At 120 pages, Issue No. 1,213 hits the streets.
Today’s Style Weekly marks the magazine’s 1,213rd issue, and celebrates 25 years of publishing in Richmond.
At 120 pages, it’s Style‘s largest issue in five years (since the 20th anniversary) and contains a mix of Richmond nostalgia, behind-the-scenes stories from artists and photographers, analysis of current issues Richmond faces and a look ahead at some of the artists, food trendsetters and personalities that help define the city and its alternative newsweekly.
This morning’s launch kicked off with radio segments on WRVA’s “Richmond’s Morning News” and the Top 40/pop station Q94. Last week featured a segment on Channel 6’s “Virginia This Morning.” Local bloggers have also picked up on stories in the issue, and staff members handed out the issue personally at high-traffic areas, local Starbucks and some Ukrop’s locations.
The issue represents a massive amount of work from the editorial, sales and production teams. Financially, the issue was a revenue tidal wave: Sales teams met their highest one-month revenue for the core product in Style‘s history. The issue also printed at Style‘s new press. It is stitched, full-color, printed on 100 percent recycled newsprint and offers better clarity for readers.
In a letter to readers, publisher Lori Collier Waran and editor Jason Roop noted the business success represented by 25 years in publishing, and looked back at the optimism with which Style launched in November 1982.
“It’s difficult to imagine such optimism today,” they wrote, “considering the publishing landscape: declines in daily newspaper circulation, layoffs and eroding stock prices, media consolidation and the downfall of many good, small newspapers.
“But here we are, hundreds of stories, thousands of pages and millions of words later, celebrating a milestone. Thank you for reading us and supporting us with your advertising. Thank you for engaging in the discussion of our city and region, for exploring our local arts and culture with us, for getting to know Richmond through its people.”
Style is throwing a private party to mark its anniversary on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at which several hundred readers — clients, dignitaries, former staff, media, musicians, artists and colorful local personalities — are expected to attend. Delegate Jennifer McClellan will present a special commendation to Style from the General Assembly, passed during the previous session. It congratulates the publication for its journalism, business and community presence.
You can see the issue online at www.styleweekly.com.
