The Reader Magazine
 | |
 Cover page, winter 2015 | |
| Editor | Christopher Theodore |
|---|---|
| Categories | local news, global news |
| Frequency | quarterly |
| Total circulation | 390,000 |
| Founder |
Christopher Theodore Hajnalka Hogue |
| Year founded | November 2000 |
| First issue | January 2001 |
| Company | Noble Media, Inc. |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Redlands, California |
| Language | English |
| Website |
www |
The Reader Magazine is a free, printed, quarterly magazine based in Redlands, California containing public interest journalism. It has a circulation of 390,000 by mail.
History
The Reader Magazine was originally called The Redlands Community Coupon Book and founded by Christopher Theodore in November 2000, with the first issue appearing January 2001.[1][2] The first issue was a twelve-page coupon magazine with four-pages of community news mailed to 30,000 households. From 2002 to 2004, the publication was called The Redlands Reader during which time The Yucaipa Reader was launched which increased the circulation to 60,000 households.
In 2005, the name of the publication was changed to The Reader Magazine and circulation doubled to 120,000 households by including the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Colton, Grand Terrace, Loma Linda, Highland, and San Bernardino.[3] As of 2015, the largest Reader Magazine of the four regional publications is 40-pages, half news content and half local advertising. The four Reader Magazines are mailed to a total of 390,000 persons in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
In 2014, The Reader received B-certification by B Lab by meeting standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.[4] In October 2015, The Reader received a rating of 4-stars (out of five) from the Global Impact Investment Rating System (GIIRS) for adhering to the global rating system's social and environmental standards.
Business Model
The Reader Magazine provides print, display advertising to small and mid-sized businesses in the regions in which it operates, which is the source of 100% of its revenue. The Reader Magazine operates a news website which is content-focused and ad-free. This online content includes stories focused on topics of The Reader's printed publication and world, U.S., local, business, opinion and arts and culture focused-stories.
Environmental and Social Impact
The environmental impact of Reader Magazine advertising compared to traditional direct mail was first calculated by The Environmental Paper Network. The data presented an analysis of 15 environmental impacts of a quarter-page, print advertisement mailed to 30,000 households using conventional direct mail model compared to using the quarterly, journalistic model of The Reader Magazine to reach the same households using the same sized advertisement. The findings included that each advertiser reduced carbon emissions by an average of 6 metric tons, saved 31 trees (4.5 tons of wood), saved 30,000 gallons of water and made twelve more positive environmental impacts every year.[5]
Controversy
In 2011, The Reader Magazine was described in the Columbia Journalism Review as employing a business model based on plagiarism, when they identified a number of cases of suspected plagiarism in the publication.[6] These accusations were denied by The Reader Magazine, and they subsequently appeared to change some of their alleged practices.[6] The Reader Magazine undertook legal action against the Columbia Journalism Review and the article's author.[7]
Critical Reception
Samir "Mr. Magazine" Husni of The Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi wrote in August 2015, "The power of print has never been more evident than with The Reader Magazine". [2] In November 2015, The Reader Magazine was named by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a nominee for the 2016 Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation Award and in January 2016, a finalist for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Accelerator Program in Southern California.
References
- ↑ The Reader Magazine creation: http://www.readernation.org/creation/
- 1 2 The Reader is a free news publication founded in 2001(Interview With Chris Theodore): https://mrmagazine.wordpress.com/2015/08/28/
- ↑ "Magazines". The Reader Magazine. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
- ↑ "The Reader Magazine | B Corporation". www.bcorporation.net. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ↑ "Environmental Impact of Advertiser Using The Reader Magazine Over Weekly Direct Mail". The Reader Magazine. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- 1 2 Fry, Erika (December 14, 2011). "Reader Reforms". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ↑ Koeninger, Kevin. (November 09, 2012). "SoCal Mag Insists It's Not a Plagiarist", Courthouse News Service. Retrieved November 24, 2015.