World (magazine)

History

Launched by Joel Belz in 1986 as a replacement for The Presbyterian Journal, at that time a 44-year-old publication that had been founded specifically "to challenge the assumptions and activities of the liberals and to return the [Southern Presbyterian] denomination to its biblical moorings", World was intended to serve "an educational rather than an ecclesiastical task—a vision focused on the importance of a biblical worldview for all of life". It started small, with only about 5,000 initial subscribers and only 12,000 after three years. The publishers initially requested donations in every issue to stay afloat. It has grown in the years since, and as a non-profit organization it continues to accept donations. In 2008, Kevin Martin became CEO, replacing the retiring Joel Belz. In 2012, World began referring to itself as World News Group, which includes its print, digital, and broadcast properties.

Corporate heads

The corporate heads are Kevin Martin, CEO, and Nick Eicher, Chief Content Officer.

Editorial team

World News Group's editorially group is led by Marvin Olasky, editor in chief, and Mindy Belz, Senior Editor. Timothy Lamer is Editor of World Magazine, Jamie Dean is news editor, Daniel James Devine is Managing Editor, and Janie B. Cheaney, Susan Olasky, Andrée Seu Peterson, John Piper, Edward E. Plowman, Cal Thomas, and Lynn Vincent are contributors. The reporting staff comprises Emily Belz, J.C. Derrick, Sophia Lee, and Angela Lu. Other contributors include Megan Basham, Julie Borg, Anthony Bradley, Andrew Branch, Tim Challies, Michael Cochrane, Kiley Crosslan, John Dawson, Amy Henry, Mary Jackson, Michael Leaser, Jill Nelson, Arsenio Orteza, Stephanie Perrault, and Emily Whitten. The magazine's art director is David K. Freeland, Robert L. Patete is associate art director, and Rachel Beatty is a graphic designer.

World 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.

Coverage of evangelical controversies

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

In an August 29, 2009, cover story, World reported on the controversial 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 "[World’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." World's coverage of C Street house also caught the attention of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, who 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 fiancee 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.

World Digital

World's digital properties are headed up by Executive Editor Mickey McLean. The World Digital website includes online-only features written by the site's and World Magazine editors, reporters, writers, and contributors, as well as daily news briefs and columns, podcasts, and editorial cartoons. All of World's content is available on its website and 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 Executive Producer Nick Eicher and Senior Producer Joseph Slife, the program aired weekends on several U.S. stations and featured reports, interviews, and analysis from the magazine's editorial team. The World and Everything in It is now a daily thirty-minute program, available as a podcast and streams online.

In January 2014, World Radio began broadcasting a weekly interview program hosted by Warren Cole Smith called Listening In. It is available as a podcast and streams online.