people.com

Our favorite actors and actresses don't always make movies or television shows that we can watch right away, so we need a dependable source of entertainment news to keep up with our celebrity crushes. There are a lot of entertainment news sources out there. It can be hard to decide which one to choose. Of course, you don't have to choose just one. But, still, it's always good to have a default source for getting the latest scoop in the entertainment industry. So which one is right for you?

To figure out what you want in an entertainment news site, you should first ask yourself some questions. For instance, what type of news are you interested in? Do you want to stay up to date on film news? You might also be interested in music industry news, celebrity gossip, or Netflix updates. Once you figure out what type of information interests you, the next step is to find a site that meets your needs.

To help determine which outlet is right for you, you first have to figure out what you hope to gain from that outlet. Once you know that, the decision becomes a simple process of learning which sites cater to your interests and which ones do not. This is exactly what I am here to help with.

We will be looking at People, an outlet that first started dominating print media in the 20th century and has continued to be relevant online in the 21st. Is People the right choice for entertainment news? Let's take a look and find out.

History

The idea for People magazine has often been attributed to a group of people. This group includes the former CEO of Time Inc. as well as the previous publisher of Life magazine. Other members of this group include journalists such as Richard B. Stolley, who famously acquired the Zapruder tape of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The vision for People magazine was to be a publication which would be getting back to the people who are causing the news and who are caught up in it or deserve to be in it. Our focus is on people, not issues. This formula, it turned out, was something that the masses gravitated toward with ease. People found rapid and meteoric success. Although Time Inc. bolstered the venture with an initial $40 million investment, People magazine has been said to have broken even on that investment within its first 18 months. The magazine debuted in March of 1974.

In addition, People introduced a new logo in 1996 and significantly increased its circulation numbers. In 1996, People began to offer a Spanish language version of the magazine called People en Espanol. This differed from the mainstream English language version in terms of the content, catering more to celebrities and people of interest in Latin countries. In addition, People introduced a new logo in 1996 and increased its circulation numbers significantly.

In 2002, the magazine also introduced People Stylewatch, a supplementary periodical focused on fashion, celebrity style, and beauty. It was yet another smashing success. However, it is no longer published in print. It can still be found online.

There have been several other iterations of PEOPLE magazine, including the Hispanic version, Who magazine for the Australian market, Teen People for the youth market, and People.com for the dot-com market. Although PEOPLE magazine is still published once a month, far and away the easiest way to access PEOPLE?s content is through their stylish and surprisingly understated website.

Design

The first thing that catches my attention when looking at People.com is the minimalist design. It's a style that I think has been more prevalent in magazines like People, seeing as People magazine always has had a smart and sharp sense of style. I suppose it's not too surprising given the celebrity gossipy content, but most entertainment news sites of this nature tend to be louder, flashy, and unnecessarily in your face. People, however, are classy, elegantly designed. I struggle to find a news site that is easy to use and navigate. This website is definitely one of the best I've come across. The layout is very straight-forward and it is easy to find the different sections. There are a lot of articles to choose from, as most news sites are formatted, and then a quick and breezy site menu bar to explore by section: News, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Royals, Shopping, People TV. This website doesn't get much simpler than this.

Content

This is another win for People.com, in my opinion. There is a ton of content here, and the types of content offered span text, image, and video. In fact, People TV even offers full-length episodes of original entertainment news shows completely free of charge. How many entertainment news sites can say that they offer the same? There are countless articles on this site, which is constantly and meticulously updated. If something happens worth knowing about in the world of pop entertainment, People has the scoop seconds or minutes later.

I don't care about People's content, which seems lacking in substance. What started out as a magazine of thoughtful profiles and insights into the people who are making the news has fallen far from grace, I'm afraid. The majority of what People.com offers today seems more like a celebrity gossip rag than it does actual journalism.

I think that Richard Stolley, if he had his choice, would not stand for the content of People magazine today. However, if gossip is what you want, then you will be happy. If it's not your thing, then perhaps the print magazine is a better choice for you - it might have some of its integrity still intact.

Desktop and Mobile Experience

I have always loved the design of People. It is subtle and professional, easy to use- whether you are using the in-browser desktop experience or the in-browser mobile experience. No matter what device you are using, People.com offers an excellent experience. There is a People app that is worth checking out in case you want to take your reading on the go. It is streamlined and easier to browse on a smartphone, and also pretty well designed. Not quite as well designed as the site itself, but close. It has received an average rating of 4.3 stars on the Apple App Store.

Pricing and Plans

People.com is a site where people can read articles without paying. However, there are subscription options available, and premium members have access to more content and deals. People also have the option to subscribe to the magazine in hard copy form, which costs around $89 per year on average.

Suggestions that I have for People

I would love to see People offer up more substantial content, especially in this day and age when meaningful and thought-provoking content is so rare. I would also like to see People's premium service offer a little more incentive. Just a few extra articles and the ability to bookmark pieces does not seem like enough to me.