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Wired (magazine)

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Wired is a prominent American magazine that examines the intersection of emerging technology and society. It explores how digital tools impact culture, the economy, and politics.

wired logo
wired logo

Published by Condé Nast, the brand exists in both print and online editions. Since its launch in January 1993, it has acted as a voice for the digital economy. The magazine is known for setting trends in both print and web design. Its editorial office is located in San Francisco, while its business headquarters are in New York City.

Wikia and Wired Building location-9387
Wikia and Wired Building location-9387

The magazine's core mission is to look beyond hardware and software. It focuses on the people, companies, and ideas within the "language industries." This approach examines the social and political issues surrounding technological shifts. To achieve this, the magazine uses high-end production methods. For example, it was originally printed on a state-of-the-art, six-color press. This press was typically used for annual corporate reports rather than magazines. This helped Wired stand out with bold designs using fluorescents and metallics.

Wired cover June 1997 "Pray"
Wired cover June 1997 "Pray"

Creating Wired was a difficult process for founders Louis Rossetto and Jane Metcalfe. They originally conceived the idea in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. They initially worked on a small magazine called Electric Word. To fund Wired, they received early support from Dutch entrepreneur Eckart Wintzen. His company, Origin, bought the first 1,000 subscriptions. However, the founders faced 12 months of constant rejection from investors. They moved to San Francisco to find a better media market. Their breakthrough occurred at the 1992 TED Conference. There, Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Lab, became their first investor. Soon after, entrepreneur Charlie Jackson also deposited investor money into the account.

The early team included several key figures who shaped the brand. Rossetto served as Editor and CEO, managing content and strategy. Metcalfe acted as President and COO, overseeing finance and operations. Kevin Kelly served as the founding executive editor. John Plunkett acted as the creative director and designed the magazine's "Manifesto." The team also included managing editor John Battelle and production supporter Eugene Mosier. Other early contributors included Ian Charles Stewart, who helped write the business plan. This diverse group of "Wired Ones" launched the first issue as a quarterly on January 6, 1993.

Geekipedia
Geekipedia

Wired's growth was rapid due to strong circulation and advertising. After the first issue, it moved to a bi-monthly schedule. By September 1993, it became a monthly publication. The magazine won its first National Magazine Award for General Excellence in 1994. It also won design awards in 1996 and a second General Excellence award in 1997. The brand expanded globally with international editions. These include Wired UK, Wired Italia, Wired Japan, Wired Germany, and Wired Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2024, the publication changed its schedule again. It moved from a monthly format to a bi-monthly schedule with six issues per year.

Wired also pioneered many elements of the modern internet. In October 1994, they launched the Hotwired website. This was one of the first websites to feature original content and Fortune 500 advertising. They are credited with inventing the banner ad, a type of digital advertisement. This allowed companies like ATT, Volvo, and MCI to reach users on the web. By the end of 1995, Hotwired ranked sixth among all websites for revenue. This was ahead of major sites like ESPN, CNET, and CNN. The magazine also launched the HotBot search engine in 1996. These innovations helped define the early era of online journalism.

The magazine's influence extends to the very language we use today. Wired is credited with coining the term "crowdsourcing." This refers to the practice of obtaining information or input from a large group of people. They also established an annual tradition known as the Vaporware Awards. Beyond language, Wired helped shape the discourse of the digital revolution. It provided deep coverage of the World Wide Web after CERN put it in the public domain. It also explored major stories, such as the laying of fiber optic datalinks between London and Japan. By connecting technology to human experience, Wired became a symbol of a major cultural movement.

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File:wired logo.svg
wired logo.svg
File:Wikia and Wired Building location-9387.jpg
Wikia and Wired Building location-9387.jpg
File:Wired cover June 1997 "Pray".jpg
Wired cover June 1997 "Pray".jpg
File:Wired Wilco.jpg
Wired Wilco.jpg
File:Wired nextfest logo.png
Wired nextfest logo.png
File:Geekipedia.jpg
Geekipedia.jpg
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