WHO FOUNDED READER'S DIGEST AND WHEN?
As De Witt Wallace lay in bed recovering from injuries sustained in World War I, he found there was a wealth of interesting information to read and absorb. Realising few people would have the time to get through all this information, he knew exactly what to do. In 1920, the entrepreneurial young American submitted a sample magazine containing condensed articles to publishers across America. All turned him down.
Undeterred, De Witt and his new bride Lila Bell Acheson published the first issue of Reader's Digest in February 1922. Working from home, the Wallaces printed 5000 copies, which were sold exclusively by mail order to 1500 subscribers and priced at 25 US cents. From these humble beginnings grew the world's most widely read magazine.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
The magazine flourished and, by 1935, circulation topped one million. In 1938, the first international edition was published in the United Kingdom. During World War II, editions were published for the first time in Latin America and Sweden. After the war, Reader's Digest moved into Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Africa and Switzerland.
In 1950, Reader's Digest launched its Condensed Books (now known as Select Editions). In 1959, music, the first non-print product line, was introduced. In 1962, Reader's Digest revolutionised direct mail by introducing easy-to-enter Sweepstakes, and a year later the first Reader's Digest general book was published. In 1986, video was added to the Reader's Digest product range.
AND WHAT ABOUT NOW?
In 1973, the Wallaces gave up active management of Reader's Digest. De Witt died in 1981 aged 91; Lila in 1984 aged 94. With no heirs to the Wallace empire to take control, Reader's Digest became a public company in the early 1990s and is now headed by a Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
THE WORLD'S MOST WIDELY READ MAGAZINE
HOW MANY EDITIONS OF THE READER'S DIGEST ARE THERE AROUND THE WORLD?
Reader's Digest is one of the most successful publishing stories in the history of global magazine. It now appears in 50 editions in 21 languages, with just under 100 million readers every month.
WHAT ARE THE 21 LANGUAGES READER'S DIGEST EDITIONS ARE PUBLISHED IN?
English, French, Norwegian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Hungarian, Thai, Korean, Finnish, Danish, German, Dutch, Swedish, Slovenian and Romanian.
WHAT TYPE OF ARTICLES/INFORMATION WILL I FIND IN READER'S DIGEST?
Reader's Digest is based on a winning formula. In every issue you will find politics, travel, drama, medicine, science, nature, humour, human interest, self help, biographies and adventure. Reader's Digest is one of the most reliable sources of information available. Hours of research go into providing articles of lasting endurance with every fact, figure and quote in the magazine thoroughly checked.
READER'S DIGEST IN NEW ZEALAND
WHEN DID READER'S DIGEST COME TO NEW ZEALAND?
The first Reader's Digest was published in New Zealand in 1950.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT CIRCULATION AND READERSHIP FOR NEW ZEALAND READER'S DIGEST MAGAZINE?
New Zealand circulation 93,934 (ABC June 2006)
New Zealand readership 444,000 (Nielsen National Readership Survey July 05-June 06)
Find out about
advertising in New Zealand Reader's Digest.
Find out more about the
Reader's Digest Association.
