U.S. News & World Report is a multi-platform publisher of news and information, which includes www.usnews.com and annual print and e-book versions of its authoritative rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools and Best Hospitals. In 2012 U.S. News launched a conference division focusing on important national conversations and solutions in STEM Education and Healthcare of Tomorrow.
Together, U.S. News and usnews.com have earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers by focusing on health, personal finance, education, travel, cars, news and opinion. U.S. News & World Report's signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, high schools, hospitals, nursing homes, mutual funds, health plans, diets and more.
The editorial and production operations of U.S. News & World Report, L.P. are located in Washington, D.C. Advertising sales and corporate offices are in New York and New Jersey. The company is privately owned by Mortimer B. Zuckerman. Corporate leadership includes Eric Gertler, Executive Chairman; William D. Holiber, President and CEO; Brian Kelly, Editor and Chief Content Officer; Neil Maheshwari, Chief Financial Officer; Kim Castro, Executive Editor and Deputy Chief of Content; Chad Smolinski, Chief Product Officer; Vineet Mahajan, Chief Technology Officer; Peter M. Dwoskin, Senior Vice President Strategic Development and General Counsel; and Chris DiCosmo, Senior Vice President.
Celebrating 85 Years
U.S. News and World Report traces its history back to the weekly newspaper the United States News founded by David Lawrence in 1933. David Lawrence was a newsman in the classic mold. His opinions were firm, but they never overrode the reporter's instinct to get to the bottom of the story. He was tenacious in his search for the facts. In launching the United States News, Lawrence had the idea to provide a flow of serious and useful information about what he called "the news of national and international affairs."
In 1940 the United States News moved to a magazine format in order to attract more advertising. It was an immediate success in circulation and advertising revenue. World Report magazine, dedicated to international news, was founded by Lawrence in 1946. In 1948 the two publications merged forming U.S. News & World Report. Important milestones in the early history include the introduction of Washington Whispers in 1934 and the News You Can Use® column in 1952. In 1958 the circulation of the weekly magazine passed the 1 million mark.
U.S. News became an employee-owned company in 1962 when, through profit-sharing and promissory notes, the employees bought the remainder of the shares held by the Lawrence family. Lawrence remained as editor and an employee of the company. In 1970 David Lawrence was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
1973 was a momentous year for the magazine. In February Lawrence passed away and Howard Flieger became the magazine's second editor. Later that year circulation passed the 2 million mark. U.S. News invested in a new technology, Atex, which allowed for the electronic workflow and composition of editorial pages. After U.S. News's success, this technology became the standard for other magazines and newspapers around the world.
Through the 1970s and 80s U.S. News operated successful book and newsletter divisions. Faced with a cash flow problem in the profit-sharing plan, the employee-owned company was sold to real estate developer and publisher Mortimer B. Zuckerman in 1984. Under Zuckerman's leadership the company flourished and expanded the Best Colleges franchise and launched Best Graduate Schools and Best Hospitals.
In 1993 U.S. News entered the digital world providing content to CompuServe and in 1995 the website, usnews.com, was launched. In 2001 the website won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence Online.
The last print issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine was published in December 2010 completing the transition to digital. This move made it possible for the U.S. News brand of service journalism to explode with the introduction of several rankings products to benefit consumers while still maintaining the news and analysis content. U.S. News continues to innovate and grow, while maintaining its tradition of providing useful information for making important life decisions.
[READ: Celebrating 85 Years]