Essence (magazine)
 Jill Scott on the cover of the May 2010 issue of Essence |
|
| Editor | Constance C. R. White |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Total circulation (2011) |
1,050,013[1] |
| First issue | 1970 |
| Company | Essence Communications (Time Inc.) |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | New York, New York |
| Website | www.essence.com |
| ISSN | 0014-0880 |
Essence is a monthly magazine for African-American women between the ages of 18 and 49. The magazine covers fashion, lifestyle and beauty with an intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone.
Contents |
[edit] History
The magazine was founded in 1968 by Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, Jonathan Blount, and Denise M. Clark. Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) began publishing in May 1970. Its initial circulation was approximately 50,000 copies per month, subsequently growing to roughly 1.6 million.[2] Gordon Parks served as its editorial director during the first three years of its circulation.
In 2000, Time Inc. purchased 49 percent of the magazine, buying the remaining 51 percent in a deal reported to be worth $170 million in US dollars. In 2008, Essence won twelve New York Association of Black Journalists awards in the Investigative, General Feature, International, Business/Technology, Science/Health, Arts and Entertainment, Personal Commentary, Public Affairs and Online categories.
[edit] Contents
There are sections such as "Work and Wealth"', "Healthy Living", and "Looks We Love", focusing on career, finance, health, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and topics that share an intimate connection with readers.
[edit] Circulation
- Rate Base 1,600,000[2]
- Subscriptions 78%
- Single-Copy Sales 22%
[edit] Essence Music Festival
The Essence Music Festival is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent. The festival is a three-day event, which has cultural celebrations and empowerment seminars with nights of musical performances. The festival is held every Fourth of July weekend, and has featured some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Prince, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie and others. The festival brings more than 200,000 attendees to New Orleans.
In 2007, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made special appearances at the Music Festival. In 2008, after partnering with Essence to develop and tape a co-branded special presentation Black in America: Reclaiming the Dream, CNN reported live on-site throughout the Music Festival weekend.
[edit] Activism
In January 2005 Essence launched a twelve-month initiative to combat misogyny in hip hop culture.[2] The campaign, entitled "Take Back the Music", was intended to inspire public dialogue about the portrayal of black women in rap music.[3]
[edit] Awards
[edit] Black Women In Hollywood
Essence magazine holds an award ceremony annually to honor black women who have achieved success in Hollywood.
[edit] Essence Literary Awards
Essence magazine hosted the first-annual Essence Literary Awards in New York City on 7 February 2008. The awards were created to celebrate both emerging and established African-American authors in nine categories: Fiction, Memoir, Inspiration, Non-fiction, Current Affairs, Photography, Children’s Books, Poetry and Storyteller of the Year.
[edit] Editors
- Ruth Ross (1970)
- Ida Lewis (1970–1971)
- Marcia Ann Gillespie (1971–1980)
- Susan L. Taylor (1981–2000)
- Monique Greenwood (2000)[4]
- Diane Weathers (2000–2005)[5][6]
- Angela Burt-Murray (2005–2010)
- Constance C. R. White (2011-present)
[edit] References
- ^ "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Audit Bureau of Circulations. June 30, 2011. http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/magtitlesearch.asp. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
- ^ a b c Bynoe, Yvonne. "Encyclopedia of rap and hip-hop culture". Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2006, p. 263, ISBN 9780313330582.
- ^ Weisstuch, Lisa (January 12, 2005). "Sexism in rap sparks black magazine to say, 'Enough!'". Christian Science Monitor, accessed October 03, 2011.
- ^ "Bios of the Phenomenal Women". Our Time Press. 2010-04-03. http://ourtimepress.com/tag/monique-greenwood/. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
- ^ Gordon, Ed (2005-04-05). "Diane Weathers, Former Editor of 'Essence' Magazine" (Windows Media Player or Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language). NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4585511. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
- ^ Stanley, Jeffrey (December 2003). "Diane Weathers ’67". Brooklyn Friends School. http://www.brooklynfriends.org/RelId/606222/pagenum/2/ISvars/default/2003_December_%25e2%2580%2594_Diane_Weathers_%25e2%2580%259967.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
[edit] External links
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