Guide to the Time Inc. Entertainment Weekly Task Force Records
1986-1988 (bulk 1988)
MS 3009-RG 59
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-3400
New-York Historical Society
Collection processed by Allen Thomas
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on April 30, 2022
Description is in English using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Descriptive Summary
| Creator: | Time, inc. |
|---|---|
| Title: | Time Inc. Entertainment Weekly Task Force records |
| Dates [inclusive]: | 1986-1988 (bulk 1988) |
| Abstract: | Time Inc. studied the concept of what became Entertainment Weekly for years before actually publishing the magazine. A Task Force on Entertainment Weekly was formed to study every aspect of the proposed magazine including editorial direction and content, projections on advertising and circulation, and to perform direct-mail tests to gauge consumer interest in the magazine. |
| Quantity: | 2 Linear feet in 2 record cartons |
| Location: | Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit. |
| Language: | The documents in the collection are in English. |
| Call Phrase: | MS 3009-RG 59 |
| Sponsor: | The processing of the Time Inc. Records was made possible by a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. |
Historical Note
The concept of a weekly magazine assessing readers' entertainment options arose at Time Inc. in 1988 almost simultaneously with Mike Klingensmith and Jeff Jarvis, who then collaborated to develop the concept that became Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. spent two years studying and testing the concept which included the formation of a Task Force on Entertainment Weekly. This task force studied the proposed magazine's advertising potential, editorial direction, researched competing magazines, and performed direct mail marketing tests including soliciting subscriptions before the magazine was ready to be published, and created plans and reports based on their findings. Entertainment Weekly began publication in 1990.
Citation:
Time Inc. Subject Files, MS 3009-RG 1, New-York Historical Society.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of records belonging to Mike Klingensmith, then Chief Financial Officer of the Magazine Group and future Publisher of Entertainment Weekly, and Nancy Phillips, Business Manager of Life and member of the task force. It includes projections on pricing, costs, circulation growth, advertising, and other forms of planning for the launch of Entertainment Weekly as a new magazine such as direct mail advertisements, samples of other magazines, and proposals on the concept of the magazine and general style of editorial content. There is a small amount of reference material pre-dating the Task Force on Entertainment Weekly including an earlier Time Inc. study on a new magazine concept.
Arrangement
The Time Inc. Entertainment Weekly Task Force Records are arranged in alphabetical order.
Access Points
Document Type
- Corporation records.
- Organization files.
Subject Organizations
- Time, inc. -- Archives.
- Time, inc. -- History.
Subject Topics
- Corporations -- History.
- Corporations -- New York (State) -- New York.
- Publishers and publishing -- New York (State) -- New York.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Access
Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Conditions Governing Use
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as Time Inc. Entertainment Weekly Task Force RecordS, MS-3009 RG 59, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Time Inc. in 2015.
Processing Information
The Time Inc. Entertainment Weekly Task Force Records were processed by Allen Thomas in 2021. The original folders were retained where present; loose material was foldered. Arrangement was imposed. Allen Thomas created the inventory and other descriptive notes to produce this finding aid.
Container List
| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 1 | 4RT Back-Up |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 2 | Ad Sales Plan |
undated | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 3 | Advertising Plan |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 4 | Agency |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 5 | Agency Expenses |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 6 | Alternate Source Development |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 7 | Background Reading |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 8 | Business Plan |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 9 | Business Plan Proposal |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 10-11 | Circulation Plan/General |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 12 | Competition |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 13 | Cost and Income Estimates |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 14 | Delivery Schedule |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 15 | Direct Mail Test |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 16 | Editorial |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 17 | Editorial Plan |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 18 | Estimated Year 6 |
undated | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 19 | Final Expenses |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 20 | Focus Group: Currents |
1986 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 21 | Focus Groups |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 22 | General |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 23 | Interview Notes/Other Notes |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4294 | Folder : 24-26 | Magazine Samples |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 1 | Magee Model Backup |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 2 | Model Runs |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 3 | Newsstand Run |
undated | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 4 | Originals |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 5 | Pricing |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 6 | Pricing Run |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 7 | Product Development |
1987-1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 8 | A Profile of Entertainment Weekly Respondents |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 9 | Project Nancy Phillips |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 10 | Qualitative Research About Entertainment Weekly |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 11-12 | Report of the Task Force |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 13 | Research |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 14 | Schedule |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 15 | Subscriber Survey |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 16 | TOS/Newsstand Plan |
1988 | |
| Offsite-Box: 4295 | Folder : 17 | TV Assumptions |
1988 | |