Paper (magazine) explained

Paper
Editor:Justin Moran
Editor Title:Editor-in-chief
Category:Fashion, music, pop culture, art
Frequency:Quarterly
Founded:1984
Finaldate:September 2020 (print)
Company:ENTtech Media Group
Country:United States
Based:New York City
Language:English
Issn:1073-9122

Paper (also known as Paper Mag) is a New York City-based independent magazine focusing on fashion, popular culture, nightlife, music, art, and film. Initially produced monthly, the magazine eventually became a quarterly publication, and a digital version was made available online at papermag.com.

In 2020, physical production of the magazine was paused following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The publication continued to create and release content online via its website.

History

Paper was founded in 1984 by Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits, former editors at the SoHo Weekly News, with help from Lucy Sisman and Richard Weigand. Beginning as a monthly print magazine in the form of a black and white 16-page fold-out, it has since transformed into a quarterly print and digital magazine.[1]

Past cover models include Kim Kardashian,[2] Katy Perry,[3] Miley Cyrus,[4] Prince,[5] CL, Kacey Musgraves,[6] Jennifer Lopez,[7] and BTS.[8]

In 2017, Hastreiter and Hershkovits sold the company to ENTtech Media Group, an entertainment technology company founded by former Condé Nast and Advanstar executive Tom Florio,[9] and Drew Elliott,[10] the Chief Creative Officer of Paper.[1] Elliot left Paper in October 2019, to become the new Global Creative Director at MAC Cosmetics.[11]

In 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, print production of the magazine was suspended. The final physical issue released was the Spring 2020 edition that featured Lady Gaga on the cover. Florio told WWD he was unsure when publication would resume, or if the company would continue with it at all, saying "Part of me is open enough to allow this thing to really roll out digitally and socially in the way where most people know Paper. Most people know Paper — like the kids, the Gen Z — through this social engagement. [Layoffs are] so terrible. I've never been in a situation where you couldn't ask more from people, but because of crazy life circumstances you have to make these decisions."[12] The magazine's digital content was unaffected and continued to be published.

Digital Director Justin Moran succeeded Elliot as editor-in-chief in July 2022.[13]

In April 2023, in the wake of reduced advertising revenues since the pandemic, the magazine's staff was laid off and editorial operations ceased. The company itself did not shut down, but was seeking alternative options to remain in operation.[14] In September 2023, Paper resumed operations with Justin Moran returning as editor-in-chief after the publication was acquired by Street Media in June.[15]

"Break the Internet"

In November 2014, Kim Kardashian was the cover star of the "Break the Internet" issue. Kardashian was interviewed by Paper contributor Amanda Fortini for the spread "No Filter: An Afternoon with Kim Kardashian".[16] The photos for the issue were taken by Jean–Paul Goude.[17] The shoot was a re-creation of Goude's "Champagne Incident", a series of photographs from his 1982 book Jungle Fever.[18] The cover photo, as well as the rest of the spread, featured a fully nude Kardashian.

The story received over 34 million unique page-views by December 2014, more than double the number of page-views Paper normally received annually,[19] and went on to generate more than 70 million monthly unique visitors to the website.[12]

Books

Hastreiter and Hershkovits co-authored two books under the company's label. The first of the pair, published by Paper Publishing Company in association with Distributed Art Publishers in 1999, was titled From AbFab to Zen: Paper's Guide to Pop Culture, and had photography from John Waters.[20] The second, titled 20 Years of Style: The World According to Paper, was published by HarperCollins in 2004 and featured writing from Michael Musto, John Waters, Isaac Mizrahi, Pedro Almodovar, Todd Oldham, Patrick McMullan, and Anna Sui.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paper Magazine Acquired by Tom Florio's New Media Group. Fernandez. Chantal. November 8, 2017. The Business of Fashion. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108101425/https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/bof-exclusive/paper-magazine-acquired-by-tom-florios-new-media-group. November 8, 2017. live. September 5, 2019.
  2. News: The man behind Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine cover on how to break the internet. subscription. Spedding. Emma. April 18, 2016. Telegraph.co.uk. https://archive.today/20220112210500/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/the-man-behind-kim-kardashians-paper-magazine-cover-on-how-to-br/. January 12, 2022. dead. January 12, 2022.
  3. Web site: Katy Perry Goes Avant-Garde On The Cover Of 'Paper' Magazine. Nied. Mike. February 8, 2019. Idolator. https://archive.today/20220112210709/http://www.idolator.com/7696842/katy-perry-goes-avant-garde-on-the-cover-of-paper-magazine. January 12, 2022. live. September 5, 2019.
  4. Miley Cyrus and Pet Pig 'Bubba Sue' Pose Nude for Cover of Paper Magazine. subscription. Waxman. Olivia B.. June 8, 2015. Time. https://web.archive.org/web/20150609071712/https://time.com/3912885/miley-cyrus-papermag-pig-cover/. June 9, 2015. dead. January 12, 2022.
  5. Coleman. Beth. 1999. Artist 2000: Prince & The Revelation. Paper (15th Anniversary Issue). New York. Paper Publishing Company. June 1, 1999. 68.
  6. News: Kacey Musgraves Poses In Just A Bra For 'Paper' Magazine. Magnocavallo. Fabio. September 4, 2019. Inquisitr. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905010534/https://www.inquisitr.com/5615126/kacey-musgraves-poses-in-just-a-bra-for-paper-magazine/. September 5, 2019. live. September 5, 2019.
  7. Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey Are All Out Vegas Show Girls in Sexy New Paper Magazine Shoot. Kratofil. Colleen. August 21, 2017. People. https://web.archive.org/web/20170822020309/https://people.com/style/jennifer-lopez-mariah-carey-paper-magazine-cover/. August 22, 2017. live. September 5, 2019.
  8. Web site: BTS Star In Paper Magazine's 'Break The Internet' Issue For A Cover That Captures Their Phenomenal Impact. Benjamin. Jeff. November 19, 2019. Forbes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20191119194620/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2019/11/19/bts-star-in-paper-magazines-break-the-internet-issue-for-a-cover-that-captures-their-phenomenal-impact/. November 19, 2019. live. February 18, 2020.
  9. Web site: Tom Florio BoF 500 The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry. May 1, 2019. The Business of Fashion. https://web.archive.org/web/20181004004406/https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/tom-florio. October 4, 2018. live. September 5, 2019.
  10. Web site: Drew Elliott BoF 500 The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry. May 28, 2019. The Business of Fashion. https://web.archive.org/web/20181130163330/https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/drew-elliott. November 30, 2018. live. September 5, 2019.
  11. Web site: Editor-in-Chief Drew Elliott Leaves 'Paper' to Become Global Creative Director of MAC Cosmetics. Bauck. Whitney. October 11, 2019. Fashionista. https://archive.today/20220421213642/https://fashionista.com/2019/10/drew-elliott-leaving-paper-magazine-mac-cosmetics. April 21, 2022. live. April 21, 2022.
  12. Paper Cuts: The Iconic Magazine Is on Hiatus. subscription. Hopkins. Kathryn. May 7, 2020. WWD. https://web.archive.org/web/20200510053702/https://wwd.com/business-news/media/paper-magazine-stops-print-1203628924/. May 10, 2020. dead. November 17, 2021.
  13. EXCLUSIVE: Justin Moran Named Editor in Chief of Paper Magazine. subscription. Guthrie. Marisa. July 18, 2022. WWD. https://archive.today/20220719203201/https://wwd.com/business-news/media/exclusive-justin-moran-editor-in-chief-paper-magazine-1235255521/. July 19, 2022. dead. December 23, 2022.
  14. Web site: Paper Magazine Lays Off Staff Due to Economic Headwinds. Stenberg. Mark. April 26, 2023. Adweek. https://web.archive.org/web/20230426200813/https://www.adweek.com/media/paper-magazine-lays-off-staff/. April 26, 2023. live. April 27, 2023.
  15. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Paper Magazine Resumes Operations With Justin Moran Returning as Editor in Chief. Fraser. Kristopher. September 5, 2023. Women's Wear Daily. September 6, 2023.
  16. Kim Kardashian "Breaks the Internet" with Nude Magazine Cover. limited. Duboff. Josh. November 12, 2014. Vanity Fair. https://web.archive.org/web/20150212065044/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/11/kim-kardashian-paper-magazine-nude-covers. February 12, 2015. live. January 12, 2022.
  17. Web site: Kim Kardashian Goes Fully Nude for 'PAPERMAG' Winter 2014. Cardiner. Brock. November 13, 2014. Highsnobiety. https://archive.today/20190905143200/https://www.highsnobiety.com/2014/11/13/kim-kardashian-full-nude-papermag/. September 5, 2019. live. September 5, 2019.
  18. These Are the Original Jean-Paul Goude Images That Inspired Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine Cover. Pasori. Cedar. November 12, 2014. Complex. https://archive.today/20190905144304/https://www.complex.com/style/2014/11/jean-paul-goode-paper-magazine-original-images. September 5, 2019. dead. September 5, 2019.
  19. Web site: The 10 Most Popular Stories of the Year on Papermag.com. Thompson. Elizabeth. December 31, 2014. Paper Mag. https://web.archive.org/web/20150103213210/http://www.papermag.com/2014/12/the_10_biggest_paper_stories_of_2014.php. January 3, 2015. dead. January 12, 2022.
  20. Book: Hastreiter. Kim. Hershkovits. David. 1999. From AbFab to Zen: Paper's Guide to Pop Culture. Paper Publishing Company & D.A.P. Distributed Art Publishers. September 2, 1999. 978-1891024047. New York. registration.
  21. Book: Hastreiter. Kim. Hershkovits. David. Musto. Michael. Waters. John. Mizrahi. Isaac. Almodovar. Pedro. Oldham. Todd. Mcmullan. Patrick. Sui. Anna. 2004. 20 Years of Style: The World According to Paper. HarperCollins. September 7, 2004. 978-0060723026. New York.