Us Weekly Palin Cover Causes Scandal? Maybe Not... UPDATE

***UPDATED 9/5, 3 PM***

A well-placed source at Us Weekly tells Huffington Post that since Wednesday, there have actually been a little more than 1,000 cancellations. However, there have also been a little more than 1,000 bonus subscriptions from supporters of the magazine, without any efforts on the part of the magazine to gain subscribers from the controversy.

"In the end, it's a wash, but encouraging to see how involved the readership is in the election," the source says.

The Palin story also drove Usmagazine.com's third highest day of traffic in the site's history.

Previously, MSNBC Scoop gossip columnist Courtney Hazlett reported that Us was losing between 5,000-10,000 subscribers after the controversial "Babies, Lies, and Scandal" cover:

Three celebrity weeklies -- OK!, People and Us Weekly -- featured Sarah Palin on their cover, but one of those magazines is reportedly losing subscribers because of it.

Us Weekly, which unlike People and OK!, chose a rather caustic cover line ("Babies, Lies and Scandal") is said to have lost thousands of subscribers in just the first 24 hours following the printing of the issue.

"I'm hearing it's 5,000, maybe more," says one well-placed source in the industry. Another source claimed that as many as 10,000 readers have already cancelled their subscriptions. A spokesperson for Wenner Media, which publishes Us, says "it is completely false that we are losing 10,000 subscribers." As for the 5,000 estimate, the spokesperson only said "that is false, too," but wouldn't comment further.

Related: Palin Cover Story Writer's HuffPost Blog: "I'm Voting For McCain"
Related: Sarah Palin Gets Cover Of Us, OK! Magazines

Comments

[suuzie]

I think I'll pick up a copy of US Weekly and maybe even become a subscriber. US Weekly seemed to have the chutzpah to go after a story, they seem like someone I would like to do business with.

[Vote For America]

Senate GOP Sets Filibuster Record
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=21&ArticleName=Senate+GOP+Sets+Filibuster+Record

[LemonMeringue]

They're going to enjoy the filibuster-proof Democratic majority come January.

[Bluejay00234]

Man dont you just love those celebs?

[UnbiasView]

Are that many of you really this uninformed or are you just playing politics here?

Obama sat down for an interview, a photoshoot and wanted this media coverage . . . he sought it while Palin has not.

"In February, Barack Obama sat down with Us for a Q&A (where he notoriously refused to answer the boxers-or-briefs question).­"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/17/michelle-and-barack-obama_n_107685.html

[joshuahmcdonald]

UnbiasView is a puppet of the doublethink. And doesn't even understand what that is.

This is politics and people do interviews for all sorts of magazines, newspapers, tv shows and other media outlets. Are you saying that there is something more honorable in being caught in a scandal than in sitting down and answering questions openly and honestly (including a photo op)?

Really, any time you want to answer my simple question, I'm ready. All I want to know is, do you know what doublethink is and why it applies to you?

[UnbiasView]

You're calling me a hypocrite because I think there is a difference if you VOLUNTEER for an interview and article versus being put in an article.

[MM216]

And you're not playing politics, either.
So, it's OK to call Obama "celebrity" but God forbid, we call Sarah that.
It is was it is.....pos­ed or not!
And who brought up the "celebrity issue"? The GOP. They brought it up and now they...and you...will have to face facts, call a spade a spade, and live with it.

Posed or not.

[southguy]

Great article...­.always good when only half of the information is told. Not a liberal not a true conservati­ve.......g­lad for all your strong opinions either way......h­aven't you figured out what you hear today in the media is usually only part of the truth...th­e part your side wants to portray...­..for me I will let the process take place and make my decision at the voting box....US mag is not a news magazine..­...just a tabloid pushing flesh....i­nteresting all of you are so proud to defend them....gu­ess you would feel the same if your family's history was protrayed with only part of the story.....­..what ever happens we will survive...­we are american .. by the way, last time I looked ....the economy has tanked in almost every modern country in the world.....­..so all those countries should throw out their leaders as well. The reason we are in this situation is greed and stupidity.­....greed by businesses (small and large) greed by individual­s......... Most people buying vehicles are upside down in their loans....g­uess we should shut down the auto industry for selling customers these bad deals...if you are making these bad decisions you are part of the problem...­LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS!!!!.­..Just wished I had used my brain and saw how stupid business's and people were acting last fall. I don't blame the government­....I blame me.....I should have been smarter and not followed the crowd.

[faithfully]

The photo on the cover is not at all flattering

[UnbiasView]

Maybe because she didn't pose for it like the Obamas did?

[UnbiasView]

"Great article...­.always good when only half of the information is told"

You mean they said her husband had a DWI but forgot to mention it was when he was 22 years old?

You mean they brought up troopergate and left out that the trooper she wanted fired tased his 10 year old kid?

[joshuahmcdonald]

UnbiasView is a doublethinker. He believes that just because the trooper is/was a criminal that the Governor had the right to abuse her authority to try and have him fired. Sorry to disapoint, but 2 wrongs a right do not make.

I'm still waiting to here that you even understand what doublethink is and why it applies to you. I'll keep pointing out your hypocrisy if you want...fre­e og charge.

[abe lincoln]

If a Democrat was being attacked for the troopergate incident, with the knowledge that he had tased his own child, the Democrat would be receiving a Medal of Honor bestowed upon by the Liberal Press themselves. Unfortunately, it is just a Replubican standing up for the right thing, so instead, she will be attacked.

[wheatchix]

EXCELLENT reply. I'm a fan!

[honeydiva]

she'll be on a few more mags but naw...no celebrity there...lo­l

[MM216]

Let's see...the GOP blasts Obama for being "a celebrity"
Sarah Palin is on the cover of US alongside Hallie Berry's 1st baby photos.

Sounds like "celebrity" to me.
But of course, it's OK to knock a man for being a celebrity. Wonder how the GOP is going to spin the US cover?

[UnbiasView]

"Sarah Palin is on the cover of US alongside Hallie Berry's 1st baby photos"

Was it by choice? Did she pose for the picture and do an interview like the Obamas?

If the answer is yes you are on to something, if the answer is no you are lost.

[Law35]

Wow! There's your first spin already! LOL She didn't pose for the photo. Wow!

[MM216]

You're lost if you think this doesn't play into the hands of "the celebrity argument"

[MM216]

I'm just saying, IMO, that the McCain camp ought to be careful with "the celebrity issue" now...beca­use this is another one that can come back and bite them in the butt.

[laocoon]

She accepted the nomination and runs on family values. I didnt put a gun to her head and make her do it. Did anyone else?

[bish66]

Less than a week ago, most people outside Alaska had ever heard of Palin. Now she is the running mate and, quite naturally, she ends up on magazine covers. She is now BECOMING a celebrity, because of her being the running mate. Good looks don't hurt either...

Right now, she is hot news, so you put her on the cover, run a story and sell lots of copies.

Obama is a celebrity with his own Will.I. Am-video and Opra and P.Diddy rooting for him, with Stevie Wonder at the keyboards and Hollywood A-Listers in tow. In that respect he is still leading.

[laocoon]

Call you a hypocrit for pointing out any hypocrisy. Right winger "I am opposed to doing A. A is immoral" Left winger " I am not totally against A in all circumstances" Right winger caught doing A.
Left winger criticizes Right winger for hypocrisy. Right winger counters "you are the hypocrit. You said A was OK before" thump your bibles all you want you never understand or refuse to understand being judged by your own standard. Heard this basic game soooo often in last 20 years. these people are not acting in good faith.

[ObamaRules]

She did not pose for photos or give an interview. This was a hastily thrown together hatchet piece in a magazine owned by a noted left wing zealot, Jann Wenner. Why would the GOP need to give any "spin" to an unauthorized story?

[UnbiasView]

My wife gets the magazine and the article is clearly incomplete and written badly but then again look at the source. I am not some hippie activist however and wouldn't cancel a subscription, when the time comes we won't renew.

If their editor gets worked over by Meghan Kelly, you know it's a joke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbPJOOJLt2o

[wheatchix]

I will not renew either. And I'd NEVER consider paying newsstand prices.

This is as biased as it gets.

[AurigaRa]

good for them
they can turn into the right wing fundamentalist woman's magazine of choice
and we can ignore it.

[Vote For America]

Can Sarah Palin Think?
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=45&ArticleName=Can+Sarah+Palin+Think%3f

One's initial response to this question is: of course; but will the country blindly accept the default position of intelligence to a potential President, especially after the current President's intelligence. I am straight up questioning Sarah Palin's competence. In her eight days on the national stage she has demonstrated no capability for logical thought. At her introduction last Friday (8/29) she regurgitated a speech written by somebody else. The following weekend in Pennsylvania she essentially repeated the same speech. Palin's third and most recent public appearance was her acceptance speech at the RNC in St. Paul. Here she gave yet another speech written by somebody else, but this time it was also written for somebody else. The McCain campaign has also been insistent on eliminating any of her interaction with the media. Palin has been the VP candidate for a week and has herself contributed nothing of substance to her national introducti­on...

http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=45&ArticleName=Can+Sarah+Palin+Think%3f

[laocoon]

McCain is just getting off to an early start on his promise to have the most transparent administration in recent times.

[kellygrrrl]

what does it say about our society that the MSM won't tell the truth about anything

and US and Natl Enq have now become the Exposers of Truth???

[drzoon]

The guy she’s (Palin) alleged to have her affair with was trying to seal his divorce records by emergency order today and was DENIED.

3PA-07—1581C1A in the matter of: Richter, Scott Alan and Deborah Marie

[kellygrrrl]

Motion Denied!!!!!

[wheatchix]

And your proof??

[MM216]

I'm getting more truth here than in the MSM anyday! :)

[Daniboy]

Palin has upset the community organizers in America? She went too far!!

[ladyrefined2000]

you are really funny!!!!!­!!!!!...gr­eat comment!

[UnbiasView]

Heaven forbid she angers the famous group Obama worked with . . . ACORN . . . they might register twice as many dead people or steal twice as many people's identities now!

[kellygrrrl]

ToddPalin's ex biz partner (allegedSa­rahAffair)
just filed emergency motion to have his divorce records sealed
MOTION DENIED!

http://www.courtrecords.alaska.gov/pa/pa.urd/pamw2000.docket_lst?68762762

[USALover]

You are awesome!

Keep posting this news!

You can't make this stuff up...this woman was the best thing to happen to the Republicans!!

[Daniboy]

All you people are so smart-stand in front of 38 million and give a speech like that. But you say you don't have to be smart to give a good speech. Point taken. Now please tell me again how smart Barrack is because he can give a good speech! And please tell me again how dumb McCain because he can't give a good speech. I think I now have it figured out-Dems are smart-Repubs are stupid.

[USALover]

Karl...Rov­e?

[Innisfail]

"I think I now have it figured out-Dems are smart-Repubs are stupid"

YES! You've got it!

[RaraAvis17]

You should have asked us, we could have told you that a long time ago.

[WasteNJ]

Palin read a Bush speech, literally.

Barack can, and does, write his own speeches.

'nuff said.

[MM216]

Oh, please....­don't throw the "you stand up and give a speech in front of millions" argument.
Why don't you try it, also? LOL
Of course, if Karl Rove wrote it any "empty suit" can deliver it, LOL

[patianneb]

I once heard these celebrity weeklies referred to as the National Enquirer for people who CAN'T READ.

[kellygrrrl]

I thought they were for people waiting for their nails to dry or waiting to be seen by the doctor or waiting for their turn in the grocery line.

People actually BUY these rags?????