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Bloomberg Businessweek

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Bloomberg Businessweek is a prominent American monthly business magazine.

Bloomberg Businessweek logo
Bloomberg Businessweek logo

It provides news, opinions, and analysis regarding the global business world. The publication focuses on various sectors like finance, management, and marketing. It also explores how national politics can influence business environments. For nearly a century, it has served as a resource for understanding economic trends. Today, it is owned by the media company Bloomberg L.P.

The magazine has a long history of changing its focus to meet reader needs. It debuted in New York City in September 1929. This was just weeks before the major stock market crash. Initially, the magazine was a tool for business managers. In the 1970s, it shifted its strategy to include general consumers. By 1975, it carried more advertising pages than any other magazine in the United States. In 1934, the original name, The Business Week, was shortened to Business Week.

Leadership has played a vital role in the magazine's growth and identity. Stephen B. Shepard served as editor-in-chief from 1984 until 2005. During his tenure, readership grew to more than six million people by the late 1980s. He was succeeded by Stephen J. Adler, who came from The Wall Street Journal. Later, Josh Tyrangiel took over the role after serving as a deputy editor at Time magazine. In 2016, Megan Murphy became editor-in-chief, serving until early 2018. Most recently, Brad Stone was appointed editor in January 2024.

The magazine has faced significant financial challenges during economic shifts. During the late-2000s recession, advertising revenues fell by one-third. By the start of 2009, circulation had dropped to 936,000 readers. The magazine was reportedly losing $60 million in 2009. In late 2009, Bloomberg L.P. purchased the magazine from McGraw-Hill. Reports suggest the sale price was between $2 million and $5 million. Bloomberg L.P. also assumed the magazine's existing debts and liabilities.

Bloomberg Businessweek has also expanded its reach through international versions. Until 2005, regional editions were available in Europe and Asia. After 2005, the company focused on customized digital versions for those regions. However, it launched a Russian edition through a partnership with Rodionov Publishing House. It also produced an Arabic version for 22 countries with InfoPro Management. In 2011, the company announced plans for Polish and Chinese editions. That same year, it launched an iPad version using Apple's subscription service.

The publication has occasionally been at the center of major tech debates. In October 2018, it published an article titled "The Big Hack." The report claimed that China used tiny chips to infiltrate major tech companies. It suggested these chips were placed on Supermicro server motherboards during manufacturing. This claim faced intense scrutiny from several organizations. Apple, Amazon, and Supermicro all issued denials immediately. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency also denied the claims. Despite this, the magazine published a follow-up in 2021 standing by its report.

Throughout its existence, the magazine has earned various professional honors. In 2011, Adweek named it the top business magazine in the United States. It won a National Magazine Award for general excellence in 2012. That same year, editor Josh Tyrangiel was named editor of the year by Ad Age. In 2014, it received a Best in Business award from SABEW. The magazine has also been recognized for its explanatory reporting on technology. Its evolution reflects the changing ways people consume business news and data.

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