 | |
| Status | Defunct, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 |
| Founder | J. I. Rodale |
| Successor | Hearst (magazines) Crown Publishing Group (books) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Emmaus, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Publication types | Magazines, books |
| Official website | rodale |
Rodale, Inc. (/ˈroʊdeɪl/), was an American publisher of health and wellness magazines, books, and digital properties headquartered inEmmaus, Pennsylvania, with a satellite office inNew York City.[1] The company was founded in 1930. In 2017, it was acquired by New York City-basedHearst Communications, a media conglomerate.
The company launched and published health and wellnesslifestyle magazines, includingMen's Health andPrevention, and books, including the bestsellersAn Inconvenient Truth byAl Gore andEat This, Not That by health writerDavid Zinczenko.
Rodale Inc. was founded in 1930 byJ. I. Rodale. He was a partner with his brother, Joseph, in Rodale Manufacturing, which produced electrical switches. Joseph moved Rodale Manufacturing toEmmaus, Pennsylvania to take advantage of favorable local taxes, while J. I. dabbled in publishing. In 1942, Rodale startedOrganic Farming and Gardening magazine. It taught people how to grow food with organic farming techniques. Today,Organic Gardening is the best-read gardening magazine in the world.[2] In 1950, Rodale introducedPrevention, a health magazine.
In 1971, J. I. Rodale died during a taping ofThe Dick Cavett Show, and his son,Robert Rodale (1930–1990), took over the company’s leadership. On September 20, 1990, Robert Rodale was killed in a car accident during a business trip in Russia.
In 1972, Rodale Press was one of the five founding members of theInternational Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) (now IFOAM–Organics International), founded atVersailles, France.[3]
Following Robert Rodale's death, his wife, Ardath Harter Rodale (1928–2009), became chairman and chief executive officer of the company. In 2000, Steven Pleshette Murphy joined the company as president and chief operating officer, and was named president and CEO in 2002.[4] On June 18, 2007, Ardath Rodale stepped down as chairman, and her daughter, Maria, was named chairman. Ardath remained a member of the company’s board and took over the new title of Chief Inspiration Officer. On September 1, 2009, Murphy stepped down as President and CEO.Maria Rodale, granddaughter of company founder J.I. Rodale and daughter of previous chairpersons Robert Rodale and Ardath Rodale, succeeded Murphy as CEO.[5]
In October 2017,New York City–basedHearst Communications announced it would acquire the magazine and book businesses of Rodale. The transaction was expected to close in January following government approvals. Rodale announced some months prior that it would consider a total sale of the company, among other alternatives explored by its board of directors. It hired financial adviserAllen & Co. to lead the search for bidders. According to a source familiar with the negotiations, Hearst outbidMeredith Corporation, another large media company that had expressed interest in Rodale’s portfolio, almost immediately after they solicited offers.[6][7]
After the sale, Hearst sold Rodale's trade publishing division toCrown Publishing Group, a subsidiary ofPenguin Random House.[8]
In 2007, Rodale launchedModern Times, animprint focused on non-fiction, politics, current affairs, and biographical books headed by Leigh Haber, previously ofHyperion.[9][10] Modern Times was discontinued in 2008.[11]
Rodale Kids, a children's imprint, was launched in 2017, and was absorbed into Random House Children's Books in the 2018 sale.[12]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Rodale News' website was launched onEarth Day, April 22, 2009, with the tagline “where health meets green".[13]
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