Trusted Media Brands

{{Short description|Multi-platform media and publishing company}}

{{infobox publisher

| name = Trusted Media Brands, Inc.

| image = Trustedmediabrands logo.jpg

| status =

| founded = {{start date and age|1922}} (as Reader's Digest Association, Inc.)
New York City

| founder = DeWitt Wallace
Lila Bell Wallace

| country = United States

| headquarters = New York City
White Plains, New York

| distribution =

| keypeople = {{flat list|

Bonnie Kintzer (CEO)
Jen Tyrrell (CPO)
Beth Tomkiw (CCO)

}}

| publications = {{flat list|

Digital content
Magazines
Books

}}

| topics =

| genre =

| imprints =

| revenue =

| numemployees =

| nasdaq =

| url = {{url|trustedmediabrands.com}}

}}

Trusted Media Brands, Inc. (TMBI), formerly known as the Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (RDA), is an American multi-platform media and publishing company that is co-headquartered in New York City and in White Plains, New York.{{cite news | last=Pofeldt| first=Elaine| title =Trusted Media Brand's Trusted Leader| work = Westchester Magazine| date =March 2016 | url =http://www.westchestermagazine.com/914-INC/Q1-2016/Trusted-Media-Brands-Trusted-Leader/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Romell| first=Rick| title =Readers's Digest Association changing name to Trusted Media Brands Inc.| newspaper =Milwaukee Journal Sentinel| date =September 28, 2015 | url =http://archive.jsonline.com/business/readerss-digest-association-changing-name-to-trusted-media-brands-inc-b99585814z1-329796791.html| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Mickey| first=Bill| title =Reader's Digest Association Rebrands as Trusted Media Brands, Inc.| work = Folio Magazine| date =September 28, 2015 | url =http://www.foliomag.com/readers-digest-association-rebrands-trusted-media-brands-inc/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}} The company was founded by DeWitt Wallace and his wife Lila Bell Wallace in 1922, launched in New York City with the publication of the Reader's Digest magazine.{{cite news | last=Riquier| first=Andrea| title =DeWitt Wallace's Digest Recorded The American Century | work = Investor's Business Daily| date =August 17, 2015 | url =http://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/dewitt-wallace-founded-readers-digest-shared-vision-of-america/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Pinkley| first=Virgil| title =How the Reader's Digest people do it | newspaper =The Beaver County Times| date =November 10, 1978 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19781110&id=bBwvAAAAIBAJ&pg=3434,2331940&hl=en| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | title =Good news is still in fashion | newspaper =Argus-Press| date =March 21, 1979 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19790321&id=sEUiAAAAIBAJ&pg=1796,2099843&hl=en| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}

The company's brands include Reader's Digest, Taste of Home, The Family Handyman, FailArmy, Birds & Blooms, Reminisce, Country, EnrichU, and others.{{cite news | last=Katz| first=A.J.| title =The Iconic Reader's Digest Is Getting a Digital Makeover| work =Adweek | date =May 13, 2016 | url =http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/iconic-readers-digest-getting-digital-makeover-171442| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Hebbard| first=D.B.| title =RDA rebrands as Trusted Media Brands, Inc.| publisher =Talking New Media | date =September 28, 2015 | url =http://www.talkingnewmedia.com/2015/09/28/the-readers-digest-association-adopts-new-corporate-name-trusted-media-brands-inc/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | title =In Historic Move, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. Changes Name To 'Trusted Media Brands, Inc.'| agency =PR Newswire | date =September 28, 2015 | url =http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-historic-move-the-readers-digest-association-inc-changes-name-to-trusted-media-brands-inc-300149254.html| accessdate =September 5, 2016}} At its peak in 1973, the flagship magazine had over 30 million subscribers and was published in 30 countries. As of 2016, its portfolio of brands garners 53 million unique online visitors and 40 million print readers per month.{{cite news | last=Wasserman| first=Todd| title =Reader's Digest Association Drops Reader's Digest From the Company Name| work =Advertising Age| date =September 28, 2015 | url =http://adage.com/article/print-edition/kintzer-dropping-reader-s-digest-company/300607/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}

History

Trusted Media Brands, Inc. (TMBI) was founded as Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (RDA) in New York City in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace, a married couple. They self-published the first edition of Reader's Digest in February 1922. To market the magazine, the two used direct mail marketing and sent 5,000 letters to nurses and school teachers. In 1925, DeWitt Wallace purchased land in Westchester County, New York where he moved the headquarters of RDA. In 1927, Reader's Digest had 30,000 subscribers. In 1939, it reached 3 million, and by 1973, it had 30 million subscribers.

In 1986, under the new leadership of George Grune, RDA began creating and acquiring new brands as well as publications to diversify its portfolio. Its first special-interest magazine, Travel Holiday, was acquired in 1986 and was followed by the acquisition of The Family Handyman in 1987. In 1990, it acquired American Health. In the same year, the company went public. At the time, it had 7,200 employees in 54 locations throughout the world.{{cite news | last=Carmody| first=Deirdre| title =Wealthy Reader's Digest is looking for ways to invest | newspaper =Palm Beach Daily News| date =January 29, 1991 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1290&dat=19910129&id=4PdTAAAAIBAJ&pg=3752,6910931&hl=en| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | title =Reader's Digest Moves to Sell Stock Publicly | newspaper =The Schenectady Gazette| date =May 26, 1989 | url =https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19890526&id=pmIhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1122,6970272&hl=en| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}

In 1991, RDA acquired Joshua Morris Publishing, a children's book publisher and made a move into the children's book industry.

In 2002, RDA purchased Reiman Publications and its 12 magazines for $760 million. The deal gave RDA ownership of magazines including Taste of Home, Country Woman, Birds & Blooms, Country, Reminisce, Healthy Cooking, Simple & Delicious, and Farm & Ranch Living.{{cite news | last=Hodara| first=Susan| title =IN BUSINESS; Reader's Digest Acquires Reiman and Its Readers| newspaper =The New York Times| date =May 26, 2002 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/nyregion/in-business-reader-s-digest-acquires-reiman-and-its-readers.html| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Milliot| first=Jim| title =Reader's Digest to Acquire Reiman Publications| work =Publishers Weekly | date =April 1, 2002 | url =http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20020401/26773-reader-s-digest-to-acquire-reiman-publications.html| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Wilkerson| first=David B.| title =Reader's Digest buys Reiman | publisher =MarketWatch | date =March 21, 2002 | url =http://www.marketwatch.com/story/readers-digest-buys-reiman| accessdate =September 5, 2016}} In 2005, RDA launched Every Day with Rachael Ray and purchased Allrecipes.com in 2006. Both magazines were sold to the Meredith Corporation in 2011 and 2012 respectively.{{cite news | last=Moses| first=Lucia| title =RDA Finalizes 'Rachael Ray' Mag Sale to Meredith| work =Adweek | date =October 31, 2011 | url =http://www.adweek.com/news/press/rda-finalizes-rachael-ray-mag-sale-meredith-136182| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Moses| first=Lucia| title =Meredith Agrees to Acquire Allrecipes| work=Adweek | date =January 24, 2012| url =http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/meredith-agrees-acquire-allrecipes-137688| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}

In March 2007, RDA was purchased by an investment group led by private equity firm, Ripplewood Holdings, for $1.6 billion. RDA was made a private company for the first time since 1990.{{cite news | last=Moses| first=Lucia| title =Reader's Digest Looking to Unload Web's Top Food Site?| work =Adweek | date =April 28, 2011| url =http://www.adweek.com/news/press/readers-digest-looking-unload-webs-top-food-site-131098| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | title =Group buying Reader's Digest for $1.6 billion| publisher =NBC News | date =November 16, 2006| url =https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15747630| access-date =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Ives| first=Nat| title =Reader's Digest Bankruptcy Underscores Its Need to Remake Media Model| work =Advertising Age| date =August 24, 2009| url =http://adage.com/article/media/reader-s-digest-bankruptcy-pushes-remade-media-model/138575/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}} RDA filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and again in 2012. It emerged from bankruptcy in 2013.{{cite news | last=Kavilanz| first=Parija| title =Reader's Digest parent files for bankruptcy| publisher =CNN | date =February 18, 2013| url =https://money.cnn.com/2013/02/18/news/companies/readers-digest-bankruptcy/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}} On April 7, 2014, Bonnie Kintzer was appointed president and CEO of RDA; she had previously worked at RDA from 1998 to 2007.{{cite news | title =Bonnie Kintzer named President and CEO of Reader's Digest Association| publisher =Talking New Media | date =April 7, 2014 | url =http://www.talkingnewmedia.com/2014/03/11/bonnie-kintzer-named-president-and-ceo-of-readers-digest-association/| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}

One of Kintzer's first major moves was to change the company's name to Trusted Media Brands, Inc. (TMBI) in September 2015. The new name was chosen to encompass all brands under the company's banner rather than just Reader's Digest. TMBI has placed renewed focus on a wide variety of media platforms including digital content, social media, video, and others. As of 2016, TMBI's portfolio of brands reaches 53 million unique visitors, 40 million print readers, and 40 million social media users per month. In 2016, TMBI sold its children's publishing operations to Readerlink Distribution Services.{{Cite web| last = Milliot| first = Jim| title = Readerlink Buys Studio Fun Assets| work = Publishers Weekly| accessdate = September 10, 2017| date = October 19, 2016| url = https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/71800-readerlink-buys-studio-fun-assets.html}}

In August 2021, TMBI acquired the viral video licensing company Jukin Media.{{cite web|title=Jukin Media, Video Pioneer Known For Fail Army And 'Pizza Rat', Is Acquired By Trusted Media Brands|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/jukin-media-video-fail-army-pizza-rat-acquired-by-trusted-media-brands-1234813510/|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Hayes|first=Dade|date=August 12, 2021}}

Brands and publications

Trusted Media Brands manages several media brands both online and in-print. Reader's Digest has been in continuous publication since 1922, publishing true stories, advice, interest stories and humor. The magazine was at one time the largest consumer magazine in the United States.{{cite news |last=Ovide |first=Shira |title=Reader's Digest for Sale: A Colorful History By the Numbers |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 18, 2011 |url= https://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2011/07/18/readers-digest-for-sale-a-colorful-history-by-the-numbers/|access-date=September 5, 2016}}

Taste of Home publishes recipes, tips and stories from home cooks, and produces the Fun with Food! and America the Tasty web series.{{cite news |title=Taste of Home Cooking School returns to Circleville |newspaper=Circleville Herald |date=September 3, 2016 |url= http://www.circlevilleherald.com/news/taste-of-home-cooking-school-returns-to-circleville/article_b8a14c68-b82c-5976-981a-a6b02fcf5e7f.html |access-date=September 5, 2016}}{{cite news | title =Taste of Home | newspaper =Lockport Union-Sun & Journal| date =August 21, 2016 | url =http://www.lockportjournal.com/community/taste-of-home/article_6180187e-8a9d-5747-9bfb-a7b914902335.html| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}

The Family Handyman publishes DIY, home improvement and home repair advice and how-to guides from experts and professionals.{{cite news |title=Today's Homeowner, The Family Handyman share latest homeowner hacks |newspaper=The Birmingham News |date=February 12, 2016 |url= http://blog.al.com/press-releases/2016/02/todays_homeowner_with_danny_li.html| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Kimberly L. |title=DIY classes to help get things done around the house |work=The Star-Ledger |date=October 29, 2015 |url= http://www.nj.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2015/10/diy_classes_to_help_get_things_done_around_the_house.html |access-date=September 5, 2016}}

Birds & Blooms is the largest birdwatching and gardening magazine in North America, publishing stories on gardening, DIY crafts, environmental management, and information on birds and other backyard animals.{{cite news | last=Porter-Nichels| first=Stephanie| title =Encountering the flying flowers of Beagle Ridge Herb Farm| work =SWVa Today| date =August 19, 2016 | url =http://www.swvatoday.com/news/bland_county/article_02178684-64bc-11e6-a1ca-5f91019c44ec.html| accessdate =September 5, 2016}}

Other magazine brands include Country, Country Woman, Simple & Delicious, Reminisce, Prevention, Farm & Ranch Living, EnrichU, LifeRich Publishing, and Haven Home.

Business divisions

;North America

Reader's Digest, RD.com, magazine, books
Taste of Home, TasteofHome.com, magazine, books
The Family Handyman, Birds & Blooms, Country, Farm & Ranch Living, Haven Home, Reminisce
EnrichU, Taste Digital Community
Jukin Media