled the ongoing relationship between and eventual marriage of [[Saddam Hussein]] and [[Osama bin Laden]]. Other stories have made claims that Bin Laden was actually a [[dwarf (mythology)|dwarf]], that he recruited a [[cloned]] [[Adolf Hitler]] to join [[Al Qaeda]], and that he was in fact dead, long before his actual death and that the CIA was keeping it a secret. After his being captured by Bat Boy, Saddam was humiliated by female prison guards, won the United States lottery, and even demanded that the government pay for his [[sex change operation]].

===Presidency===
''WWN'' has often been the home to political satire regarding current and past presidential administrations. The magazine reported that the founding fathers were all [[gay]] and that [[George Washington]] and [[Abraham Lincoln]] were actually women. According to the paper, President Lincoln was insane, and his ghost had also been spotted in the [[White House]] giving President [[George W. Bush]] advice on the war in Iraq. Stories about President George W. Bush capitalized on the public's [[Bushism|perception that he lacked intelligence]]. The paper chronicled his plans to run for pope, his love affair with [[Janet Reno]], and his intention to nominate [[Yoda]] as secretary of defense. The June 21, 2004, issue stated that Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] was actually a [[robot]] and that his frequent trips to the hospital allowed him to rewire his circuits.

===Aliens===
Aliens are another subject frequently tackled by ''WWN''. ''Weekly World News'' blamed these creatures for holes in the ozone. A [[Roswell crash]] survivor, "Altair Bob," made contact with ''WWN'' via telepathic e-mail. Several factions of extraterrestrials have been using the moon to dump garbage. Martians have been monitoring the Mideast crisis. Warrior aliens have been resurrecting the dead, fighting [[Bigfoot]], and training in a mock U.S. town hidden in Antarctica. San Franciscans have opened their hearts to immigrants from Mercury.

One such alien, named P'Lod, who made several appearances in ''WWN'', has been known to fraternize with known women of politics. It was reported that he and [[Hillary Clinton]] once had a close relationship that ended up in a brawl between him and President [[Bill Clinton]], who went on a jealous rage. After P'Lod left Hillary Clinton, he expressed a lot of interest in [[Condoleezza Rice]]. A June 15, 1993 cover announced Hillary Clinton's adoption of an alien baby.

In the June 7, 1994, edition, ''WWN'' reported that 12 U.S. senators were aliens from other planets. In response, several senators or their spokespersons humorously "confirmed" the story. One, [[William S. Cohen]] of Maine, told the mainstream press, "It is preferable to be a space alien than a [[Space Cadet#In popular culture|space cadet]]."<ref>{{cite news |title=The June 7 edition of the Weekly World News supermarket tabloid alleges that 12 U.S. senators, including William S. Cohen of Maine, are space aliens. |url=https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/news_pph/13019 |access-date=13 Feb 2022 |work=Maine News Index – Portland Press Herald |publisher=Portland Public Library: Digital Commons |date=25 May 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=POLITICS UNUSUAL: The Alien's Endorsement |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A150653855/AONE?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=d77560e4 |access-date=13 Feb 2022 |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |agency=Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A150653855/AONE?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=d77560e4 |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=13 Aug 1995}}</ref>

In the August 11, 1998, edition, ''WWN'' reported that autograph dealer Steve Koschal offered to pay $1 million for anything signed by an extraterrestrial. Koschal said he would pay the million dollars to anyone who had a signed letter or signed photograph or anything signed by a visitor from outer space. "Hundreds of people claim to have been abducted and taken aboard UFOs and yet there's not a single verifiable signature of an extraterrestrial being anywhere on Earth," said Koschal in an exclusive interview. "Someone out there must have asked one of these creatures for an autograph," continued Koschal. "If not, someone will in the future. When they do, I want to be the first collector to acquire it."<ref name=autographs>{{cite news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S_EDAAAAMBAJ&q=%E2%80%9CWeekly+World+News%22+alien+koschal&pg=PA33 | title=I'll Pay $1 Million for a Space Alien Autograph! | newspaper=Weekly World News | date=August 11, 1998 | access-date=August 11, 2010}}</ref>

The subject of space aliens endorsing U.S. presidential candidates in various elections was also a recurring topic.<ref name="alien">(13 August 1995). [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/13/magazine/sunday-august-13-1995-politics-unusual-the-alien-s-endorsement.html The Alien's Endorsement], ''[[The New York Times]]''</ref>  During the [[2000 U.S. presidential election]], then-candidate George W. Bush posed for photographers with a ''Weekly World News'' issue opened to the article reading, "Space Alien Backs Bush for President!".<ref name="tabloid eaten">{{cite news |title=Tabloid Eaten by Aliens! Fake Columnist Loses His Job! |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/business/media/30weekly.html?_r=0 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first=Cate |last=Doty |date=July 30, 2007}}</ref>

===Cryptids===
[[Cryptozoology|Cryptids]] and half-animal half-human hybrids are another frequent topic of ''Weekly World News''. Creatures such as Bigfoot, merpeople, real-life catwomen, half-[[alligator]] half-humans, frog babies, kangaroo women, and many other creatures have taken the world by storm on various covers (e.g. ''Abominable Beachman strikes terror in Hawaii!'' and ''Bigfoot Steals Race Car!!!!'') including the aforementioned 'Bat Boy'.

===Merfolk===
The existence of [[Merman|mermen]] and [[mermaid]]s is also frequently reported in the pages of the ''Weekly World News''. One detailed article recounted a mermaid being caught in a fishing net off the coast of [[Florida]] on April 17, 2004. According to the article, she was at least half human, very sociable, and extremely intelligent; and was able to talk in a sophisticated "three dimensional language" that depends heavily on noises that could possibly be connected to the "click languages" prevalent in parts of Africa and on hand movements that look like [[sign language]].

Similar to their female counterparts, mermen are found within the pages of the ''Weekly World News''. On June 17, 2003, a merman was reported to have been caught in the South Pacific, this one measuring only 28 inches.

==Stories taken as legitimate==
Since the ''Weekly World News'' began to publish online, its stories have occasionally been treated as legitimate news stories by readers unaware of the nature of the publication.
* In late 2010 the ''WWN'' ran a satirical story, written by Frank Lake, indicating that the [[Los Angeles Police Department]] intended to purchase 10,000 [[jet pack]]s at a total cost of one billion dollars. The story was reported as fact by the ''[[Fox & Friends]]'' morning news show.<ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/10/fox-and-friends-falls-for-ruse-alleging-purchase-of-billion-dollars-of-jetpacks-for-lapd-la-fire.html 'Fox and Friends' falls for ruse alleging purchase of $1 billion of jetpacks for LAPD, Fire Department], October 5, 2010</ref>
* The ''WWN'' reported twice, once in 2011 and once in 2012, that the [[social media]] website [[Facebook]] would shut down. Both times, the claim was interpreted by some as genuine.<ref>[http://news.oneindia.in/2011/01/09/what-facebook-to-go-out-of-business.html What! Facebook to go out of business?<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The second time, Facebook issued an official reply to the technology blog ''[[Mashable]]'', stating, "The answer is no, so please help us put an end to this silliness. We didn't get the memo about shutting down and there's lots to do, so we'll just keep cranking away like always."<ref>[http://news.oneindia.in/2011/01/10/tech-facebook-shutting-down-march-15-hoax-news.html It's official: Facebook not shutting down<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Demise and relaunch==
In 1999, [[David Pecker]] bought [[American Media Inc]]., which owned the ''Weekly World News''. Within the next two years, many of ''WWN'''s longtime writers and editors, including Clontz, Sal Ivone, Derek Clontz, Susan Jimison, Joe Berger, [[Bob Lind]], [[Dick Kulpa]], and Leskie Pinson, were gone.<ref name="WP-8-06-07"/> Clontz left the paper in 2001, having been there 20&nbsp;years, and died in 2004.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041209110954/http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/7826741.htm "Former Weekly World News editor Eddie Clontz dead at 56"], ''Associated Press'', January 29, 2004</ref>

In a filing with the [[United States Securities and Exchange Commission]] in March 2007, American Media said that sales of ''WWN'' in 2006 were only 83,000 per issue.<ref>Mark Miller, [https://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/suncommentary/la-oe-miller8aug08,1,2585103.story?coll=la-headlines-suncomment&ctrack=4&cset=true "Weekly World News meets God!"], ''Los Angeles Times'', August 8, 2007</ref> ''WWN'' ceased its print publication in August 2007.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070902173945/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1657629,00.html Richard Corliss, "The Late Great ''Weekly World News''"], TIME, 30 Aug 2007.</ref> It was then published as an insert within the ''[[Sun (supermarket tabloid)|Sun]]'' magazine, with new material being printed alongside articles and columns from older issues, until ''Sun'' itself ceased publication in 2012.

In October 2008, [[Bat Boy L.L.C.]], a company started by Neil McGinness, bought ''WWN''.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=The New York Times|title=New Adventures for Bat Boy, and His Tabloid Creator|author=Clifford, Stephanie|date=October 22, 2008}}</ref> It was relaunched as an online-only publication in 2009. In January 2011, the ''Weekly World News'' was made available via an online paid subscription. The online edition is emailed to subscribers biweekly. The online edition closely resembles the printed ''Weekly World News'' in both appearance (it uses the ''Weekly World News'' logo used from 1979 to 2001) and subject matter (the first issue's headline was "Werewolf Sues Airline Over Flight Delay"). In January 2013, ''Weekly World News'' announced that it would go behind a [[paywall]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Beaujon|first=Andrew|title=Weekly World News erects paywall, ending debate forever|url=http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/200744/weekly-world-news-erects-paywall-ending-debate-forever/|publisher=Poynter|access-date=2013-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119113325/http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/200744/weekly-world-news-erects-paywall-ending-debate-forever/|archive-date=2013-01-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> An initial limit was set at three free article views, though select content remained unmetered.<ref>{{cite web |last=Horgan |first=Richard |title=Wacky Tabloid Weekly World News Turns to LA Paywall Firm |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/weekly-world-news-media-pass-matthew-mitchell-neil-mcginnis_b79766 |publisher=FishbowlLA/MediaBistro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223070427/http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/weekly-world-news-media-pass-matthew-mitchell-neil-mcginnis_b79766 |archive-date=2013-02-23 }}</ref>

In August 2019, Greg D'Alessandro took over as CEO/Editor-In-Chief with David Collins as President/CFO.  They relaunched the brand and began developing a number of projects with Hollywood producers.

On September 21, 2020, ''Weekly World News'' launched a [[Kickstarter]] campaign in an effort to expand reporting, graphics and video production, as well as to get the tabloid back into print.<ref>{{cite web |author=WWN Staff |title=Bring Back Weekly World News! |date=21 September 2020 |url=https://weeklyworldnews.com/headlines/180249/bring-back-weekly-world-news/#more-180249 |publisher=Weekly World News |access-date=2020-09-23 }}</ref> The campaign was successful in reaching its financial goal.

On March 21, 2021, 'Weekly World News" printed its first full-length print publication in 15 years. "Weekly World News Greatest Covers" was printed as a limited special edition (5,000 copies).

==Bat Boy television series==
On July 31, 2024, it was reported by the web site ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' that [[Netflix]] was developing a Bat Boy live-action television series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cordeo|first=Rosy|title=Bat Boy Live-Action YA Series In Works At Netflix From Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa & Joe Tracz|date=July 31, 2024 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/bat-boy-series-netflix-1236026852/|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=2024-08-03}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Articles from ''Weekly World News'' were a primary inspiration for [[David Byrne]]'s 1986 film ''[[True Stories (film)|True Stories]]'' as reported by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine: "Your big inspiration for the movie was reading headlines in tabloids. Were you mostly reading ''Weekly World News'' at the time?" David Byrne: "Yeah, they were all from ''Weekly World News''. They weren't really in the ''[National] Enquirer''."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/david-byrne-true-stories-interview-754919/|title=David Byrne on 'True Stories,' His Tabloid-Inspired Vision of Eighties America|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=26 November 2018}}</ref>

In January 1996, a satirical comedy series inspired by ''Weekly World News'' premiered on the [[USA Network]], and was hosted by longtime journalist [[Edwin Newman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1996/01/26/weekly-world-news-moves-your-small-screen|title=''Weekly World News'' moves to your small screen|last=Jacobs|first=A.J.|date=January 26, 1996|publisher=ew.com|access-date=July 4, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Leonard|first=John|date=January 8, 1996|title=Look Who's Acting|journal=New York Magazine|publisher=New York Media, LLC|volume=29|issue=1|page=59|issn=0028-7369|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N-ECAAAAMBAJ&q=weekly+world+news+Edwin+Newman&pg=PA59}}</ref> The series was canceled after one season.

''Tabloid Dreams'' (1996) by Pulitzer-winning author [Robert Olen Butler] is a short-story collection that used headlines from the ''Weekly World News'' and other supermarket tabloids as writing prompts. Two examples: “Jealous Husband Returns in the Form of a Parrot” and “Boy Born with Tattoo of Elvis.”

In 1999, the ''Weekly World News'' was declared the "Official Newspaper of the Windows 2000 Team" at [[Microsoft]], and its Senior Vice President, [[Brian Valentine]], would read excerpts from it at what was called Windows Information Meetings, or WIMs, while attempting to entertain and encourage the developers, testers, program managers, and writers involved.

A parody of the ''Weekly World News'' called "The World" was featured in the 1997 film ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'' as "The best damn investigative journalism in the country." A publication that told the truth because it was 'a free country.' It is cited as a source of material and shows the bug case they are working on.

''Weekly World News'' was also featured in the ''[[Supernatural (U.S. TV series)|Supernatural]]'', [[Supernatural (season 2)|Season 2]] episode "Tall Tales".

[[Disney Channel]]'s paranormal/supernatural-themed animated show ''[[Gravity Falls]]''  features a reference to [[Bat Boy (character)|Bat Boy]] in the show's intro. Shion Takeuchi and ''Gravity Falls'' creator [[Alex Hirsch]], executive producers of ''[[Inside Job (2021 TV series)|Inside Job]]'', said they were inspired by pages of the publication.<ref name="kryza2021">{{cite web|last=Kryza|first=Andy|url=https://www.timeout.com/news/netflix-wants-to-make-conspiracy-theories-fun-again-061521|title=Netflix wants to make conspiracy theories fun again|website=TimeOut|date=June 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617005559/https://www.timeout.com/news/netflix-wants-to-make-conspiracy-theories-fun-again-061521|archive-date=June 17, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rapper [[Travis Scott]] parodies the ''Weekly World News'' and references the character Bat Boy on his cover for his 2021 single [[Escape Plan/Mafia|Escape Plan / Mafia]], with a similar tabloid named "Weekly World Truths".

==See also==
* [[Fake news]]
* [[List of satirical magazines]]
* [[List of satirical news websites]]
* [[List of satirical television news programs]]
* ''[[The Onion]]''
* ''[[Sunday Sport]]''
* ''[[Sun (supermarket tabloid)|Sun]]''
* ''[[Toronto Special]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.weeklyworldnews.com}}
* [https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/626827/weekly-world-news-bat-boy-oral-history Mentalfloss.com, "Bat Boy Lives! An Oral History of ''Weekly World News''," by Jake Rossen, 7 August 2020]
* [http://www.badmouth.net/interview-david-perel/ Badmouth.net interview with David Perel, vice president of the ''Weekly World News'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050411233709/http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/ Archive of ''Weekly World News'' Articles]
* [https://books.google.com/books/serial/ISSN:0199574X?rview=1&lr=&sa=N&start=0/ Google Books Archive of ''Weekly World News'' back issues]
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[[Category:1979 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Satirical magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Biweekly magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1979]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:Supermarket tabloids]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Florida]]
[[Category:Online magazines with defunct print editions]]