Fight GOP censorship, support Us Weekly magazine!

[AZBlue]

That may seem like an odd subject line, but it's true. Us Weekly magazine is being penalized by Republicans for putting Sarah Palin on the cover with the tagline "Babies, Lies and Scandal." Two other magazines also have Palin on the cover, OK! and People, but they don't have such honest taglines so they aren't being punished.

Us Weekly, which unlike People and OK!, chose a rather caustic cover line (“Babies, Lies and Scandal”) is said to have lost thousands of subscribers in just the first 24 hours following the printing of the issue.

“I’m hearing it’s 5,000, maybe more,” says one well-placed source in the industry. Another source claimed that as many as 10,000 readers have already cancelled their subscriptions. A spokesperson for Wenner Media, which publishes Us, says “it is completely false that we are losing 10,000 subscribers.” As for the 5,000 estimate, the spokesperson only said “that is false, too,” but wouldn’t comment further.

Five thousand might not seem like a large number at first glance, but it’s significant in the context of Us’s printing schedule. The magazine goes to press Monday night, which means subscribers don’t receive their issues until Friday or Saturday. In other words, the cancellations are coming from subscribers who, in many cases, haven’t even gotten their hands on the actual issue.

“When Us went to print Monday night, it looked like the ticket was falling apart," says one magazine editor. “They went to print thinking Palin was dead in the water, and their mistake was thinking everyone who reads Us is a Democrat, when they’re not. Readers are loyal, but the base of a political party is more loyal. They don’t need to read the magazine when there’s so much press around it to know to be upset.”

Upset might be an understatement: One Us advertiser has admitted that they’ve received calls from angry former subscribers threatening to boycott their products. “(Us publisher) Jann Wenner supports Obama, Wenner media decided to follow the buzz around Palin before her speech, and now subscribers feel like a vote has been cast on their behalf," says another magazine editor. “It’s going to be tough to bounce back from this one. Especially if the advertisers get involved. If they get nervous, that can hurt all of us.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26549704/

This isn't about Us Weekly, it's about censorship and the GOP's continuing attempt to censor the media. All media.

I'm not a huge fan of Us, I'll admit, but that's because I don't really follow celebrity gossip. However, I'll be sure to purchase at least one copy of this issue on the newstand this week and will most likely even subscribe to it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that; the GOP declared war earlier this week and I'm happy to respond.

Who's with me?

To contact Us Weekly to give them a call or e-mail of support:

Editorial Comments:
Us Letters, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104-0298
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

The publisher is Wenner Media, who also publishes Rolling Stone, a magazine we all know stands up for the truth:
Wenner Media LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas, 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10104-0298
Voice: 212-484-1616
Fax: [phone]

Thanks! :hi:

[AtomicKitten]

1. Done and done!

Thanks for the info!!!

:applause:

[AZBlue]

10. Thank you!

:hi:

[Wednesdays]

2. I thought "controversy" SOLD magazines

:shrug:

[AZBlue]

5. Not when you've got a cult like the GOP in operation.

Controversy does increase sales, but lost subscriptions - particularly in those numbers - is very damaging.

I'm sure this is a mass-effort on their part to punish Us for speaking the truth. Hopefully though you will be right considering newsstand sales - hopefully this issue will fly off the shelves.

But, magazines set their advertising rates in part on their subscription numbers. And, publishers usually lose a lot of money on newsstand sales - they have to print up so many extra copies of the magazine that go unsold. So losing a large rate of subscribers does hurt.

Plus, this little boycott is going after advertisers too - and that REALLY hurts the magazines.

Lastly, the news surrounding it isn't beneficial to us - the message that it's sending is that no one is allowed to criticize the GOP, no matter how correct their criticism might be.

[KansasVoter]

3. Rolling Stone Loves Obama!!

[Ian David]

4. I'll pick-up a copy at the news stand. n/t

[Brundle_Fly]

8. thats what I said in my email

will buy a copy every week at the supermarket until the next scandal diminishes this one.

[AZBlue]

11. Nice! Thank you both!!

[msallied]

6. I occasionally pick up the mag if I'm standing in line at the supermarket.

I'll consider a subscription. I think the publication of this fervor alone will help them a lot. If people are overwhelmingly buying the magazine, then the advertisers would be stupid to drop the magazine.

[AZBlue]

12. That's what I'm hoping too.

Thanks!!

[maseman]

7. I sent them an email

and will buy one next week.

[AZBlue]

9. Thank you!

[Cha]

13. I always pick up an US Weekly at the newstand

when I'm doing my laundry and I have subscription to Rolling Stone..now I''m even more obligated to Jann Wenner! :toast:

My email to US..

"The corporate media has fallen way behind in holding Republicans accountable for their words and actions, so I thank you for taking the time to investigate the history of the current Gov of Alaska's record of choice before John Mccain thrust her on the National Stage as his running mate.

Good to know what kind of person is on the ballot."

Sincerely,
xoxoxoxxo
New York

PS Thanks for Rolling Stone, too.

Thank you, AZBlue, for your incentive..:toast:

[AZBlue]

14. THANK YOU for your e-mail!

Yeah, I didn't realize that Us was part of the Wenner family - I may have to buy it more now. I do like their style issues!

[Cha]

23. I'm such a movie buff that US is just an

extention of that for me and I've been getting Rolling Stone more for their political commentary than anything but I like reading about the music and musicians too.

I'm thinking Wenner will come out of this just like The Dixie Chicks:)

[liberalla]

15. I saw that mag, as I was looking for the National Enquirer

The National Enquirer cover touts her 'Dark Secrets!' and an AFFAIR that nearly ruined her career! I have never bought the rag before, but did so purposely yesterday just to support their investigative efforts into Sarah Palin.

I'll be sure to write Wenner Media, and maybe buy that mag too. Thanks for the heads up.

[AZBlue]

16. Thank you for buying both! I purchased the two as well last night.

[democrattotheend]

17. I have to say, that cover was pretty trashy

I don't support censorship but I did think that cover crossed the line and I don't think it's the kind of thing that should be encouraged. So I don't think we should go out of our way to buy the magazine or anything.

[last_texas_dem]

18. I never realized that many FReepers read US Weekly

(Not really surprised, though....)

[AZBlue]

24. Who knew?

[LynneSin]

19. Jann Wenner wants my support he needs to get Rush in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

:grr:

Who am I kidding, I subscribe to Rolling STone which is also owned by Wenner. And I just bought the US Magazine today.

[AZBlue]

20. Thanks for buying it!

Yeah, Rolling Stone rocks, they are a big Obama supporter and for that I am grateful.

[KathieG]

21. I just sent Us Weekly an email of support...I will be buying my copy this evening!

[AZBlue]

22. Thank you very much!!

:hi: