• Los Angeles Times, Monday, June 8, 2009 10:16 AM

The success of the eight-year-old newsmagazine The Week presents a few ironies, beginning with the fact that its mash-up of aggregated news-opinion-criticism comes via the supposedly outdated print format. The magazine also attracts advertising by disdaining too much advertising. With just eight to 16 pages per issue, clients prize their exclusivity and higher visibility.

The formula seems to be working. Circulation has grown steadily since its inception, to 516,000 at the start of the year. It sold 10% more ad pages through mid-May this year compared to last year -- while other magazines have seen advertising declines of 15% to 50%. British publisher Felix Dennis has watched in recent months as his anachronistic little newsweekly began to turn a profit.

Readers have told The Week that they like its mix of opinions from across the spectrum. Industry watchers, such as Steve Cohn of the Media Industry Newsletter, say the weekly has proven that not only the Internet can offer a great -- and fast -- read. With its British and American versions well-established, The Week opened an Australian version last fall. Expect other editions soon.

Read the whole story at Los Angeles Times »