Iain Calder Announces He Will Leave American Media

Posted on December 4, 1997

Iain Calder, the energetic and innovative leader in tabloid journalism who helped to shape the National Enquirer, announced he will leave his posts as Editor Emeritus and as Executive Vice President and Director of American Media, Inc., the public company that publishes the national tabloid and other publications.

Calder, 58, said he plans to consult other media and publishing companies after fulfilling contractual duties through March 31, 1998 and will leave American Media with a consultancy agreement with the company for an additional two years. His departure follows what he termed were disagreements with the company. Calder helped to develop and expand many publications for the company, including the National Enquirer.

"I am sad that my association with the company is ending after almost 34 years, but I've had a great run helping the National Enquirer grow into America's premier weekly tabloid," Calder said. "I wish American Media and my many talented friends and colleagues the best for a bright future. And I will now look for other areas of opportunity to use the skills honed from two decades as president and editor-in-chief of the Enquirer and other magazines I helped found."

Besides the National Enquirer, American Media publishes Star Magazine, Country Weekly, Weekly World News, Soap Opera Magazine and Soap Opera News. Calder joined the Enquirer in 1964 as its London Bureau Chief.