American Media to Create Shelter Magazine

Posted on February 13, 2004

Bonnie Fuller, Executive Vice President and Chief Editorial Director for American Media, Inc., has announced the company's plans to enter the shelter magazine market with a as of yet untitled magazine targeting young women in their 20's and 30's. A Spring, 2004, launch is planned.

Sara Ruffin has been named editor, effective immediately. A widely experienced editor, Ms. Ruffin has worked with Fuller previously at LivingRoom Magazine, Glamour and Cosmopolitan. Additionally, Ms. Ruffin has been at Metropolitan Home, American Home Style and Gardening and Martha Stewart Living in a variety of editorial capacities.

AMI plans to test market three to four issues in 2004 with a distribution of 250,000. Pending the results of the test, AMI may increase the frequency to six issues in 2005 and eight in 2006.

"I was looking at the shelter magazine landscape and saw the opportunity to create a magazine that would give ideas and advice in home decor to women in the 21-35 year old demographic. It will be completely focused on the needs and lifestyles of both singles and couples in this lifestyle group. And, it's an audience that other titles in the category haven't focused on," said David Pecker, AMI Chairman and CEO.

American Media, Inc. is one of the largest media companies in the U.S. The company publishes six of the 14 best selling weekly magazines, including the #2 and #4 titles, The National Enquirer and Star. AMI recently acquired Weider Publications, the leading publisher of health and fitness magazines, including Shape, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Flex, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. The company also publishes the country music magazine, Country Weekly; a Latino entertainment magazine, �Mira!; two automotive magazines, AMI's Auto World and NOPI Street Performance Compact; and more than 200 mini-mags and digests. AMI recently launched its own book division with 10 titles released to date. In addition to print properties, AMI owns Distribution Services, Inc., an in-store magazine merchandising company.