Men's Fitness
{{Short description|Men's magazine published by American Media, Inc}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox magazine
|image_file =Men's_Fitness_January_and_February_2012_cover.jpg
|image_size = 200px
|image_caption = Robert Downey Jr. on the cover of Men's Fitness (U.S.), Jan/Feb 2012.
| frequency = 10 issues per year
| category = Fitness, nutrition, sports, outdoors, careers
|circulation_year = 2013
| company = The Arena Group
| based =
| founded = 1987
| finaldate =2017
| country = United States
| website = {{URL|http://www.mensfitness.com}}
| issn = 0893-4460
}}
Men's Fitness was a men's magazine published by American Media, Inc and founded in the United States in 1987. The premier issue featured Michael Pare from the television series The Greatest American Hero.
The magazine's slogan was "How the Best Man Wins". The magazine targeted men ages 21–40 years and featured in-depth articles on fitness, nutrition, and sports, as well as sex tips, fashion advice, interviews, recipes, and surveys.
Since its inception, Men’s Fitness became one of the fastest-growing titles in its category and licenses its title and format to Russian, Australian (readership of 119th. as of June 2018){{cite web |url=http://www.roymorgan.com/industries/media/readership/magazine-readership |title=Australian Magazine Readership, 12 months to June 2018|website=roymorgan.com|publisher=Roy Morgan|access-date=August 17, 2018}} and British editions. Circulation doubled between 1997 and 2003. {{As of|2007|02}}, circulation was 700,000.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} As of 2009, the British edition is no longer published under license from AMI. Dennis Publishing acquired control of the complete publishing rights for Men’s Fitness in the UK and Ireland in 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=44414|title=Men's Fitness magazine plans international editions|last=Barros|first=Robert|date=October 1, 2009|work=Press Gazette|access-date=December 17, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616111806/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=44414|archive-date=June 16, 2011}}
In late 2017, the print version of Men's Fitness was folded into Men's Journal.[https://nypost.com/2017/08/11/there-will-no-longer-be-a-print-version-of-mens-fitness/ There will no longer be a print version of Men’s Fitness] New York Post. August 11, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
In December 2021, The Arena Group acquired the digital assets of Men's Journal, including Men's Fitness, from a360 Media.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/the-arena-group-acquiring-digital-assets-mens-journal-adventure-network-from-a360-media |title=The Arena Group Acquiring Digital Assets of Men's Journal and Adventure Network From a360 Media|last=Barros|first=Robert|date=December 13, 2022|work=TheStreet|access-date=November 4, 2024}}
In December 2024, The Arena Group relaunched Men's Fitness and [https://www.mensfitness.com/ mensfitness.com].
Covers
People who appeared on its cover include Pamela Anderson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark Wahlberg, Liam Hemsworth, Andy Roddick, Joe Weider, Robert Marting, Dana White, Sebastian Siegel, Reggie Bush, Albert Pujols, Karen McDougal, Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, Carmen Electra, Tim Tebow, Tom Brady, and John Cena.
Tennis champion Andy Roddick complained when he discovered his body had been altered in the May 2007, cover photo of the magazine. He wrote on his blog, "If you can manage to stop laughing at the cover long enough, check out the article inside."{{cite news|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3217331&page=1|title=When Seeing Is No Longer Believing|date=May 29, 2007|publisher=ABC News|access-date=December 17, 2010}} "Little did I know I have 22-inch guns and a disappearing birthmark on my right arm." Representatives of the magazine asserted that the athlete's arms had been enhanced, not replaced.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20040515,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601153054/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20040515,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 1, 2007|title=Andy Roddick Laughs Off Doctored Magazine Cover|date=May 30, 2007|work=People|access-date=December 17, 2010}}
Controversy
In October 2011, Men's Fitness gained negative publicity across the internet after publishing an article written by Jordan Burchette.[http://www.mensfitness.com/lifestyle/entertainment/ny-comic-con-flabby-versions-of-your-favorite-superheroes "NY Comic Con: Flabby Versions of Your Favorite Superheroes!"] In the article, candid and unflattering photos of costumed attendees at New York Comic Con were shown alongside seemingly mean-spirited captions. The jokes commented on the attendee's weight and physical stature.{{cite web|url=http://www.mensfitness.com/lifestyle/entertainment/ny-comic-con-flabby-versions-of-your-favorite-superheroes|title=NY Comic Con: Flabby Versions of Your Favorite Superheroes!|date=Oct 21, 2011|work=Men's Fitness|access-date=October 21, 2011}}
Web sites frequented by comic book and cosplay enthusiasts, such as iFanboy.com posted their own thoughts on the situation. In his column for iFanboy, Josh Flanagan pointed out the poor techniques used in the reporting of Burchette's piece, and commented on the lackluster response of Men's Fitness as well as Burchette, citing them as defending the article as a work of comedy.{{cite web|url=http://ifanboy.com/articles/whats-wrong-with-you-mens-fitness/|title=What's Wrong With You? Men's Fitness|date=Oct 21, 2011|publisher=iFanboy|access-date=October 21, 2011}}
In response to the controversy, Men's Fitness removed the offending article on October 24, 2011. A similar derogatory article by Burchette written for Maxim appears on his website.{{cite web|last=Burchette |first=Jordan |url=http://www.jordanburchette.com/articles/new_york_comic_con_dorks_on_parade.php |title=New York Comic Con: Dorks on Parade|publisher=Jordan Burchette|access-date=May 24, 2013}}
As of December 6, 2011, the Men's Fitness article is available online again.
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [http://www.mensfitness.com/ Men's Journal website]
{{American Media}}
{{Dennis Publishing}}
Category:1988 establishments in California
Category:2017 disestablishments in California
Category:Men's magazines published in the United States
Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States
Category:Defunct magazines published in the United States
Category:Magazines established in 1988