Family Circle Magazine, a cornerstone of the American home and lifestyle publishing landscape and a member of the revered “Seven Sisters” group, is set to cease publication. Meredith Corp., the magazine’s publisher, announced that the December issue would be its last, marking the end of a significant chapter for the iconic women’s service magazine. This decision comes as Meredith Corp. strategically refines its portfolio to concentrate on brands with greater growth potential in a rapidly evolving media environment.
Meredith Corp., which acquired Family Circle in 2005, has been actively consolidating its magazine holdings, particularly after its significant purchase of Time Inc.’s magazine assets in 2017. This acquisition brought a wealth of titles under Meredith’s umbrella, including Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, Magnolia, Martha Stewart Living, and Southern Living. The company’s initial aim following the Time Inc. deal was to unlock substantial revenue gains through cost efficiencies and strategic sales initiatives.
Despite its long-standing history and once-formidable subscriber base, Family Circle, with just over 4 million subscribers as of June, has faced increasing headwinds in the modern media landscape. Subscribers to Family Circle will be offered subscriptions to other magazines within Meredith’s diverse portfolio, ensuring continuity for its readership.
Founded in 1932, Family Circle held a prominent position among the “Seven Sisters,” a group of leading women’s magazines that profoundly influenced American households for decades. This prestigious cohort also included Ladies’ Home Journal, McCall’s, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Gardens, Woman’s Day, and Redbook. However, the publishing landscape has shifted dramatically, with McCall’s closing in 2002 and Ladies’ Home Journal ending regular subscriptions in 2014, signaling the challenges faced by traditional print media in the digital age.
In a bid to revitalize the brand and adapt to contemporary readership, Family Circle underwent a significant redesign in September of the previous year. This revamp included a strategic pivot towards a focus on parenting, specifically targeting mothers with teenagers. Long-established content pillars such as style, home decor, food, health, and general family advice were replaced with a broader editorial mission centered on “life and the way we live it,” as articulated by Meredith at the time.
However, in Wednesday’s official statement, Doug Olson, president of Meredith’s magazine division, indicated that Family Circle’s performance did not meet the company’s strategic objectives for growth compared to its sister publications. This led to the “hard decision” to discontinue the magazine and redirect investment towards properties demonstrating stronger growth trajectories.
In a move to leverage talent within the organization, Rory Evans, formerly the executive editor of Family Circle, will transition to become an executive editor at Real Simple, sharing the role with Liz Vaccariello, a Meredith vice president and group content editor. Similarly, Cheryl Brown, Family Circle’s editor-in-chief, will take on the executive editor position at Health magazine. These appointments underscore Meredith’s commitment to retaining experienced editorial leadership within its remaining portfolio of titles.
The closure of Family Circle magazine represents not just the end of a single publication, but also symbolizes the evolving dynamics of the magazine industry and the continuous need for media companies to adapt, innovate, and strategically allocate resources in a competitive and rapidly changing market. The legacy of Family Circle, as a trusted source of advice and inspiration for generations of American families, will undoubtedly be remembered even as its print edition concludes.
