A360media

{{Short description|American magazine publishing company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Use American English|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox company | name = A360 Media, LLC | trade_name = a360media | logo = | logo_size = 200px | company_slogan = | type = Private | founded = {{Start date and age|1988}} | defunct = {{End date and age|2024}} | fate = Acquired by McClatchy | hq_location = New York City, U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanmediainc.com/contact-us|title=Contact Us - American Media Inc |website=americanmediainc.com |date=6 December 2017 |access-date=9 February 2019}}</ref> | key_people = Anthony Melchiorre (owner)<br /> Roger Altman | num_employees = 3,160 (2006) | industry = Media | products = Newspapers<br /> Magazines | website = {{URL|https://accelerate360.com/business-services/a360-media/}} | owner = Chatham Asset Management<br />Omega Charitable Partnership, L.P. }}

'''A360 Media, LLC''' ('''a360media'''), formerly '''American Media, Inc.''' ('''AMI'''), was an American magazine publisher. Originally formed in 1988, it primarily owned entertainment, lifestyle, and tabloid magazines.

It was originally formed as the parent company of the ''National Enquirer'' following the death of its previous owner Generoso Pope Jr. AMI's holdings expanded considerably in the 1990s and 2000s, with the company acquiring other supermarket tabloids such as ''Globe'', the ''National Examiner'', and ''Star,'' as well as other magazines such as ''In Touch Weekly'', ''Men's Journal'', ''Soap Opera Digest'', ''Us Weekly'', and ''Woman's World'' among others. In 2014, AMI was acquired by Chatham Asset Management; under its ownership, AMI began to make further acquisitions and place a larger focus on its "glossy" publications, while consequently pursuing the sale of its tabloids.

In the mid-2010s, AMI and its then-CEO David Pecker were controversially engaged in "catch and kill" tactics to protect Donald Trump during his 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, having paid figures for the exclusive rights to stories containing damaging allegations surrounding Trump, only to quietly spike the stories without ever publishing them.<ref name="peckertestifying" /> In December 2018, AMI admitted to a campaign finance violation after having paid Karen McDougal $150,000 in one of these cases.<ref name="peckertestifying" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/nyregion/trump-american-media-michael-cohen.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/12/nyregion/trump-american-media-michael-cohen.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title=Tabloid Publisher's Deal in Hush-Money Inquiry Adds to Trump's Danger|last1=McIntire|first1=Mike|date=2018-12-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-13|last2=Savage|first2=Charlie|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Rutenberg|first3=Jim}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In 2019, the company faced similar criticism for publishing allegations of an extramarital affair involving Jeff Bezos, in an action that was believed to be motivated by animosity between Trump and Bezos at the time.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2019-02-06 |title=Was tabloid exposé of Bezos affair just juicy gossip or a political hit job? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/was-tabloid-expose-of-bezos-affair-just-juicy-gossip-or-a-political-hit-job/2019/02/05/03d2f716-2633-11e9-90cd-dedb0c92dc17_story.html |access-date=2026-02-14 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

In 2020, AMI merged with Chatham Asset Management-owned wholesale company Accelerate 360, and was renamed a360media. The company then merged into Chatham Asset Management-owned newspaper publisher McClatchy in December 2024.

==History== thumb|right|Logo as American Media, Inc.The modern American Media came into being after Generoso Pope Jr., longtime owner of the ''National Enquirer'', died in 1988, and his tabloids came under new ownership. American tabloids began consolidating in 1990, when American Media bought ''Star'' from Rupert Murdoch. The purchase of Globe Communications (owner of the ''Globe'' and the ''National Examiner'') followed nine years later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/02/business/the-media-business-leading-tabloid-publisher-to-buy-a-big-competitor.html|title=Leading Tabloid Publisher to Buy a Big Competitor|last=Kuczynski|first=Alex|date=1999-11-02|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Roger Altman, through Evercore Partners, bought a controlling stake in American Media in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2007/10/the-clintonite-who-owns-national-enquirer-003591|title=The Clintonite who owns National Enquirer|first=Ben|last=Smith|work=Politico|date=October 11, 2007|publisher=Politico|access-date=July 9, 2016|location=Arlington County, Virginia}}</ref>

American Media is not to be confused with American Media Distribution, the international news coverage firm. American Media's former corporate headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, figured prominently in news headlines in late 2001, after an anthrax attack was perpetrated on the company<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/27/us/traces-terror-bioterror-fbi-re-enter-building-long-after-anthrax-shut-it.html|title=Traces of Terror: The Bioterror; F.B.I to Re-enter Building Long After Anthrax Shut It|work=The New York Times|first=Dana|last=Canedy|date=August 27, 2002|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref> and other media outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/02/15/93170200/timeline-how-the-anthrax-terror-unfolded|title=Timeline: How the Anthrax Terror Unfolded|publisher=NPR|date=February 15, 2011|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref> Since then the corporate headquarters have moved to New York City at 1 Park Avenue in Manhattan, before moving to the Financial District to the former JP Morgan Chase headquarters at 4 New York Plaza. That building was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy but reopened in February 2013.

AMI continued to expand after it bought Joe Weider's Weider Publications in 2002. Joe Weider continued to manage control of his magazines under AMI's Weider Publications subsidiary until his death in March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/joe-weider-legendary-bodybuilding-and-fitness-icon-dies-at-93-2013-03-23 |title=Joe Weider Legendary Bodybuilding and Fitness Icon Dies at 93 |publisher=MarketWatch |access-date=March 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Trounson |first=Rebecca |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-0324-joe-weider-20130324,0,590860.story |title=Joe Weider dies at 93; bodybuilding pioneer and publisher |work=Los Angeles Times |date=24 March 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2013}}</ref> Eli Lippman was appointed the Director of Audience Development and subsequently as Director of Digital.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-13 |title=American Media Turns to Influencers For Referral Traffic - Director of Digital, Eli Lippman |url=https://digiday.com/media/american-media-turns-influencers-referral-traffic/ |access-date=2025-10-10 |website=Digiday |language=en-US}}</ref>

American Media also owned Distribution Services, an in-store magazine merchandising company. In fall 2002, it launched the book-publishing imprint, AMI Books.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030804/21271-american-media-to-expand-book-program-.html |volume=250 |issue=31 |date=August 4, 2003 |access-date=July 9, 2016 |title=American Media to Expand Book Program |first=Jim |last=Milliot |journal=Publishers Weekly |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907001420/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030804/21271-american-media-to-expand-book-program-.html |url-status=live |publisher=PWxyz LLC |location=United States }}</ref>

=== Bankruptcy, sale to Chatham Asset Management, === In 2009, American Media was taken over by its bondholders to keep it out of bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704648604575621053554011206|title=American Media Files for Bankruptcy|last=Morath|first=Eric|date=2010-11-17|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=2019-02-03|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

In November 2010, American Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to nearly $1 billion in debt, and assets of less than $50,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=American Media Chapter 11 Voluntary Petition|url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/7ICRXZA/American_Media,_Inc.__nysbke-10-16140__0001.0.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/7ICRXZA/American_Media,_Inc.__nysbke-10-16140__0001.0.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|date=November 17, 2010|work=Pacer|location=San Antonio|publisher=Federal judiciary of the United States|access-date=May 16, 2016}}</ref> Its subsidiary, American Media Operations Inc., listed assets of $100 to $500 million and debt of over $1 billion.<ref>{{cite news|title='National Enquirer' Publisher Files for Chapter 11|work=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=November 17, 2010|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-11-17/national-enquirer-tabloid-publisher-american-media-files-for-bankruptcy |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 9, 2016|first1=Don|last1=Jeffrey|first2=Phil|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|location=New York City|last2=Milford |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806153134/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-11-17/national-enquirer-tabloid-publisher-american-media-files-for-bankruptcy |archive-date= Aug 6, 2016 }}</ref> It exited in December.

In May 2014, American Media announced a decision to shift the headquarters of the ''National Enquirer'' from Florida, where it had been located since 1971, back to New York City, where it originally began as ''The New York Enquirer'' in 1926.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/national-enquirer-leaving-florida-headquarters-1.1020369|title=National Enquirer leaving Florida headquarters|work=The Record|access-date=July 9, 2016|date=May 21, 2014|publisher=North Jersey Media Group|location=Woodland Park, New Jersey|agency =The Associated Press|author-link=The Associated Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917231553/http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/national-enquirer-leaving-florida-headquarters-1.1020369 |archive-date= Sep 17, 2016 }}</ref> In August 2014, American Media was acquired by Chatham Asset Management and Omega Charitable Partnership.<ref>{{Cite press release |last= |first= |title=Chatham Asset Management and Omega Charitable Partnership to Acquire American Media, Inc. |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chatham-asset-management-and-omega-charitable-partnership-to-acquire-american-media-inc-271412991.html |website=PRNewswire |date=Aug 15, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240602222440/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chatham-asset-management-and-omega-charitable-partnership-to-acquire-american-media-inc-271412991.html |archive-date= Jun 2, 2024 }}</ref>

In 2015, American Media sold ''Shape'', ''Natural Health'', and ''Fit Pregnancy'' to Meredith.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foliomag.com/2015/meredith-buys-shape-ami-60-million/|title=Meredith Buys Shape From AMI for $60 Million |first=Bill |last=Mickey |date=January 28, 2015 |website=Folio |location=Washington, D.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729211007/http://www.foliomag.com/2015/meredith-buys-shape-ami-60-million/ |archive-date= Jul 29, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2016, Pecker revealed to the Toronto Star that AMI now relied on support from Chatham Asset Management and its owner Anthony Melchiorre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/10/19/executive-from-national-enquirer-parent-joins-postmedia-board.html |title=Executive from National Enquirer parent joins Postmedia board|date=October 19, 2016|website=Toronto Star |first1=Vanessa |last1=Lu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221162253/https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/10/19/executive-from-national-enquirer-parent-joins-postmedia-board.html |archive-date= Dec 21, 2022 }}</ref><ref name="april102019">{{Cite web |last=Post |first=The Washington |date=April 11, 2019 |title=National Enquirer expected to be sold imminently as parent company faces pressure |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2019/04/10/news/national-enquirer-expected-to-be-sold-imminently-as-parent-company-faces-pressure/ |website=Bangor Daily News}}</ref> The $4 billion hedge fund owns 80 percent of AMI's stock.<ref name=april102019 />

In March 2017, American Media acquired ''Us Weekly'' from Wenner Media for a reported $100 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Us Weekly Is Sold to National Enquirer Publisher|date=March 15, 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/business/media/us-weekly-national-enquirer-american-media.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/business/media/us-weekly-national-enquirer-american-media.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|access-date=March 15, 2017|first1=Sydney|last1=Ember|work=The New York Times|location=New York City}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Three months later, in June 2017, American Media also acquired ''Men's Journal'' from Wenner Media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/303376/american-media-buys-wenners-mens-journal-to-at.html|title=American Media Buys Wenner's 'Men's Journal' To Attract Premium Advertisers|website=mediapost.com|language=en|access-date=2017-06-26}}</ref>

In June 2018, American Media acquired 13 brands from Bauer Media Group including ''In Touch Weekly'', ''Life & Style'' and ''Closer'' to add to their celebrity portfolio. They also acquired Bauer Media's kids group including ''J-14'' and ''Girl's World''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/38433373/american-media-inc-acquires-celebrity-and-kids-group-titles-from-bauer-media-usa|title=American Media, Inc. Acquires Celebrity And Kids Group Titles From Bauer Media USA|date=2018-06-15|work=CBS8|access-date=2018-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185622/http://www.cbs8.com/story/38433373/american-media-inc-acquires-celebrity-and-kids-group-titles-from-bauer-media-usa|archive-date=2018-06-25|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 2019, American Media acquired TEN's adventure sports properties.<ref>{{Cite web| title = American Media Acquires TEN's Adventure Sports Magazines| work = Folio| access-date = 2019-03-14| date = 2019-02-05| url = https://www.foliomag.com/american-media-acquires-tens-adventure-sports-magazines/}}</ref>

=== Sale attempts, a360media, merger into McClatchy === In April 2019, the ''National Enquirer'' was reported to be up for sale and likely to be sold within days. The company stated that it had shifted its emphasis away from tabloids to its "glossy" magazines such as ''Us Weekly'' and ''Men's Journal''.<ref name="a">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/business/dealbook/national-enquirer-sale.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/business/dealbook/national-enquirer-sale.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title=The National Enquirer Is for Sale, and a Deal Seems Near|first1=Edmund|last1=Lee|first2=Andrew Ross|last2=Sorkin|first3=Ben|last3=Protess|newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 April 2019|access-date=11 April 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This came following pressure from Chatham owner Anthony Melchiorre, who expressed disapproval of the Enquirer's style of journalism.<ref name="april102019" /><ref name="enquirergone">{{Cite web |last=Wang |first=Christine |date=April 10, 2019 |title=National Enquirer's parent company says it's likely to sell the tabloid 'in the near future' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/10/american-media-inc-is-looking-to-sell-the-national-enquirer.html |website=CNBC}}</ref> On April 18, 2019, AMI accepted an offer from Hudson News Distributors head James Cohen and agreed to sell not only the ''National Enquirer'', but also ''Globe'' and ''The Examiner'' to Hudson News Distributors for $100 million.<ref name="aprilNPR">{{Cite web |last1=Paris |first1=Francesca |date=19 April 2019 |title='National Enquirer' To Be Sold To Hudson News Heir James Cohen |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/19/715050724/national-enquirer-to-be-sold-to-hudson-news-heir-james-cohen |website=NPR.org}}</ref><ref name="aprilabc">{{Cite web |title=Hudson Media buys National Enquirer for $100 million in wake of Trump, Bezos scandals |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/hudson-media-buys-national-enquirer-100-million-wake/story?id=62499219 |website=ABC News}}</ref> At the time the sale was announced, AMI was approximately $355 million in debt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2019/04/national-enquirer-sold-in-100-million-deal.html|title=National Enquirer Sold in $100 million deal|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> The sale, however, fell through.<ref name="NYT-230226">{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Katie |date=2023-02-06 |title=National Enquirer, Scandal-Plagued Tabloid, Is Sold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/business/media/national-enquirer-sold.html |access-date=2026-02-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In August 2020, Chatham Asset Management announced it would merge AMI with Accelerate 360, a wholesale distribution company it also owned. As part of the merger, AMI was officially renamed a360media on October 1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-05 |title=Parent company shutters Bike magazine |url=https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2020/10/05/parent-company-shutters-bike-magazine-and-other-titles |access-date=2022-01-24 |website=Bicycle Retailer and Industry News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Saperstein |first=Pat |date=2020-08-22 |title=National Enquirer Owner David Pecker Out After Merger |url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/david-pecker-national-enquirer-owner-out-1234744096/ |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, a360media acquired single issue magazine publisher Centennial Media.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://flashesandflames.com/2022/10/13/a360-buys-bookazines-publisher/ | title=A360 buys bookazines publisher | date=13 October 2022 }}</ref> Also in 2022, a360media sold ''Men's Journal'' and the Adventure Sports Network properties to The Arena Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2022/12/13/arena-group-buys-mens-journal-adventure-sports|title=Arena Group buy digital assets of Men's Journal, Adventure Sports Network|accessdate=6 August 2023}}</ref>

In February 2023, a360media announced that it would sell its tabloid titles to a joint venture of Vinco Ventures and Icon Publishing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Szalai |first=Georg |date=2023-02-06 |title=Tabloids National Enquirer, Globe, National Examiner to Be Sold to Joint Venture |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/national-enquirer-sale-tabloid-globe-national-examiner-1235318651/ |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="NYT-230226"/> This sale also later fell through; a360media subsequently downplayed the ''National Enquirer'' from its assets.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Katie |date=2024-04-25 |title=The National Enquirer, Reeling From Trump, Still Can’t Find a Buyer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/25/business/media/the-national-enquirer-trump.html |access-date=2026-02-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bruell |first=Alexandra |date=2023-07-07 |title=Deal to Sell National Enquirer Collapses |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/deal-to-sell-national-enquirer-collapses-c20d8f04 |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>

In August 2024, McClatchy—a newspaper publisher that Chatham Asset Management had acquired out of bankruptcy in 2020<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tracy |first=Marc |date=2020-08-04 |title=McClatchy, Family-Run News Chain, Goes to Hedge Fund in Bankruptcy Sale |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/business/media/mcclatchy-newspapers-bankrutpcy-chatham.html |access-date=2023-03-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>—announced that it would merge with a360media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=Kerry |date=2024-08-02 |title=Local newspaper chain McClatchy plans to merge with Us Weekly owner |url=https://www.axios.com/pro/media-deals/2024/08/02/mcclatchy-accelerate360-us-weekly-merger-plan |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref> The merger was completed in December 2024, with McClatchy reorganized as the McClatchy Media Company, and a360media brought under the McClatchy Lifestyle & Entertainment division. The company officially stated that the tabloids had been sold, but a buyer was not disclosed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-13 |title=McClatchy completes merger with publisher accelerate360 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2024/12/13/mcclatchy-completes-merger-accelerate360.html |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=Sacramento Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Wilner |first=Michael |date=December 13, 2024 |title=Completing merger, 'McClatchy Media' forms with lifestyle brands and greater reach |url=https://www.bradenton.com/news/nation-world/national/article297018779.html |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=Bradenton Herald}}</ref>

== Controversies ==

=== Catch and kill scandals ===

==== Allegation about Trump Tower maid ==== In late 2015, AMI paid $30,000 to Dino Sajudin, a doorman at Trump Tower, to obtain the rights to his story in which he alleged Donald Trump had an affair in the 1980s that resulted in the birth of a child. Sajudin in April 2018 identified the woman as Trump's former housekeeper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/04/12/media/trump-national-enquirer-doorman/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412185819/http://money.cnn.com/2018/04/12/media/trump-national-enquirer-doorman/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 12, 2018|title=Former doorman involved in story of alleged Trump affair speaks|last=Moghe|first=Chris Isidore, Tom Kludt and Sonia|date=12 April 2018|access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref> AMI reporters were given the names of the woman and the alleged child, while Sajudin passed a lie detector test when testifying that he had heard the story from others. Shortly after the payment was made, Pecker ordered the reporters to drop the story.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-national-enquirer-a-donald-trump-rumor-and-another-secret-payment-to-buy-silence-dino-sajudin-david-pecker|title=The National Enquirer, a Trump Rumor, and Another Secret Payment to Buy Silence|last=Farrow|first=Ronan|date=2018-04-12|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en|issn=0028-792X|author-link=Ronan Farrow}}</ref> In April 2018, AMI chief content officer Dylan Howard denied the story was "spiked" in a so-called "catch and kill" operation, insisting that AMI did not run the story because Sajudin's story lacked credibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/f37ecfc4710b468db6a103a245146172|title=$30,000 rumor? Tabloid paid for, spiked, salacious Trump tip|website=Associated Press|date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref> On August 24, 2018, after AMI had released Sajudin from the contract, CNN obtained a copy of it and published excerpts. The contract instructed Sajudin to provide "information regarding Donald Trump's illegitimate child," but did not contain further specifics of Sajudin's story.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/24/politics/trump-tower-doorman-contract-ami/index.html|title=Ex-Trump World Tower doorman releases 'catch-and-kill' contract about alleged Trump affair|first=Sonia |last=Moghe|date=25 August 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref>

In April 2024, Pecker testified in Trump's New York criminal trial how the story was his first "catch-and-kill" target during Trump's campaign, with Sajudin also attempting to claim that the child was a girl.<ref name=peckertestifying /> A National Enquirer editor who discovered the allegation originally did not know Sajudin's name, but just as a doorman who had worked at Trump.<ref name=peckertestifying /> Cohen was the one who discovered the names of the doorman and the alleged maid.<ref name=peckertestifying /> Though Cohen at first claimed the story was not true, the ''National Enquirer'' acquired the story for $30,000, which was noticeably higher than the usual $10,000 they paid for stories.<ref name=peckertestifying />

==== Karen McDougal ==== {{see|Karen McDougal#Affair with Donald Trump}} alt=American Media Inc. Non-Prosecution Agreement|thumb|American Media Inc. Non-Prosecution Agreement In 2016, AMI paid ''Playboy'' model Karen McDougal $150,000 for exclusive rights to her allegations of a ten-month affair with Donald Trump—which she claimed happened in 2006–2007, when he was already married to Melania<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/us/politics/karen-mcdougal-interview.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/us/politics/karen-mcdougal-interview.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title=Ex-Playboy Model Karen McDougal Details 10-Month Affair With Donald Trump|last=Rutenberg|first=Jim|date=2018-03-22|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-12|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref>—but AMI never published the story. AMI publicly acknowledged having made the payment after ''The Wall Street Journal'' revealed it days before the 2016 presidential election, but AMI denied that its purpose had been to "kill damaging stories about" Trump; instead, AMI claimed it had paid only for "exclusive life rights to any relationship [McDougal] has had with a then-married man" and "two years' worth of her fitness columns and magazine covers."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-enquirer-shielded-donald-trump-from-playboy-models-affair-allegation-1478309380|title=National Enquirer Shielded Donald Trump From Playboy Model's Affair Allegation|last1=Palazzolo|first1=Joe|last2=Rothfeld|first2=Michael|date=November 4, 2016|access-date=February 17, 2018|last3=Alpert|first3=Lukas|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/11/report-national-enquirer-bought-rights-to-trump-affair-story-but-never-published-004848/|title=Report: National Enquirer bought rights to Trump affair story, but never published|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=November 4, 2016|publisher=Politico}}</ref> In March 2018, McDougal filed a lawsuit to invalidate the non-disclosure agreement she had with AMI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://static01.nyt.com/files/2018/us/mcdougal-complaint-exhibits.pdf?action=click&module=Intentional&pgtype=Article|title=Karen McDougal v. American Media, Inc.|website=Static01.nyt.com|access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/us/ex-playboy-model-sues-to-break-silence-on-trump.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/us/ex-playboy-model-sues-to-break-silence-on-trump.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title=Former Playboy Model Karen McDougal Sues to Break Silence on Trump|last=Rutenberg|first=Jim|date=2018-03-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> A month later, AMI settled with McDougal, allowing her to speak about the alleged affair.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/us/politics/karen-mcdougal-american-media-settlement.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/us/politics/karen-mcdougal-american-media-settlement.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title=Ex-Playboy Model, Freed From Contract, Can Discuss Alleged Trump Affair|last=Rutenberg|first=Jim|date=2018-04-18|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-04-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In August 2018, it was reported that AMI CEO/chairman David Pecker and AMI chief content officer Dylan Howard were granted witness immunity in exchange for their testimony regarding hush money payments made by Donald Trump's then-personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in an attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/donald-trump-national-enquirer-allies-defect-david-pecker-michael-cohen|title="Holy shit, I thought Pecker would be the last one to turn": Trump's National Enquirer allies are the latest to defect|last1=Sherman|first1=Gabriel|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=25 August 2018}}</ref>

On December 12, 2018, the U.S. Attorney's office announced its agreement with AMI. "AMI admitted that it made the $150,000 payment in concert with a candidate's presidential campaign," the press release said, so that Karen McDougal wouldn't "publicize damaging allegations about the candidate before the 2016 presidential election. AMI further admitted that its principal purpose in making the payment was to suppress the woman's story so as to prevent it from influencing the election." As a result of this agreement, AMI did not face prosecution and agreed to provide extensive assistance to prosecutors about the involvement of Trump and other politicians with the company.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://politi.co/2C7Ikgi|title=A 'loud gong': National Enquirer's surprise deal could imperil Trump|first=Darren|last=Samuelsohn|website=Politico|access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref> The same press release also revealed that Michael Cohen had been sentenced to three years in prison for various crimes, including the $150,000 campaign finance violation—the facilitation of the payment to McDougal—to which he pled guilty on August 21, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/michael-cohen-sentenced-3-years-prison|title=Michael Cohen Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison|date=2018-12-12|website=justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45265546|title=Michael Cohen trial: Trump accused of directing hush money|work=BBC News|access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-reaches-plea-deal-reports-180821183403656.html|title=Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen pleads guilty, implicates president|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=22 August 2018}}</ref> AMI agreed to pay the Federal Election Commission a $187,500 fine in June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/01/national-enquirer-owner-trump-campaign-491557|title=National Enquirer owner pays $187,500 for aiding Trump campaign in hush money deal|first=Josh|last=Gerstein|website=Politico}}</ref>

In April 2024, Pecker testified how he, Howard and Cohen conspired to get the ''National Enquirer'' to acquire McDougal's story.<ref name=peckertestifying>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-trial-new-york-first-witness-david-pecker/|title=Trump trial hears testimony from David Pecker about "catch and kill" scheme|first1=Graham|last1=Kates|first2=Katrina|last2=Kaufman|publisher=CBS News|date=April 23, 2024|accessdate=April 23, 2024}}</ref> Pecker stated that after Howard found out about McDougal's allegation, he sent Howard to California to interview her.<ref name=peckertestifying /> During the time Howard met with McDougal, he conversed with Cohen about the situation.<ref name=peckertestifying /> Ultimately, McDougal agreed to sell her story to the ''National Enquirer'' for $150,000.<ref name=peckertestifying />

=== Jeff Bezos blackmail === In January 2019, the ''National Enquirer'' broke a story about the extramarital affair of Amazon founder and ''Washington Post'' owner Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sánchez. Bezos began investigating how and why the information had been leaked to the ''National Enquirer.''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-accuses-national-enquirer-ami/story?id=60924072|title=National Enquirer's parent company says it will investigate allegations of extortion made by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2019-02-08}}</ref> Trump had long expressed displeasure with Bezos,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/07/trump-bezos-feud-amazon-washington-post-taxes-usps|title=What is the Donald Trump v Jeff Bezos feud really about?|last=Helmore|first=Edward|date=2018-04-07|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-02-08|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/5/19/17371780/donald-trump-amazon-jeff-bezos-postal-service|title=Trump's trying to fight Amazon and Jeff Bezos from the White House|last=Stewart|first=Emily|date=2018-05-19|website=Vox|access-date=2019-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/17/donald-trump-jeff-bezos-amazon-washington-post-power-money|title=Why does Trump hate Jeff Bezos: is it about power or money?|last=Smith|first=David|date=2018-06-17|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-02-08|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and Trump's irritation may have increased due to the ''Washington Post's'' critical coverage of the murder (and the subsequent cover-up<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/10/inside-the-washington-post-anger-and-fear-and-a-demand-for-the-truth-about-jamal-khashoggi|title='He's Our Colleague': Inside the Post, Anger and Fear Over Khashoggi's Fate|last=Pompeo|first=Joe|date=17 October 2018|website=The Hive|language=en|access-date=2019-02-08}}</ref>) of one of its reporters, Jamal Khashoggi.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/11/05/saudi-arabia-washington-posts-coverage-khashoggi-killing-fuels-calls-amazon-boycott/|title=In Saudi Arabia, Washington Post's coverage of Khashoggi killing fuels calls for Amazon boycott|last=Taylor|first=Adam|date=5 November 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref> This, Bezos suspects, may have been the political motivation for someone to leak his affair to the tabloid.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@jeffreypbezos/no-thank-you-mr-pecker-146e3922310f|title=No thank you, Mr. Pecker|last=Bezos|first=Jeff|date=2019-02-07|website=Jeff Bezos|access-date=2019-02-08}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2026}}

On February 7, 2019, Bezos shared emails that he had received the previous day<ref name="auto"/> in which AMI sought a public statement from him and his lawyer "affirming that they have no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AM's coverage [of the sexual affair] was politically motivated or influenced by political forces, and an agreement that they will cease referring to such a possibility." AMI chief content officer Dylan Howard and his lawyer Jon Fine threatened Bezos, saying that if Bezos did not promptly meet their demands, AMI would publish selfies and sexts sent between Bezos and his girlfriend.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Eugene |date=2019-02-07 |title=Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer publisher of blackmail, extortion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/07/jeff-bezos-accuses-national-enquirer-publisher-of-blackmail-extortion.html |access-date=2019-02-08 |website=CNBC}}</ref> Bezos wrote that he would refuse to make this "specific lie" or to otherwise participate in this blackmail bargain that "no real journalists [would] ever propose."<ref name="auto"/> "Of course I don't want personal photos published," Bezos added, but he said he chooses to "stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out."

That same day, ''The Washington Post'' published an article on the matter, quoting a former federal prosecutor who speculated that this news could undermine AMI's recent deal with the government. If prosecutors decide they must file new criminal charges against AMI, the government may not be able "to continue to use them [AMI] to assist other ongoing investigations," said Robert Mintz.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/2019/02/07/f501d20c-2b2d-11e9-b2fc-721718903bfc_story.html|title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer of extortion over intimate photos|last1=Farhi|first1=Paul|date=7 February 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=8 February 2019|last2=Ellison|first2=Sarah|last3=Barrett|first3=Devlin}}</ref>

Lauren Sanchez's brother, Michael Sanchez, an ardent Trump supporter, stated he was told by multiple AMI employees that the Enquirer set out to do "a takedown to make Trump happy"<ref name=":2" /> and ''The Daily Beast'' reported seeing documents showing that Sanchez believed the Bezos story was run with "President Trump's knowledge and appreciation."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-10 |title=Mistress’ Brother Leaked Bezos Texts to Enquirer |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/mistress-lauren-sanchezs-brother-leaked-bezos-racy-texts-to-enquirer-sources-say-7/ |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref>

==Publications== {{Columns-start|num=3}}

===Current=== * ''Animal Tales'' * ''Closer'' * ''First for Women'' * ''Girls' World'' * ''In Touch'' * ''J-14'' * ''Life & Style'' * ''Muscle & Fitness'' * ''Muscle & Fitness Hers'' * ''OK!'' (US) * ''Puzzle Fun'' * ''Quizfest'' * ''RadarOnline.com'' * ''Star'' * ''Us Weekly'' * ''Woman's World'' {{Column}}

===Former=== * ''Autoworld Weekly'' * ''Bike'' * ''Country Music'' * ''Fit Pregnancy'' * ''Flex'' * ''Globe'' * ''Men's Fitness'' * ''Men's Journal'' * ''Nash Country Weekly'' * ''National Enquirer'' * ''National Examiner'' * ''Natural Health'' * ''Pixie'' * ''Powder'' * ''Shape'' * ''Snowboarder Magazine'' * ''Soap Opera Digest'' * ''Soaps in Depth'' * ''Soap Opera Weekly'' * ''Stallone'' * ''Sun'' * ''Surfer'' * ''Teen Boss'' * ''Transworld Skateboarding'' * ''Weekly World News'' {{Columns-end}}

==Divisions== * AMI Books * AMI Entertainment Group<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonysilber/2018/06/15/america-media-acquires-bauer-medias-celebrity-and-teen-brands/|title=American Media Acquires Bauer Media's Celebrity And Teen Brands|last=Silber|first=Tony|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-10-18|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanmediainc.com/entertainment-group|title=Entertainment Group {{!}} American Media Inc|website=americanmediainc.com|date=6 December 2017|language=en|access-date=2018-10-18}}</ref> * Distribution Services, Inc. * Dew Tour

==See also== *2017–18 United States political sexual scandals *Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal *Death of Robert Stevens

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{Official website|www.americanmediainc.com}} * [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/21/us/politics/trump-michael-cohen-american-media.html?emc=edit_th_180722&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=78526480722 Tabloid Company, Aiding Trump Campaign, May Have Crossed Line Into Politics] {{American Media}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Publishing companies established in 1936 Category:Magazine publishing companies of the United States Category:Newspaper companies of the United States Category:Privately held companies based in New York City Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010 Category:1936 establishments in New York (state) Category:Publishing companies based in New York City Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions