World (magazine)

History

World was launched by Joel Belz in 1986 as a publication of The Presbyterian Journal, a theologically conservative magazine founded in 1942. However, due to low readership and financial difficulties, The Presbyterian Journal cancelled the publication that June. Belz convinced the board of The Presbyterian Journal to shut down operations and reallocate its resources to World, which relaunched in 1987. It started with about 5,000 subscribers and the publishers initially requested donations in every issue to stay afloat. At its peak, World had a circulation exceeding 160,000.

In 2005, Nick Eicher replaced Joel Belz as CEO and World considered moving its headquarters to a different city. Eicher made the decision to move the company's business model away from focusing on ad sales. (By 2025, the company said nearly 90 percent of its revenue is derived from subscriptions and charitable contributions.) In 2008, World switched from publishing weekly to biweekly. That same year Eicher was succeeded by Kevin Martin. In July 2011, World moved its office from Innsbruck Mall in Asheville to a former bank building at Biltmore Village.

World magazine received national media attention in 2009, when its then features editor Lynn Vincent was chosen to collaborate on former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life.

In 2012, World began referring to itself as World News Group, which includes its print, digital, and broadcast properties. In 2014, Nick Eicher became Chief Content Officer, responsible for all editorial content for the organization.

In 2021, Marvin Olasky's tenure as editor-in-chief of World Magazine ended, but he continued working with the magazine until 2022, and he planned to continue working with World Journalism Institute beyond that time.

In July 2024, World changed its magazine from printing biweekly to monthly. Three months later, in late September, World's two office buildings in Biltmore Village were flooded by up to six feet of water from the Swannanoa River during Hurricane Helene.

Editorial team

World News Group's editorial staff is led by co-chief content officers, Lynn Vincent (also the executive editor of World) and Nick Eicher. In addition, an editorial council provides direction for organization's editorial efforts. The current members of the editorial council are Brian Basham (program director-World Watch), Paul Butler (executive producer-World Radio), Rebecca Cochrane (editorial director-God's World News), Leigh Jones (Executive Editor-Feature), Tim Lamer (executive editor—commentary); Lynde Langdon (executive eitor—news), and Mickey McLean (executive editor-World Digital), along with the co-CCOs.

Unlike ''World'''s business staff, which works almost entirely in Asheville, the majority of its editorial and production staff live elsewhere.

Editors of ''World''

1. Joel Belz (1986-1994)
2. Marvin Olasky (1994-2001)
3. Nick Eicher (2001-2004)
4. Mindy Belz (2004-2015)
5. Tim Lamer (2015-2020)
6. Michael Reneau (2020-2022)
7. Tim Lamer (2022, interim)
8. Lynn Vincent (2022-2024)
9. Les Sillars (2025–present)

Coverage of evangelical controversies

World has received positive critical commentary from the New York Times regarding its investigative reporting on controversies within the evangelical Christian community.

In an August 29, 2009, cover story, World reported on the C Street Center in Washington, D.C., and the secretive organization behind it, the Fellowship, a.k.a. "The Family". Scott Horton of Harper's Magazine praised the piece, saying the magazine's "attitude is critical and exacting. The piece looks like serious journalism, much like the publication's exposé work on Ralph Reed and other scandals in the past." Rachel Maddow, on her August 17, 2009, show said, "The article exposes The Family's mysterious money trail and describes the C Street scandals using the word 'scandal' and argues that The Family subscribes to a, quote, 'muddy theology' and it harbors, quote, 'a disdain for the established church.'"

The magazine reported that Christian apologist and conservative political commentator Dinesh D'Souza had shared a hotel room with his fiancée prior to filing for divorce from his previous wife. After World broke the story, D'Souza resigned as president of New York's The King's College in response.

In December 2018, Worlds investigative report on Harvest Bible Chapel and its pastor, James MacDonald, led to a shakeup at the suburban Chicago megachurch. The article written by freelance writer Julie Roys included detailed information on financial mismanagement and a culture of deception and intimidation at the church. On February 13, 2019, the elders of the church announced the firing of MacDonald.

World Digital

Worlds digital properties are headed by Executive Editor Mickey McLean. The World website includes daily news stories, including daily news briefs called "The Sift," weekly news roundups and editorial cartoons. World's magazine content is also available through its apps for iOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle devices.

World Radio

On August 6, 2011, World launched a weekly two-hour radio news program called The World and Everything in It. Hosted by then-executive producer Nick Eicher and senior producer Joseph Slife, the program aired weekends on U.S. stations and featured reports, interviews, and analysis from the organization's editorial team. In May 2013, The World and Everything in It became a 30-minute daily podcast. Slife left the program in May 2017 and was replaced as co-host by Mary Reichard.

References

References

1. Martin, Kevin. (2024-10-01). "Statement of ownership, management, and circulation". World.
2. Martin, Kevin. (2025-01-01). "World Notes". World News Group.
3. "Contact". WORLD.
4. "About Us". WORLD.
5. (September 18, 2014). "Marvin Olasky preaches journalism through the lens of scripture, faith". Deseret News.
6. Belz, Joel. (March 24, 2001). "Publishing... by design". World Magazine.
7. (February 4, 2024). "Well done, good and faithful servant".
8. Silliman, Daniel. (February 9, 2024). "Died: Joel Belz, Founder of World Magazine".
9. "Echo Media: Print Media Experts". Echo Media.
10. Martin, Kevin. (2024-01-25). "Planted in a small city". World News Group.
11. Martin, Kevin. (July 2025). "World Notes". World Magazine.
12. Eicher, Nickolas. (January 12, 2008). "A changing World". World Magazine.
13. Sandford, Jason. (2011-07-05). "Asheville-based World Magazine moving from Innsbruck Mall to new offices in Biltmore Village". Ashvegas.
14. McLean, Mickey. (May 21, 2009). "Guts and grace". WORLD.
15. (May 21, 2009). "Sarah Palin picks conservative author to assist on memoir". Star Tribune.
16. Dan Gilgoff. (May 22, 2009). "Sarah Palin Picks Christian Journalist to Collaborate on Memoir". U.S. News & World Report.
17. Smith, Ben. (October 2, 2009). "Palin co-author: Evangelical, partisan". Politico.
18. "Goodbye".
19. Martin, Kevin. (2024-04-04). "Big changes ahead".
20. Langdon, Lynde. (2024-09-29). "Pray for WNC and WNG". World Magazine.
21. (November 7, 2014). "A Muckraking Magazine Creates a Stir Among Evangelical Christians". The New York Times.
22. (August 29, 2009). "All in the family". World Magazine.
23. Horton, Scott. (August 17, 2009). "Reporting on C Street".
24. Maddow, Rachel. (August 17, 2009). "The Rachel Maddow Show". NBC News.
25. Smith, Warren Cole. (16 October 2012). "King's crisis". World.
26. Kaminer, Ariel. (October 18, 2012). "Star Commentator Is Out as Christian College President After Scandal". The New York Times.
27. Sessions, David. (October 18, 2012). "Dinesh D'Souza Resigns Presidency of The King's College". The Daily Beast.
28. (December 13, 2018). "Hard times at Harvest". WORLD Magazine.
29. "February 13, 2019 Elder Update".
30. (February 20, 2019). "The Harvest Bible Chapel Scandal in a Nutshell (And Why You Should Care)". Patheos.
31. "The Sift". WORLD News Group.
32. "Roundups". WORLD News Group.
33. "WORLD Editorial Cartoons". WORLD News Group.
34. "Read WORLD Magazine On Your Device". WORLD News Group.
35. "The World and Everything in It". Salem Radio Network.
36. Al Peterson. (July 13, 2011). "SRN Debuts 'The World And Everything In It'". NTS MediaOnline.