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| Executive Editor | Les Sillars[1] |
|---|---|
| Categories | news,religion,culture,politics |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Circulation | 41,831[2] |
| Founder | Joel Belz |
| First issue | 1986 |
| Company | World News Group/God's World Publications |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Language | English |
| Website | wng |
| ISSN | 0888-157X |
World (often stylized inall-caps asWORLD) is a monthlyChristiannews magazine, published in the United States by God's World Publications, a non-profit501(c)(3) organization based inAsheville,North Carolina.[3]World's declared perspective is one of ChristianevangelicalProtestantism.[4][5]
Each issue features both U.S. and international news, cultural analysis, editorials and commentary, as well as book, music and movie reviews.World's end-of-the-year issue covers stories from the previous year, obituaries, and statistics.[4]
World was launched byJoel Belz in 1986 as a publication ofThe Presbyterian Journal, atheologically conservative magazine founded in 1942.[6] However, due to low readership and financial difficulties,The Presbyterian Journal cancelled the publication that June.[7] Belz convinced the board ofThe Presbyterian Journal to shut down operations and reallocate its resources toWorld, which relaunched in 1987.[8] It started with about 5,000 subscribers and the publishers initially requested donations in every issue to stay afloat. At its peak,World had a circulation exceeding 160,000.[9]
In 2005, Nick Eicher replaced Joel Belz as CEO andWorld considered moving its headquarters to a different city.[10] Eicher made the decision to move the company's business model away from focusing on ad sales. (By 2025, the company said nearly 90 percent of its revenue is derived from subscriptions and charitable contributions.)[11] In 2008,World switched from publishing weekly to biweekly.[12] That same year Eicher was succeeded by Kevin Martin. In July 2011,World moved its office from Innsbruck Mall in Asheville to a former bank building atBiltmore Village.[13]
World magazine received national media attention in 2009, when its then features editorLynn Vincent was chosen to collaborate on former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidateSarah Palin's memoir,Going Rogue: An American Life.[14][15][16][17]
In 2012,World began referring to itself asWorld News Group, which includes its print, digital, and broadcast properties.[citation needed] In 2014, Nick Eicher became Chief Content Officer, responsible for all editorial content for the organization.
In 2021,Marvin Olasky's tenure as editor-in-chief ofWorld Magazine ended, but he continued working with the magazine until 2022, and he planned to continue working with World Journalism Institute beyond that time.[18]
In July 2024,World changed its magazine from printing biweekly to monthly.[19] Three months later, in late September,World's two office buildings in Biltmore Village were flooded by up to six feet of water from theSwannanoa River duringHurricane Helene.[20]
World News Group's editorial staff is led by co-chief content officers, Lynn Vincent (also the executive editor ofWorld) and Nick Eicher. In addition, an editorial council provides direction for organization's editorial efforts. The current members of the editorial council are Brian Basham (program director-World Watch), Paul Butler (executive producer-World Radio), Rebecca Cochrane (editorial director-God's World News), Leigh Jones (Executive Editor-Feature), Tim Lamer (executive editor—commentary); Lynde Langdon (executive eitor—news), and Mickey McLean (executive editor-World Digital), along with the co-CCOs.
UnlikeWorld's business staff, which works almost entirely in Asheville, the majority of its editorial and production staff live elsewhere.[10]
World has received positive critical commentary from theNew York Times regarding its investigative reporting on controversies within the evangelical Christian community.[21]
In an August 29, 2009, cover story,World reported on theC Street Center in Washington, D.C., and the secretive organization behind it,the Fellowship, a.k.a. "The Family".[22] Scott Horton ofHarper's Magazine praised the piece, saying the magazine's "attitude is critical and exacting. The piece looks like serious journalism, much like the publication's exposé work onRalph Reed and other scandals in the past."[23]Rachel Maddow, on her August 17, 2009, show said, "The article exposes The Family's mysterious money trail and describes the C Street scandals using the word 'scandal' and argues that The Family subscribes to a, quote, 'muddy theology' and it harbors, quote, 'a disdain for the established church.'"[24]
The magazine reported that Christian apologist and conservative political commentatorDinesh D'Souza had shared a hotel room with his fiancée prior to filing for divorce from his previous wife.[25] AfterWorld broke the story, D'Souza resigned as president of New York'sThe King's College in response.[26][27]
In December 2018,World's investigative report[28] onHarvest Bible Chapel and its pastor,James MacDonald, led to a shakeup at the suburban Chicago megachurch. The article written by freelance writer Julie Roys included detailed information on financial mismanagement and a culture of deception and intimidation at the church. On February 13, 2019, the elders of the church announced the firing of MacDonald.[29][30]
World's digital properties are headed by Executive Editor Mickey McLean. TheWorld website includes daily news stories, including daily news briefs called "The Sift,"[31] weekly news roundups[32] andeditorial cartoons.[33]World's magazine content is also available through its apps foriOS,Android, andAmazon Kindle devices.[34]
On August 6, 2011,World launched a weekly two-hour radio news program calledThe World and Everything in It.[35][36] Hosted by then-executive producer Nick Eicher and senior producer Joseph Slife, the program aired weekends on U.S. stations and featured reports, interviews, and analysis from the organization's editorial team. In May 2013,The World and Everything in It became a 30-minute daily podcast. Slife left the program in May 2017 and was replaced as co-host by Mary Reichard.