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The Weekly Standard

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This article is about the U.S. magazine. For the Zimbabwean weekly newspaper, seeThe Standard (Zimbabwe).For the Canadian weekly newspaper, seeMontreal Standard.

The Weekly Standard
December 24, 2018 issue ofThe Weekly Standard
EditorStephen F. Hayes
FrequencyWeekly
PublisherTerry Eastland
Total circulation
(December 2018)		~50,000[1]
First issueSeptember 1995;28 years ago(1995-09)
Final issueDecember 2018;5 years ago(2018-12)
CompanyClarity Media Group
CountryUnited States
Based inWashington, D.C.
LanguageEnglish
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20181231145630/https://www.weeklystandard/
ISSN1083-3013

The Weekly Standardwas an Americanneoconservativepolitical magazine of news, analysis, and commentary that was published 48 times per year. Originally edited by foundersBill KristolandFred Barnes,theStandardwas described as a "redoubt of neoconservatism" and as "the neocon bible."[2][3]Its founding publisher,News Corporation,debuted the title on September 18, 1995.[4]In 2009, News Corporation sold the magazine to a subsidiary ofthe Anschutz Corporation.[5]On December 14, 2018, its owners announced that the magazine would cease publication, with the last issue to be published on December 17.[6]Sources have attributed its demise to an increasing divergence between Kristol and other editors' shift towards anti-Trump positions on the one hand, and the magazine's audience's shift towardsTrumpismon the other.[7]

Many of the magazine's articles were written by members ofconservativethink tanks located inWashington,including theAmerican Enterprise Institute,theEthics and Public Policy Center,theFoundation for Defense of Democracies,theHudson Institute,and theForeign Policy Initiative.Individuals who wrote for the magazine includedElliott Abrams,Peter Berkowitz,John Bolton,Ellen Bork,David Brooks,Gertrude Himmelfarb,Christopher Hitchens,Harvey Mansfield,Cynthia Ozick,Joe Queenan,andJohn Yoo.The magazine's website also produced regular online-only commentaries and news articles. The site's editorial stance was described as neoconservative.[8][9][10][11][12]

History[edit]

TheStandardwas viewed as heavily influential during theadministration of President George W. Bush(2001–2009), being called thein-flight magazineofAir Force One.[13]In 2003, although the magazine's circulation was only 55,000, Kristol said that "We have a funny relationship with the top tier of the administration. They very much keep us at arm's length, butVice PresidentDick Cheneydoes send over someone to pick up 30 copies of the magazine every Monday. "[14]

In 2006, though the publication had never been profitable and reputedly lost more than a million dollars a year, News Corporation headRupert Murdochinitially dismissed the idea of selling it.[15]Subsequently, in June 2009, a report circulated that a sale of the publication toPhilip Anschutzwas imminent, with Murdoch's position being that, having since purchasedThe Wall Street Journalin 2007, his interest in the smaller publication had diminished.[16][17]The Washington Examinerreported that month that theExaminer's parent company, the Anschutz-ownedClarity Media Group,had purchased theStandard;[18][19]the price was about $1 million.[20]

TheStandardincreased its paid circulation by 39 percent between its June 2009 and June 2010BPAstatements.[21]Its print circulation of about 100,000 in 2013 had decreased to 72,000 by 2017, according to the BPA, with circulation dropping about 10 percent between 2016 and 2017.[13]

In late 2016, Kristol ended his time as editor-in-chief.[22]He was replaced by Stephen Hayes, the magazine's senior writer.[23]Under Hayes' leadership, theStandardcontinued to be as critical of Donald Trump as it had been under Kristol; Trump's supporters in turn criticized theStandard,and the magazine's influence as Republican circles dwindled.[24]

In December 2017,The Weekly Standardbecame an officialfact-checkingpartner forFacebook.[25]

On December 14, 2018, Clarity Media Group announced that it would cease publication of the magazine after 23 years. While some speculated that the closure ofThe Weekly Standardwas so Clarity Media's other magazine, theWashington Examiner,could absorb theStandard's subscribers, a statement from Clarity Media Group chairman Ryan McKibben said that such speculation was incorrect.[26][27]Kristol attributed the magazine's demise to the hostility of supporters of theDonald Trumpadministration.[28]

Support of the invasion of Iraq[edit]

TheStandardpromoted and supported the invasion of Iraq to removeSaddam Hussein.In November 1997Bill KristolandRobert Kaganwrote an editorial titled "Saddam Must Go", in which they stated "We know it seems unthinkable to propose another ground attack to take Baghdad. But it's time to start thinking the unthinkable."[29]

In the first issue the magazine published after9/11,according toScott McConnellofThe American Conservative,"Gary SchmittandTom Donnelly,two employees of Kristol’sPNAC,clarified what ought to be the country’s war aims. Their rhetoric was to link Saddam Hussein andOsama bin Ladenin virtually every paragraph, to join them at the hip in the minds of readers, and then to lay out a strategy that actually gave attacking Saddam priority over eliminating al-Qaeda. "[30]

On December 16, 2018, co-founder and contributing editorJohn Podhoretzdefended the coverage answering the question byLulu Garcia-NavarroonNPR:"Do you regret the coverage of Iraq War?" saying "I think, basically, what—all a magazine—editors, writers—can promise is that they will be honest and say what they mean and think and argue the best way that they can. And with the facts available at the time, that is what TheStandarddid. "[31]

Libel case[edit]

In 1997, nearly a year after a cover story that included allegations of hiring a prostitute and plagiarism against best-selling authorDeepak Chopra,the editors ofThe Weekly Standardaccepted full responsibility for the errors in the story, and apologized. "[32][33]Chopra claimed that the magazine settled for $1.6 million.[34]

Notable personnel[edit]

Editorial staff[edit]

Contributing editors[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Farhi, Paul (December 14, 2018)."The Weekly Standard, influential conservative magazine, will shutter".The Washington Post.RetrievedDecember 14,2018.
  2. ^Boot, Max (December 30, 2002)."What the Heck Is a 'Neocon'?".Wall Street Journal.the Weekly Standard,... is known as a redoubt of 'neoconservatism'
  3. ^Rachman, Gideon (January 15, 2007)."The neo-cons' route to disaster".Financial Times.Archived fromthe originalon December 10, 2022.... the neo-con bible, The Weekly Standard...
  4. ^"Ten years ago,The Weekly Standarddebuted, a conservative journal of opinion [f]rom Washington, D.C., edited by William Kristol ". October 24, 2005.National Review:"The Week".
  5. ^"MediaDC".MediaDC.RetrievedJune 21,2016.
  6. ^Grynbaum, Michael M.; Rutenberg, Jim (December 14, 2018)."The Weekly Standard, Pugnacious to the End, Will Cease Publication".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedDecember 15,2018.
  7. ^Wallace-Wells, Benjamin."Who Killed The Weekly Standard?".The New Yorker.
  8. ^McConnell, Scott. "The Weekly Standard's War".November 21, 2005.The American Conservative
  9. ^Smith, Ben. "Weekly Standard may have been shooter targetArchivedJanuary 4, 2010, at theWayback Machine"June 11, 2009.Politico.
  10. ^Magolick, David. "The Return of the NeoconsArchivedAugust 11, 2010, at theWayback Machine"January 22, 2010.Newsweek.
  11. ^Carr, David. "When this weekly speaks, White House listens"March 12, 2003.The New York Times.
  12. ^Hirsh, Michael(February 4, 2013)."The Winter of the Neocons' Discontent".National Journal.Archived fromthe originalon February 7, 2013.RetrievedOctober 25,2013.
  13. ^abSchwartz, Jason (December 4, 2018)."Weekly Standard faces uncertain future after holding its ground against Trump".Politico.RetrievedDecember 6,2018.
  14. ^Carr, David (June 24, 2004)."When this weekly speaks, White House listens".New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon June 24, 2004.RetrievedDecember 6,2018.
  15. ^Cassidy, John (October 16, 2006)."Murdoch's Game".The New Yorker.
  16. ^Carr, David(June 10, 2009)."Will The Standard Pass From Murdoch to Anschutz?".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 15,2009.
  17. ^Worden, Nat (June 11, 2009)."News Corp. Close to Selling Weekly Standard".Wall Street Journal.RetrievedJune 15,2009.
  18. ^""Weekly Standard sold to Washington Examiner parent company".The Washington Examiner.June 17, 2009.
  19. ^Corcoran, Michael (September 1, 2009)."The Weekly Standard's War".Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.
  20. ^Arango, Tim (August 2, 2009)."New Owner for Weekly Standard as Political Tastes Change".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedDecember 6,2018.
  21. ^Mickey, Bill (October 6, 2010)."The Weekly Standard Boosts Its Circ".Audience Development.Archived fromthe originalon November 21, 2010.
  22. ^Rupert, Evelyn (December 13, 2016)."Bill Kristol stepping down as Weekly Standard editor-in-chief".The Hill.RetrievedDecember 6,2018.
  23. ^"Stephen F. Hayes '93 to Succeed William Kristol as Editor-in-Chief of The Weekly Standard".DePauw University.December 13, 2016.RetrievedDecember 6,2018.
  24. ^Darcy, Oliver (December 5, 2018)."Fate of The Weekly Standard is uncertain, editor tells staff".CNN.
  25. ^"Facebook looks to conservative Weekly Standard to combat its fake news problem — Quartz".qz.October 7, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 15,2018.
  26. ^Darcy, Oliver (December 14, 2018)."The Weekly Standard, a conservative magazine critical of Trump, to shutter after 23 years".CNN Business.CNNInteractive.RetrievedDecember 14,2018.
  27. ^Pilkington, Ed (December 14, 2018)."Weekly Standard, rightwing magazine opposed to Trump, closes after 23 years".The Guardian– via theguardian.
  28. ^"Meet the Other Resistance: The Republican One".New York Times.April 24, 2019.
  29. ^Kristol, Bill (November 17, 1997)."SADDAM MUST Go".WeeklyStandard.RetrievedDecember 16,2018.
  30. ^McConnell, Scott (November 21, 2005)."The Weekly Standard's War".TheAmericanConservative.RetrievedDecember 16,2018.
  31. ^"Co-Founder: 'Cannibalism,' Not Anti-Trump Stand, Killed 'Weekly Standard'".NPR.December 16, 2018.RetrievedDecember 16,2018.
  32. ^APOLOGY TO DEEPAK CHOPRA: THE WEEKLY STANDARD SUIT SETTLEDArchivedOctober 17, 2014, at theWayback Machine,PR Newswire,June 23, 1997. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  33. ^Self-help guru settles libel lawsuitArchivedOctober 16, 2014, at theWayback Machine,Spokesman-Review,June 24, 1997. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  34. ^The Art of the Spiritual SmackdownArchivedOctober 19, 2014, at theWayback Machine,Salon,Stephen Lemons, March 7, 2000. Retrieved October 12, 2014.

External links[edit]

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