Paper (magazine)

Paper
November 2014 "Break the Internet" cover featuring Kim Kardashian
Editor-in-chiefJustin Moran
Former editors
CategoriesFashion, music, pop culture, art
FrequencyQuarterly
Founder
  • Kim Hastreiter
  • David Hershkovits
Founded1984
Final issueSeptember 2020 (print)
CompanyENTtech Media Group
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York City
LanguageEnglish
Websitepapermag.com
ISSN1073-9122

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

Kim Hastreiter, co-founder of Paper magazine.

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.[4]

Past cover models include Kim Kardashian,[5] Katy Perry,[6] Miley Cyrus,[7] Prince,[8] CL,[a] Kacey Musgraves,[10] Jennifer Lopez,[11] and BTS.[12]

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,[13] and Drew Elliott,[14] the Chief Creative Officer of Paper.[4] Elliot left Paper in October 2019, to become the new Global Creative Director at MAC Cosmetics.[15]

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."[16] 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.[17]

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.[18] In September 2023, Paper resumed operations with Justin Moran returning as editor-in-chief after the publication was acquired by Brian Calle & Street Media in June.[19]

"Break the Internet"

"Break the Internet" redirects here. For the 2018 Disney film, see Ralph Breaks 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".[20] The photos for the issue were taken by Jean–Paul Goude.[21] The shoot was a re-creation of Goude's "Champagne Incident", a series of photographs from his 1982 book Jungle Fever.[22] 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,[23] and went on to generate more than 70 million monthly unique visitors to the website.[16]

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.[24] 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.[25]

Notes

  1. ^ joint cover with Jeremy Scott[9]

References

  1. ^ "Mickey Boardman | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry". The Business of Fashion. September 22, 2015. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  2. ^ Aschenbrand, Periel (May 5, 2017). "The Chosen Ones: An Interview With PAPER Magazine Founder David Hershkovits". Tablet Magazine. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Trebay, Guy (April 7, 2010). "Profile of Kim Hastreiter of Paper Magazine | Paper Magazine Editor Is Powerful, but No Power Snob". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Fernandez, Chantal (November 8, 2017). "Paper Magazine Acquired by Tom Florio's New Media Group". The Business of Fashion. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Spedding, Emma (April 18, 2016). "The man behind Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine cover on how to break the internet". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  6. ^ Nied, Mike (February 8, 2019). "Katy Perry Goes Avant-Garde On The Cover Of 'Paper' Magazine". Idolator. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  7. ^ Waxman, Olivia B. (June 8, 2015). "Miley Cyrus and Pet Pig 'Bubba Sue' Pose Nude for Cover of Paper Magazine". Time. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Coleman, Beth (1999). "Artist 2000: Prince & The Revelation". Paper (15th Anniversary Issue). New York: Paper Publishing Company (published June 1, 1999). p. 68.
  9. ^ Ko, Ji-seon (August 27, 2015). "CL makes cover of U.S. Paper magazine". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  10. ^ Magnocavallo, Fabio (September 4, 2019). "Kacey Musgraves Poses In Just A Bra For 'Paper' Magazine". Inquisitr. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  11. ^ Kratofil, Colleen (August 21, 2017). "Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey Are All Out Vegas Show Girls in Sexy New Paper Magazine Shoot". People. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  12. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (November 19, 2019). "BTS Star In Paper Magazine's 'Break The Internet' Issue For A Cover That Captures Their Phenomenal Impact". Forbes.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  13. ^ "Tom Florio | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry". The Business of Fashion. May 1, 2019. Archived from the original on October 4, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "Drew Elliott | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry". The Business of Fashion. May 28, 2019. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  15. ^ Bauck, Whitney (October 11, 2019). "Editor-in-Chief Drew Elliott Leaves 'Paper' to Become Global Creative Director of MAC Cosmetics". Fashionista. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Hopkins, Kathryn (May 7, 2020). "Paper Cuts: The Iconic Magazine Is on Hiatus". WWD. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  17. ^ Guthrie, Marisa (July 18, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Justin Moran Named Editor in Chief of Paper Magazine". WWD. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  18. ^ Stenberg, Mark (April 26, 2023). "Paper Magazine Lays Off Staff Due to Economic Headwinds". Adweek. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  19. ^ Fraser, Kristopher (September 5, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE: Paper Magazine Resumes Operations With Justin Moran Returning as Editor in Chief". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Duboff, Josh (November 12, 2014). "Kim Kardashian "Breaks the Internet" with Nude Magazine Cover". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Cardiner, Brock (November 13, 2014). "Kim Kardashian Goes Fully Nude for 'PAPERMAG' Winter 2014". Highsnobiety. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  22. ^ Pasori, Cedar (November 12, 2014). "These Are the Original Jean-Paul Goude Images That Inspired Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine Cover". Complex. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  23. ^ Thompson, Elizabeth (December 31, 2014). "The 10 Most Popular Stories of the Year on Papermag.com". Paper Mag. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  24. ^ Hastreiter, Kim; Hershkovits, David (1999). From AbFab to Zen: Paper's Guide to Pop Culture. New York: Paper Publishing Company & D.A.P. Distributed Art Publishers (published September 2, 1999). ISBN 978-1891024047.
  25. ^ 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. New York: HarperCollins (published September 7, 2004). ISBN 978-0060723026.
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