Holy moly: Reader's Digest pushing Rick Warren's magazine. ("Memberships" instead of "subscribers")

[Bluebear]

Purpose Driven Connection, which debuted last month and is published by the Reader's Digest Association, is a leap of faith for Warren at a time when newspapers and magazines are under great financial strain. The launch also took place just months after Warren faced his first real barrage of public criticism, for his support of California's anti-gay-marriage ballot referendum, Proposition 8, and for his prominent role in Barack Obama's Inauguration ceremony. So while the magazine may be a financial gamble, it's also a test of Warren's influence and golden touch...

The pastor's partners at Reader's Digest aren't worried about readers being turned off by a Rick Warren overload. On the contrary, they're counting on his global appeal. "He's a powerhouse," says Alston in explaining the publisher's decision to take on the new title. "Nearly 50 million people read The Purpose Driven Life — that's nearly 20% of America!" The math added up for Reader's Digest, even as the company is preparing to either undergo financial restructuring or file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. "If we touched just 1% of Evangelicals in America," Alston continues, "that's 900,000 members." (The publisher printed 400,000 copies of the premiere issue and plans to roll out half a million copies of future editions.)...

The idea is to market the magazine through Warren's existing pastor networks. Reader's Digest has already sent out "pastor kits" (with copies of the new issue and DVD) to 100,000 churches that have worked with Warren in the past and contacted an additional 130,000 pastors with e-mail pitches. Congregants who subscribe in groups are eligible for a discounted membership that goes for less than the annual $29.95 rate.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1884038,00.html

[Hannah Bell]

1. Why does this surprise you. Reader's Digest has been connected to covert ops

from its foundation.

http://www.namebase.org/cgi-bin/nb06?_READERS_DIGEST_


i'm fairly well convinced rick warren is just another covert operator, bought & paid.

[hlthe2b]

2. Readers Digest is on the list of companies a whisper from

bankruptcy. Someone posted earlier. I'll have to see if I can find the link.

Here (Hat tip to CaseyMoz):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=114x61092