Scandal-plagued National Enquirer tabloid sold
PBS NewsHourDec 23, 2022
The Facts
The National Enquirer is being sold by magazine publisher a360 Media to a joint venture between two digital-media companies — VVIP Ventures, which is owned by Vinco Ventures Inc., and Icon Publishing — for an undisclosed price.
Both the US and UK versions of the Enquirer are part of the purchase, in addition to the National Examiner and the Globe.
The Spin
Narrative A
This sale is the latest nail in the coffin of the print gossip industry. The Enquirer was once part of a group of a handful of sources that peddled celebrity gossip, but hundreds of online voices that don’t have the same level of accountability have replaced the tabloids.
Narrative B
The Enquirer is a prestige title in the tabloid world, and its vast archive will be invaluable to the continued success of the publication. Print and subscription sales have been strong, but now the new owners can harness their online capabilities to make the Enquirer even more successful at grocery checkouts and on digital devices.