Type Alternative weekly Owner(s) Independent Editor Ian Murphy | Format Tabloid Publisher Paul Fallon Founded {{|2002|3|15}} | |
The Beast was a Buffalo, New York alternative biweekly newspaper from 2002 until 2009 and then published exclusively online until about 2013.
The Beast was founded by Matt Taibbi, Kevin McElwee and Paul Fallon in 2002. The format was originally a free biweekly newspaper, but changed in 2007 when it began to charge for issues as a national monthly publication that also offered international subscriptions. In late 2009, The Beast stopped producing print editions, but now maintained an online presence with the tagline "The World's Only Website." The Beast's longest-serving editor was Allan Uthman.
An annual feature of The Beast was "The 50 Most Loathsome Americans" - a list of infamous celebrities, authors, athletes, pundits, politicians and others selected for their dubious distinction, with reasons and examples given for each entry's inclusion.
On February 23, 2011, editor Ian Murphy placed a prank telephone call to Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin during the 2011 Wisconsin budget protests.