Forbes

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Forbes

Forbes Building on Fifth Avenue in New York City
First issue 1917
Country  United States
Based in New York City
Language English
Website forbes.com

Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, Forbes magazine, is published bi-weekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published bi-weekly, and Business Week. The magazine is well-known for its lists, including its lists of the richest Americans (the Forbes 400) and its list of billionaires. The motto of Forbes magazine is "The Capitalist Tool."

Contents

[edit] Company history

Forbes headquaters on 5th Avenue in Manhattan

B.C. Forbes, a financial columnist for the Hearst papers, and his partner Walter Drey, the general manager of the Magazine of Wall Street,[1] founded Forbes magazine in 1917.[2] Forbes provided the money and the name and Drey provided the publishing expertise. The original name of the magazine was Forbes: Devoted to Doers and Doings.[1] Drey became vice-president of the BC Forbes Publishing Company,[3] while B.C. Forbes became editor-in-chief, a post he held until his death in 1954. B.C. Forbes was assisted in his later years by his two eldest sons, Bruce Charles Forbes (1916–1964) and Malcolm Stevenson Forbes (1917–1990).

Bruce Forbes took over on his father's death, and his strengths lay in streamlining operations and developing marketing.[2] During his tenure, 1954-1964, the magazine's circulation nearly doubled.[2] Although credit for increased circulation must also be given to the magazine's increased outspokenness on the part of investors.[2]

When Malcolm Forbes took over, he had a more hands-off approach on operations, but did provide two strategic initiatives that changed Forbes forever. He instituted a professional editorial staff, instead of the previous heavy reliance on freelancers, and he started the first of the rankings articles for which Forbes became famous.[4]

On Malcolm's death, his eldest son Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes Jr. (1947–) became President and Chief Executive of Forbes and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine.[5] Between 1961 and 1999 the magazine was edited by James Michaels.[6] In 1993, under Michaels, Forbes was a finalist for the National Magazine Award.[7] In 2006, an investment group that includes rock star Bono bought a minority interest in the company.[8]

The popularity of Forbes magazine has extended to mainstream and Hip-Hop culture. 50 Cent has released the official remix to his hit single, "I Get Money" off his September 11, 2008 album, Curtis, entitled Forbes 1,2,3 (also known as the "Billion Dollar Remix"). The title of the song comes from the fact that Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Diddy were listed as Forbes' Top 3 money-making Kings of Hip-Hop, respectively. The unfinished video for Forbes 1,2,3 can be seen as the intro to 50 Cent's single, "I Still Kill" featuring Akon, off his multi-platinum album Curtis.

[edit] Other publications

Apart from Forbes and its lifestyle supplement, ForbesLife, other titles are published, including Forbes Asia and eight local language editions. Steve Forbes and his magazine's writers offer investment advice on the weekly Fox TV show Forbes on Fox and on Forbes On Radio. Other company groups include Forbes Conference Group, Forbes Investment Advisory Group and Forbes Custom Media.

The company formerly published American Legacy magazine as a joint venture, although that magazine separated from Forbes as of May 14, 2007[9].

The company also formerly published American Heritage and Invention & Technology magazines. After failing to find a buyer, Forbes suspended publication of these two magazines as of May 14, 2007[10]. Those magazines have since been purchased by the American Heritage Publishing Company, and have resumed publication as of Spring 2008 [11].

[edit] Forbes.com

David Churbuck founded Forbes' Web site in 1996. The site uncovered Stephen Glass' journalistic fraud in The New Republic in 1998, an article that drew attention to internet journalism. The site, like the magazine, publishes many lists focusing on billionaires and their possessions, especially expensive homes, a critical aspect of the website's apparent popularity. [12] See a list of lists below.

Forbes.com employs the slogan "Home Page For The World's Business Leaders" and sometimes claims to be the world's most widely visited business web site.[13] The current president and chief executive officer is James J. Spanfeller; the current editor is Paul Maidment; the current managing editor is Carl Lavin,[14] who succeeded founding managing editor Michael Noer and Dan Bigman.[15]

According to Forbes.com, the Web site is among the most trusted resources for senior business executives, providing them the real-time reporting, uncompromising commentary, concise analysis, relevant tools and community they need to succeed at work, profit from investing and have fun with the rewards of winning.

Forbes.com also publishes subscription investment newsletters, a luxury-vehicles site, ForbesAutos edited by Matthew De Paula, and a luxury travel site, ForbesTraveler, edited by G. Barry Golson, the former executive editor of Playboy and TV Guide and former editor-in-chief of Yahoo! Internet Life, and an online guide to web sites, Best Of The Web.

Forbes.com is part of Forbes’ Digital, a division of Forbes Media LLC. Forbes.com and affiliated properties include:

Together these sites reach more than 27 million business people each month.

[edit] ForbesAutos.com and ForbesTraveler.com

Launched in May 2005 by Forbes.com, ForbesAutos.com is a web site designed specifically for luxury car buyers and enthusiasts. The editorial content is written specifically for affluent consumers, with an emphasis on objectivity, comprehensive analysis and intelligent insight.

ForbesTraveler.com is designed for the affluent, discerning traveler. Launched in September 2006 by Forbes.com, ForbesTraveler is dedicated to inspiring, planning and booking the world’s most distinctive travel experiences.

[edit] Lists

Forbes creates many lists under various topics, the most popular being perhaps the list of billionaires.

[edit] Companies

[edit] People

In popular culture Forbes is perhaps best-known for its many periodic lists of net worth. As it often takes considerable detective work to determine the actual wealth of an individual, Forbes' figures are widely cited as nearly-definitive.

[edit] Fidel Castro conflict

In 2005, Forbes listed Fidel Castro among the world's richest people, with an estimated net worth of $550 million USD. In the 2006 article "Fortunes Of Kings, Queens And Dictators", Forbes increased their estimate to $900 million USD.[16] The article notes that estimating net worth for government leaders is "more art than science", and points out that in the case of Castro the authors used a discounted cash flow method for several state-owned companies, and assumed a portion of that profit stream went to Castro.

Castro responded that he has a net worth of less than $1 USD, and challenged any one to prove that he has any money in overseas accounts.[17] Castro also stated that Forbes should place a bucket over their head.[18]

[edit] Places

  • Best Cities For Singles
  • Best Places For Business (e.g. 2008 list).
  • Most Expensive Zip Codes
  • Most Expensive Rental Markets In The U.S.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b "Notes of a Business Quizzer: Forbes" (6 July 2007)
  2. ^ a b c d Gorman, Robert F. (ed.) (2007) "September 15, 1917: Forbes Magazine is founded" The Twentieth Century, 1901-1940 (Volume III) Salem Press, Pasadena, California, pp.1374-1376, p. 1375, ISBN 978-1-58765-327-8
  3. ^ Commerce and Industry Association of New York (18 November 1922) "The Association Prepares for New Demands: The Volunteer Workers" Greater New York: Bulletin of the Merchants' Association of New York Commerce and Industry Association of New York, New York, p. 6, OCLC 2447287
  4. ^ Gorman, Robert F. (ed.) (2007) "September 15, 1917: Forbes Magazine is founded" The Twentieth Century, 1901-1940 (Volume III) Salem Press, Pasadena, California, pp.1374-1376, p. 1376, ISBN 978-1-58765-327-8
  5. ^ Forbes 'Forbes Announce Elevation Partners Investment in Family Held Company' - August 6th, 2006
  6. ^ "James Michaels, Longtime Forbes Editor, Dies at 86 - New York Times". http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/business/04michaels.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  7. ^ "National Magazine Awards Database". http://www.magazine.org/Editorial/National_Magazine_Awards/Searchable_Database/. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  8. ^ "NussbaumOnDesign Bono Buys Into Forbes, Launches Product Red in US and Expands His Brand. - BusinessWeek". http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/NussbaumOnDesign/archives/2006/08/bono_buys_into.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  9. ^ With The May 14 Announced Separation: Twelve-Year-Old "American Legacy"/"Forbes" Partnership Was Mutually Beneficial. Industry & Business Article - Research, News, Information, Contacts, Divisions, Subsidiaries, Business Associations
  10. ^ American Heritage - Magazines - New York Times
  11. ^ AmericanHeritage.com / Thank You for Your Feedback on the American Heritage Winter 2008 Issue
  12. ^ "Jobs: Motley to Leave Time Inc., Plus More Job-Hopping Fun". http://www.gawker.com/news/jobs/motley-to-leave-time-inc-plus-more-jobhopping-fun-162725.php. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  13. ^ "At Forbes.com, Lots of Glitter but Maybe Not So Many Visitors - New York Times". http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/28/technology/28forbes.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  14. ^ "Poynter Online - Forums". http://poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=12876. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  15. ^ "Revolt of the Page-Slaves?". http://www.observer.com/2007/revolt-page-slaves. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  16. ^ "Fortunes Of Kings, Queens And Dictators - Forbes.com". http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/04/rich-kings-dictators_cz_lk_0504royals.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  17. ^ "granma.cu - "I call on them to prove that I have one single dollar!"". http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/mayo/mar16/21fidel1.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-05. 
  18. ^ Cuba Keeps Forbes in Hot Seat. Radio Habana Cuba. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.

[edit] Further reading

  • Forbes, Malcolm S. (1974) Fact and Comment Knopf, New York, ISBN 0-394-49187-4; twenty-five years of the editor's columns from Forbes
  • Grunwald, Edgar A. (1988) The Business Press Editor New York University Press, New York, ISBN 0-8147-3016-7
  • Holliday, Karen Kahler (1987)A Content Analysis of Business Week, Forbes and Fortune from 1966-1986 Masters of Journalism thesis from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 69 pages, OCLC 18772376, available on microfilm
  • Kohlmeier, Louis M.; Udell, Jon G. and Anderson, Laird B. (eds.) (1981) Reporting on Business and the Economy Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, ISBN 0-13-773879-X
  • Kurtz, Howard (2000) The Fortune Tellers: Inside Wall Street’s Game of Money, Media, and Manipulation Free Press, New York, ISBN 0-684-86879-2
  • Tebbel, John William and Zuckerman, Mary Ellen (1991) The Magazine in America, 1741-1990 Oxford University Press, New York, ISBN 0-19-505127-0
  • Parsons, D. W. (1989) The Power of the Financial Press: Journalism and Economic Opinion in Britain and America Rutgers University Press, New Jersey, ISBN 0-8135-1497-5

[edit] External links

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