Rodale, Inc.

History

Rodale Inc. was founded in 1930 by J. I. Rodale. He was a partner with his brother, Joseph, in Rodale Manufacturing, which produced electrical switches. Joseph moved Rodale Manufacturing to Emmaus, Pennsylvania to take advantage of favorable local taxes, while J. I. dabbled in publishing. In 1942, Rodale started Organic Farming and Gardening magazine. Organic Gardening became the best-read gardening magazine in the world., but in 2015, it was transformed into Rodale’s Organic Life, a new “lifestyle” magazine covering cooking, house and home, style, and gardening. In 1950, Rodale introduced Prevention, a health magazine.

In 1971, J. I. Rodale died during a taping of The Dick Cavett Show, and his son, Robert Rodale (1930–1990), took over the company’s leadership. On September 20, 1990, Robert Rodale was killed in a car accident during a business trip in Russia.

In 1972, Rodale Press was one of the five founding members of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) (now IFOAM–Organics International), founded at Versailles, France.

Following Robert Rodale's death, his wife, Ardath Harter Rodale (1928–2009), became chairman and chief executive officer of the company. In 2000, Steven Pleshette Murphy joined the company as president and chief operating officer, and was named president and CEO in 2002. On June 18, 2007, Ardath Rodale stepped down as chairman, and her daughter, Maria, was named chairman. Ardath remained a member of the company’s board and took over the new title of Chief Inspiration Officer. On September 1, 2009, Murphy stepped down as President and CEO. Maria Rodale, granddaughter of company founder J.I. Rodale and daughter of previous chairpersons Robert Rodale and Ardath Rodale, succeeded Murphy as CEO.

Sale to Hearst

In October 2017, New York City–based Hearst Communications announced it would acquire the magazine and book businesses of Rodale. The transaction was expected to close in January following government approvals. Rodale announced some months prior that it would consider a total sale of the company, among other alternatives explored by its board of directors. It hired financial adviser Allen & Co. to lead the search for bidders. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, Hearst outbid Meredith Corporation, another large media company that had expressed interest in Rodale’s portfolio, almost immediately after they solicited offers.

After the sale, Hearst sold Rodale's trade publishing division to Crown Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House.

Imprints

In 2007, Rodale launched Modern Times, an imprint focused on non-fiction, politics, current affairs, and biographical books headed by Leigh Haber, previously of Hyperion. Modern Times was discontinued in 2008.

Rodale Kids, a children's imprint, was launched in 2017, and was absorbed into Random House Children's Books in the 2018 sale.

Products

Magazines

• Bicycling
• The Bike Mag
• Men's Health
• Rodale's Organic Life
• Prevention
• Runner's World
• Women's Health

Books

• Gore, Al (2017). An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.

News website

Rodale News' website was launched on Earth Day, April 22, 2009, with the tagline “where health meets green".

References

References

1. (August 19, 2008). "Global reach statistics for Rodale, Inc". Hcp.com.
2. (December 2008). "On Gardening: Words Do Describe these Christmas Gifts". Yakima Herald.
3. (August 29, 2014). "The End of Organic Gardening Magazine". GardenRant.
4. (2010). "From France to the World: The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)". Journal of Social Research & Policy.
5. (January 9, 2005). "BusinessWeek May 2002". Businessweek.com.
6. (January 10, 2014). "Business Week July 2009". Mediaweek.com.
7. Wagaman, Andrew. (October 18, 2017). "Media giant Hearst will acquire Rodale". [[The Morning Call]].
8. Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A.. (October 18, 2017). "Hearst Agrees to Acquire Rodale Inc., Publisher of Men's Health and Runner's World". Wall Street Journal.
9. Milliot, Jim. (January 9, 2018). "PRH Buys Rodale Books Assets". [[PublishersWeekly.com]].
10. (January 11, 2007). "Rodale launching Modern Times. The new book imprint will cover categories including politics, narrative nonfiction, current affairs, memoir, biography and humor. It will help distinguish them from health, wellness books.". [[The Morning Call]].
11. (19 June 2008). "Haber Out at Rodale Three Months After New Boss Takes Helm; Imprint to Shutter". [[Observer.com]].
12. (July 4, 2014). "Meet the Editor: Shannon Welch".
13. (January 10, 2018). "Penguin Random House buys Rodale Books".
14. (April 22, 2009}}{{dead link). "RodaleNews.com launch". Forbes.