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A magazine for fans who take reality seriously

Jennifer Collins Jan 2, 2012

Jennifer Collins: Just when you thought there was no more room for quality material on the newsstand, Reality Weekly is making its debut. The gossip magazine is exclusively devoted to reality television stars, and it’s a relative bargain —  a $1.79.

Jennifer Collins has that story.


Jennifer Collins: I’m not pointing fingers, but nearly half the U.S. population admits to having watched reality TV — like, for instance, the show that follows a certain family known for its unconditional love and affection.

“Keeping Up With the Kardashians” clip: No, you’re talking @&*! about me already. You try to slam the door in my face. No, I’m not getting out.

Kim Kardashian is on the cover of the first issue of Reality Weekly. The magazine’s editor Richard Spencer says publisher American Media is keeping costs low — printing on thinner paper, for example.

Richard Spencer: I don’t know if reality fans are going to take the magazine and save every issue after they read it. So we created a package priced for them.

And at $1.79, who can resist a little gossip about Snooki or Kim or one of the “Real Housewives”?

Tom Adams of the media research firm IHS Screen Digest says there’s just one problem: Scripted TV has experienced something of a comeback and reality TV is…

Tom Adams: Well, it’s past its peak growth years, yeah.

Which may create even more demand for that “Where are they now?” section in Reality Weekly.

I’m Jennifer Collins for Marketplace.

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