 | Parts of this article (those related to who currently is in charge at Vegetarian Times, current circulation in 2018, since the 2011 figure is 7 years old) need to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2018) |
 Vegetarian Times February 2010 Issue | |
| Editor | Brittany Martin |
|---|---|
| Categories | Food and Lifestyle |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Company | Outside, Inc. |
| Country | USA |
| Based in | Boulder, Colorado |
| Language | English |
| Website | www |
| ISSN | 0164-8497 |
Vegetarian Times is an American publication focused on food, culture, health and lifestyle for vegetarians, vegans, and all people interested in plant-based eating.Vegetarian Times promotes aneco-friendly lifestyle with recipes, and healthy foodwellness information, cooking techniques, and information on "green" products.Vegetarian Times ceased publishing a print magazine in 2016, and transitioned to a web-only publication by 2017.[1] In 2020,Vegetarian Times was acquired by Pocket Outdoor Media,[2] now known asOutside, Inc.[3]
After unsuccessfully attempting to sell an article he wrote about vegetarianism entitled "Being a Vegetarian Is Never Having to Say You're Sorry – to a Cow", in 1974 founder Paul Obis (1951-2018)[4] put together a four-page hand-delivered newsletter and called itVegetarian Times. He made 300 photocopies and from his first issue generated three subscriptions. He launched the newsletter from his apartment inOak Park, Illinois.[5][6][7] Obis grew up inMelrose Park, Illinois, and studied nursing at theUniversity of Illinois at Chicago.[8][6] He continued working in the field even after startingVegetarian Times.[6]
In the seventies, the magazine increased in size from 4 pages to 16, to 24 and was published with press runs of 1,000–2,000 copies. By 1977, after around number 19,Vegetarian Times was published bi-monthly and had a readership of 10,000.[5] Overwhelmed with producing and distributing the magazine from his home, in the early 1980s Obis sought a publisher and sold an 80% ownership share to New York publisher Associated Business Publications (ABP) in exchange for assuming $6000 in debt and two bags of unopened mail and agreeing to continue the publication.[5]
APB converted the magazine to a monthly publication schedule and increased advertising from nearly nothing to 15 to 20 pages per issue. The circulation grew eightfold and the revenues grew twenty times to over $1 million.[9] Despite the growth, the periodical continued to lose money. In 1985 ABP acquired a new publication and decidedVegetarian Times would not get the staff attention it needed to become profitable. During the time that ABP owned the magazine, Obis continued on as editor. Obis took the opportunity to buy back his magazine for $276,000 and by 1990 raised circulation to over 250,000 and gross revenues to $10 million.[6] As of the late 1980s, there were no other head-to-head magazine competitors in the United States. Obis' longtime friend,Fred Rogers (aka "Mister Rogers") helped finance the deal and became a minority shareholder, while Obis owned the majority. In 1990, Obis and Rogers sold the magazine to Cowles Media, The owner of theMinneapolis Star Tribune, for $10 million.[7][10] In 1997, Obis toldNewsday that he was no longer a vegetarian.[7]
The magazine has had a number of changes in ownership since Obis purchased the company. In 1990, Cowles Media acquiredVegetarian Times.[11] In 1999, Sabot Publishing near Richmond, Virginia, purchased the publication fromPrimedia in Manhattan, New York, who had only owned the magazine for 18 months at the time of its sale.[12] In 2003, the magazine was acquired from Richmond-based Sabot Publishing by Cruz Bay Publishing, a subsidiary ofActive Interest Media, which relaunched it in November 2004, the 30th anniversary of the magazine, after significant investment and an editorial overhaul.[9] The magazine expanded coverage to appeal not only to strict vegetarians, but also to people simply looking for a healthy lifestyle and seeking healthy recipes.[9][13] In 2007, Elizabeth Turner was named Editor-in-Chief. Prior to joiningVegetarian Times, Turner was the Managing Editor ofNatural Health magazine.[14] Turner separated from Vegetarian Times in 2015 to become Editor in Chief ofForks Over Knives, a vegan outreach portal associated with the work ofT. Colin Campbell andCaldwell Esselstyn.[15]
In 2017Vegetarian Times became an online magazine: instead of receiving a physical magazine subscribers can access a digital library of recipes as well as online cooking classes.[16] The online website is operated and owned byActive Interest Media (AIM) who specialize in "niche enthusiast magazines".[10]
According to Janeen Obis, widow of Paul Obis, a complete physical set ofVegetarian Times has been donated toBrown University inProvidence, Rhode Island.
In 2020, TheVegetarian Times was acquired by Pocket Outdoor Media[2] which rebranded as Outside, Inc. in February, 2021.[3] Brittany Martin was hired to editVegetarian Times in the summer of 2021[17] and has overseen a rebrand and relaunch of the now digital-only publication.
In addition to the magazine,Vegetarian Times also periodically published special interest publications such asThe Vegetarian Beginner's Guide[18] and recipe compilations such asHealing Foods Cookbook: 25 Foods You Need, 75 Recipes You'll Love.