Posted on 02/27/2013 8:43:48 AM PST by kristinn
There was a large number of layoffs at Human Events, as announced at an internal staff meeting this morning, FishbowlDC has learned. But it’s actually much bigger than that.
The conservative publication is shutting down entirely. Eagle Publishing, which owns Human Events, released the following statement:
“Washington, DC (February 27, 2013) – Eagle Publishing, Inc. announced today it has made the difficult decision to cease publishing Human Events, the conservative weekly newspaper. The issue dated February 18 is the final issue.
“This was a difficult decision, and one we did not make lightly,” said publisher Joe Guerriero. “As everyone knows, the newspaper business is a very tough business. Contrast that with the explosive growth of digital media, which we’ve seen with our own websites, HumanEvents.com and RedState.com.
“Eagle Publishing has willingly subsidized Human Events for quite some time now, choosing to do so to serve the cause of conservatism,” he added. “But the realities of the 24-hour news cycle and the brutal economics of a weekly print publication have become insurmountable, as they have for so many other now-extinct print publications such as U.S. News &World Report and Newsweek.
“Human Events has been a powerful voice in conservative politics and the conservative movement for nearly 70 years, propelled by a dedication to limited government, strong national defense, private enterprise and individual liberty,” continued Guerriero. “While the print publication will no longer exist, we are confident Human Events’ mission to defend and promote conservatism will continue through our popular websites, HumanEvents.com and RedState.com, our influential political newsletters, such as RedState Morning Briefing, Daily Events, and Guns & Patriots, and the blockbuster political books published by Eagle’s book-publishing division, Regnery Publishing.”
It’s very had to keep any printed publication alive in today’s world of internet access to everything.
It started as a newsletter in 1944, and in the 1940's, each issue consisted of about twelve 8.5 X 11-inch pages using a single- and double-spaced pica typeface. It featured some of the best conservative and libertarian writers of the day, including Frank Chodorov, Edna Lonigan, Freda Utley, Felix Morley and William Henry Chamberlin. By the mid-1950's, it was still an 8.5 X 11-inch newsletter, usually arranged in two columns and with a smaller font.
The newsletter added additional pages in 1960 and adapted a tabloid format in 1963, which it has maintained until today.
The Human Events Mission Statement
The Declaration of Independence begins: “When in the course of Human Events…” In reporting the news, Human Events—the nation’s first conservative weekly—is objective. We aim for accurate presentation of all the facts. But we are not impartial. We look at events through eyes that favor limited constitutional government, local self-government, private enterprise and individual freedom. These were the principles that inspired the Founding Fathers. We believe that today the same principles will preserve freedom in America.
Human Events has been the nation’s leading conservative voice since we were established in 1944. Our reporters and contributors are among the nation’s most influential and powerful conservative voices, heard and trusted on Main Street and on Capitol Hill.
Human Events is the news source President Reagan called his “favorite newspaper” and we still hold high the Reaganesque principles of free enterprise, limited government and, above all, a staunch, unwavering defense of American freedom.
http://www.humanevents.com/about-human-events/
The Human Events print edition has had distribution difficulties for decades.
The Post Office often just threw them in the dumpster rather than deliver them. Sometimes they would be delivered months late.
This is very sad news. I remember getting it as a kid (actually, my parents’ subscription) and enjoying it. I looked forward to reading it. I prefer hard copies to reading on the web.
I used to work for Human Events (1970-83) as a reporter, maintained the files, and as a researcher. We had a great group of people: Tom Winter, Alan Ryskind, Andy Seaman, Cleo Grant, Bob Latham, Gary Russell, and many contributing editors/columnists who made the newsroom come alive.
Editorial meetings (I attended/particpated in some), were lively, funny, and creative.
We went out to get stories from Congress, at protests, to Vietnam/Cambodia, as well as good interviews. I was able to get the only two newspaper interviews (along with Al Ryskind on the second one), with US Ambassador to Vietnam, Graham Martin (his aide-de-camp was a friend of mine). He trusted us to get the story right, and we did.
Good old foot-leather, ground pounding, and asking questions is what made us a force to be reckoned with. Our stable of columnists included several Pulitzer Prize winners and many nationally known writers, along with the best Internal Security writers in the country (Herb Romerstein, Frank McNamara, Ralph DeToledano, Willard Edwards, etc)
The old ink paper will be missed, but the stories still hold their quality. If you want to know about Ted kennedy, John Kerry, or other Democratic slimes and their crimes against America, go read the back issues. It is all there.
The Limbaugh Letter just went Digital.
Well, I haven’t gotten the print edition in many years but I sure hope they stay online.
and it actually IS conservative unlike a lot of “conservative media”
I still like printed magazines since batteries are not required.
In two years, I would have been a subscriber for 50 years. Started the January after Goldwater lost. Hate to see it go, but the attempted format change over the past year has been a disappointment. Will particularly miss John Gizzi, and the biennial Race of the Week feature. Have all my old copies in boxes... oh well.
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