Trusted Media Brands, Inc. (TMBI), formerly known as the Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (RDA), is an American multi-platform media and publishing company that is co-headquartered in New York City and

White Plains, New York (Always Faithful) , image_seal = WhitePlainsSeal.png , seal_link = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_name1 = , subdivisi ...

. The company was founded by husband and wife DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace in New York City in 1922 with the first publication of the magazine ''

Reader's Digest ''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his w ...

''. The company's brands include ''Reader's Digest'', '' Taste of Home'', '' The Family Handyman'', ''Simple & Deliciou

', '' Birds & Blooms'', ''Reminisce'', ''Country'', EnrichU, and others. At its peak in 1973, the flagship magazine had over 30 million subscribers and continues to be published in 30 countries. As of 2016, its portfolio of brands garners 53 million unique online visitors and 40 million print readers per month.

History

Trusted Media Brands, Inc. (TMBI) was founded as Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (RDA) in New York City in 1922 by married duo DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace. The two self-published the first edition of ''Reader's Digest'' in February 1922. To market the magazine, the two used

direct mail Advertising mail, also known as direct mail (by its senders), junk mail (by its recipients), mailshot or admail (North America), letterbox drop or letterboxing (Australia) is the delivery of advertising material to recipients of postal mail. The d ...

marketing and sent 5,000 letters to nurses and schoolteachers. In 1925, DeWitt Wallace purchased land in

Westchester County, New York Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...

where he moved the headquarters of RDA. In 1927, the number of ''Reader's Digest'' subscribers increased to 30,000. In 1939, that number was up to 3 million, and, by 1973, it had reached over 30 million. In 1986, under the new leadership of George Grune, the RDA began creating and acquiring new brands and publications to diversify its portfolio. Its first special-interest magazine, '' Travel Holiday'', was acquired in 1986 and was followed by the acquisition of '' The Family Handyman'' in 1987. In 1990, it acquired '' American Health''. That same year, the company

went public Going public may refer to: * Initial public offering, financial action by a business * Whistleblowing, exposure of previously private information * ''Going Public'' (Newsboys album), 1994 * ''Going Public'' (Bruce Johnston album), 1977 {{Dis ...

. At the time, it had 7,200 employees in 54 locations throughout the world. In 1991, RDA acquired Joshua Morris Publishing, a children's book publisher and made its first move into the children's book industry. In 2002, RDA purchased Reiman Publications and its selection of 12 magazines for $760 million. The deal gave RDA ownership over magazines including ''Taste of Home'', ''Country Woman'', ''Birds & Blooms'', ''Country'', ''Reminisce'', ''Healthy Cooking'', ''Simple & Delicious'', ''Farm & Ranch Living'', and others. In 2005, RDA launched '' Every Day with Rachael Ray'' and purchased Allrecipes.com the following year. Both would eventually be sold to the

Meredith Corporation Meredith Corporation was an American media conglomerate based in Des Moines, Iowa, that owned magazines, television stations, websites, and radio stations. Its publications had a readership of more than 120 million and paid circulation of more ...

in 2011 and 2012 respectively. In March 2007, RDA was purchased by an investment group led by

private equity In the field of finance, the term private equity (PE) refers to investment funds, usually limited partnerships (LP), which buy and restructure financially weak companies that produce goods and provide services. A private-equity fund is both a typ ...

firm, Ripplewood Holdings, for $1.6 billion. Ripplewood made RDA a private company for the first time since 1990. RDA filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and again in 2012. It emerged from bankruptcy in 2013. On April 7, 2014, Bonnie Kintzer was appointed President and CEO of RDA. Kintzer had previously worked at RDA from 1998 to 2007. One of Kintzer's first major moves was to change the company's name to Trusted Media Brands, Inc. (TMBI) in September 2015. The new name was chosen to encompass all brands under the company's banner rather than just ''Reader's Digest''. TMBI has placed renewed focus on a wide variety of media platforms including digital content, social media, video, and others. As of 2016, TMBI's portfolio of brands reaches 53 million unique visitors, 40 million print readers, and 40 million social media users per month. In 2016, TMBI sold its children's publishing operations to Readerlink Distribution Services. In August 2021, TMBI acquired Jukin Media.

Brands and publications

Trusted Media Brands is home to several media brands across multiple digital platforms, social media, magazines, books, music, and events.

''Taste of Home''

''Taste of Home'' is a digital content provider (TasteofHome.com) and print magazine that offers information on food, cooking, and entertainment. Each year, the brand publishes 3,000 recipes, tips and stories from home cooks, all of which are tested and prepared in the Taste of Home Test Kitchen in

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

. ''Taste of Home'' also produced original web series called ''Fun with Food!'' and ''America the Tasty''.

''Reader's Digest''

''Reader's Digest'' is a digital content provider (RD.com) and print magazine that has been in publication since 1922. The brand offers a collection of true stories, advice, and humor. Content includes advice on health, nutrition, food, and home alongside stories of national and local interest. The magazine was, at one time, the largest consumer magazine in the United States. It currently produces digital content (RD.com) and continues to publish print magazines in locations throughout the world.

''The Family Handyman''

''The Family Handyman'' is a brand with an emphasis on DIY

home improvement The concept of home improvement, home renovation, or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home. Home improvement can consist of projects that upgrade an existing home interior (such as electrical and plumbing), ...

and home repair. Digital (FamilyHandyman.com) and print content provide advice and how-to guides from current and former experts and professionals.

''Birds and Blooms''

''Birds & Blooms'' is a bird and gardening magazine that is the largest such magazine in North America. It offers tips on gardening, DIY crafts, and information on birds and other backyard animals.

Other brands

Other brands include ''Country'', ''Country Woman'', ''Simple & Delicious'', ''Reminisce'', Prevention, ''Farm & Ranch Living'', EnrichU, LifeRich Publishing and Haven Home.

Business divisions

;North America * ''

,'' RD.com, magazine, books; * '' Taste of Home,'' TasteofHome.com, magazine, books; * '' The Family Handyman'', '' Birds & Blooms'', ''Country'', ''Farm & Ranch Living'', ''Haven Home'', ''Reminisce''; * EnrichU, Taste Digital Community * Jukin Media ;International (Operations and licenses in 30+ countries) * RD Europe, Africa and Middle East * RD Asia Pacific * RD Canada * RD Latin America regions

References

External links

Official website
{{coord, 40.753921, -73.973068, type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NY, display=title American companies established in 1922 Book publishing companies based in New York (state) Companies based in Manhattan Companies based in White Plains, New York Magazine publishing companies of the United States Mass media companies based in New York City Mount Pleasant, New York Publishing companies established in 1922 Reader's Digest 2007 mergers and acquisitions Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009 Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2012