McClatchy to Close In Touch Weekly and Life & Style Magazines

• McClatchy will close In Touch Weekly and Life & Style magazines by late June.
• The closures are a part of a larger trend affecting celebrity magazine outlets.
• In Touch Weekly broke the scandal involving Josh Duggar years ago.
• Life & Style promoted itself as a blend of celebrity gossip and fashion tips.
• The exact number of affected employees remains unclear.

Closure of In Touch and Life & Style Magazines

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end—at least for some magazines that have been household names. McClatchy has announced plans to close the lid on both In Touch Weekly and Life & Style by late June. The decision comes after the company struggled, despite the best efforts of their talented team, to create a viable business model for these publications. The timeline, as provided by McClatchy spokeswoman Julie Pendley, indicates that readers will see their last issues hitting the stands sometime between June 20 and 27.

Trends in Celebrity Magazine Closures

In a somewhat bittersweet farewell, Pendley expressed gratitude towards the many employees affected by the decision, promising support throughout this transition. It’s worth noting, though, that the exact number of employees losing their roles remains undisclosed. The closure isn’t out of the blue; it’s just part of a greater trend where celebrity and gossip publications have faced significant cutbacks. Other notable names in this unfortunate trend include Entertainment Weekly, Gawker, and OK! Magazine, which have all scaled back their operations in recent years, proving that even tabloids aren’t immune to the cruel hand of economic realities.

In Touch’s Notorious Past and Life & Style’s Legacy

In Touch Weekly, which has been a staple since its launch in 2002, marketed itself as the go-to magazine for those flirting with celebrity obsession, reportedly pulling in an audience of over 3.2 million. Controversially, it even broke the scandalous story involving Josh Duggar, the reality star famous for the TLC show ’19 Kids and Counting’. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, they unearthed a police report detailing allegations against Duggar. This story sent shockwaves through the public and, soon after its publication, TLC yanked ’19 Kids and Counting’ from airwaves, showcasing the magazine’s impactful journalism. Meanwhile, Life & Style positioned itself as a divine intersection of celebrity gossip with a dash of fashion flair, engaging a total reach of over 7.6 million readers through print, digital users, and social media channels.

To sum it up, McClatchy’s decision to close In Touch Weekly and Life & Style highlights the ongoing challenge of the magazine industry to adapt and thrive in the current digital landscape. With economic pressures forcing the hand of major publications, readers may notice fewer glossy covers in shops soon. As these magazines sign off, they take with them years of stories, controversies, and a significant impact on pop culture.