If you are a subscriber to Country Woman magazine or perhaps Taste of Home (the largest cooking magazine in the world), you may notice a new addition to the publications – ads about Rick Warren. A Lighthouse Trails reader contacted us and said that her latest issue of each magazine had an advertisement for Rick Warren. She explained how surprised she was that magazines that have nothing to do with religion or spirituality have started including Rick Warren, the popular evangelical pastor and new spirituality activist.
There is, however, an explanation for the new ads. Country Woman, Taste of Home, and nine other magazines are owned by Reiman Publications, which was purchased in 2002 by Reader’s Digest. (The name Reiman Publications has been changed to RDA Milwaukee.)1 (http://www.jsonline.com/business/29377659.html – link removed)
As Lighthouse Trails reported in November 2008, Rick Warren and Reader’s Digest recently formed a multi-platform partnership, which includes a magazine called Purpose Driven Connection. Thus, it is apparent that this new partnership is resulting in this trickling down effect and will affect not only direct Purpose Driven Connection subscribers but Reiman (aka: RDA) subscribers as well.
In the original press release issued by Rick Warren’s media people, it stated that the new Rick Warren/Reader’s Digest relationship would be a “multi-platform partnership to serve Purpose Driven readers.” But clearly the reach will extend to far more than just those current readers and will undoubtedly broaden the Purpose Driven network, which already boasts of over 400,000 churches and 40 million followers.
Other Reiman publications include Farm and Ranching Living, Country, Reminisce, Cooking for 2, Backyard Living, Birds & Blossoms, Simple & Delicious, Holiday, and Healthy Cooking. According to one press release in 2002, Reiman Publications has over 32 million customers (with a 12% growth rate a year) and Reader’s Digest has over 50 million.
Related:
Reader’s Digest to Buy Reiman Publications
Rick Warren, Readers Digest Join Forces for New Publication
Rick Warren “Annoyed” with Those Who Challenge Him – Serving Two Masters Not Working
Rick Warren’s New Magazine, Purpose Driven Connection, Promotes the New Global Spirituality
