Reader's Digest Shifts to the Right

Reader's Digest is no longer going after Middle America, reports the New York Times. Instead, the slimmed-down magazine will be "aiming a little more to the right," hoping to carve out a niche among conservatives, writes Stephanie Clifford. “It’s traditional, conservative values: I love my family, I love my community, I love my church,” says the magazine's president.

That means celebrity profiles and how-to features are out; inspiring stories about spirituality and military life are in. The change comes about following Digest’s 2007 acquisition; seasoned publishing alums are now in charge. “It’s not as cynical as you think,” says the president. “I guess it sounds cynical if you believe that to run a business to make money is cynical. But that’s what I’m paid to do.” (More American media stories.)