Min resigns after 6 years as Us Weekly editor

[July 22, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Janice Min, the editor in chief of Us Weekly for six years, is leaving the celebrity magazine to pursue "other opportunities."

Though Min, 39, is stepping down from the magazine at a difficult time for print media, Us Weekly has held up well.

Us Weekly says its ad pages were down 10 percent for the first half of 2009, compared with a 28 percent decline for the rest of the magazine industry.

As the second-largest celebrity and entertainment weekly behind People, Us Weekly had average circulation of 1.9 million in the last six months of 2008, the latest figures available from the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

According to comScore, its Web traffic also is up significantly from a year ago.

"The magazine has been a safe place during the economic downturn," Min said. "The Us Weekly name and brand is about as successful as it could ever be."

Having served seven-and-a-half years at the magazine, Min added she's leaving because she felt "it was time to go out and figure out a second career."

Min plans to leave by Aug. 1, when her contract expires.

Michael Steele, now executive editor, will serve as acting editor in chief until a permanent replacement is found.

Us Weekly magazine is published by Wenner Media, which also publishes Rolling Stone.

[Associated Press]

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