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Paper (magazine)
Paper (magazine)
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Paper
November 2014 "Break the Internet" cover featuring Kim Kardashian
Editor-in-chiefJustin Moran
Former editors
CategoriesFashion, music, pop culture, art
FrequencyQuarterly
Founder
  • Kim Hastreiter
  • David Hershkovits
Founded1984
Final issueSeptember 2020 (print)
CompanyENTtech Media Group
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York City
LanguageEnglish
Websitepapermag.com
ISSN1073-9122

Paper (also known as Paper Mag) is a New York City-based independent magazine focusing on fashion, popular culture, nightlife, music, art, and film. Initially produced monthly, the magazine eventually became a quarterly publication, and a digital version was made available online at papermag.com.

In 2020, physical production of the magazine was paused following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The publication continued to create and release content online via its website.

History

[edit]
Kim Hastreiter, co-founder of Paper magazine

Paper was founded in 1984 by Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits, former editors at the SoHo Weekly News, with help from Lucy Sisman and Richard Weigand. Beginning as a monthly print magazine in the form of a black and white 16-page fold-out, it has since transformed into a quarterly print and digital magazine.[4]

Past cover models include Kim Kardashian,[5] Katy Perry,[6] Miley Cyrus,[7] Prince,[8] CL,[a] Kacey Musgraves,[10] Jennifer Lopez,[11] and BTS.[12]

In 2017, Hastreiter and Hershkovits sold the company to ENTtech Media Group, an entertainment technology company founded by former Condé Nast and Advanstar executive Tom Florio,[13] and Drew Elliott,[14] the Chief Creative Officer of Paper.[4] Elliot left Paper in October 2019, to become the new Global Creative Director at MAC Cosmetics.[15]

In 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, print production of the magazine was suspended. The final physical issue released was the Spring 2020 edition that featured Lady Gaga on the cover. Florio told WWD he was unsure when publication would resume, or if the company would continue with it at all, saying "Part of me is open enough to allow this thing to really roll out digitally and socially in the way where most people know Paper. Most people know Paper — like the kids, the Gen Z — through this social engagement. [Layoffs are] so terrible. I've never been in a situation where you couldn't ask more from people, but because of crazy life circumstances you have to make these decisions."[16] The magazine's digital content was unaffected and continued to be published.

Digital Director Justin Moran succeeded Elliot as editor-in-chief in July 2022.[17]

In April 2023, in the wake of reduced advertising revenues since the pandemic, the magazine's staff was laid off and editorial operations ceased. The company itself did not shut down, but was seeking alternative options to remain in operation.[18] In September 2023, Paper resumed operations with Justin Moran returning as editor-in-chief after the publication was acquired by Brian Calle & Street Media in June.[19]

"Break the Internet"

[edit]

In November 2014, Kim Kardashian was the cover star of the "Break the Internet" issue. Kardashian was interviewed by Paper contributor Amanda Fortini for the spread "No Filter: An Afternoon with Kim Kardashian".[20] The photos for the issue were taken by Jean–Paul Goude.[21] The shoot was a re-creation of Goude's "Champagne Incident", a series of photographs from his 1982 book Jungle Fever.[22] The cover photo, as well as the rest of the spread, featured a fully nude Kardashian.

The story received over 34 million unique page-views by December 2014, more than double the number of page-views Paper normally received annually,[23] and went on to generate more than 70 million monthly unique visitors to the website.[16]

Books

[edit]

Hastreiter and Hershkovits co-authored two books under the company's label. The first of the pair, published by Paper Publishing Company in association with Distributed Art Publishers in 1999, was titled From AbFab to Zen: Paper's Guide to Pop Culture, and had photography from John Waters.[24] The second, titled 20 Years of Style: The World According to Paper, was published by HarperCollins in 2004 and featured writing from Michael Musto, John Waters, Isaac Mizrahi, Pedro Almodovar, Todd Oldham, Patrick McMullan, and Anna Sui.[25]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Paper is an independent American magazine based in , specializing in , , , music, art, and film. Founded in June 1984 by journalists Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits, who previously collaborated at The SoHo Weekly News, the publication debuted as a single minimalist foldout poster, embodying the raw, experimental spirit of downtown . Rooted in New York's underground art and queer scenes, Paper quickly established itself as a chronicler of the city's cultural undercurrents, featuring contributions from artists like Futura on video games and on the AIDS crisis, while George Wayne captured the era's nightlife. The magazine evolved from monthly to a multi-issue annual print publication, producing eight issues by and later shifting to quarterly editions, supplemented by its digital platform launched in the mid-1990s, which by attracted over 1.3 million unique monthly visitors and supported a paid circulation of 125,000. Its bold editorial approach has spotlighted emerging talents and icons alike, with past cover stars including Prince, , , and . Paper gained global notoriety with its Winter 2014 issue, featuring in a Jean-Paul Goude-photographed cover titled "Break the ," which went viral, garnering widespread attention and millions of interactions, redefining viral media moments in publishing. Other landmark covers from the 2010s and beyond, such as those with , , , and , underscored its influence on pop culture and youth trends. Despite challenges including staff layoffs in 2023, Paper continues to thrive as of 2025, producing seasonal issues, red-carpet coverage like the , and digital content on events such as and the Emmys, maintaining its legacy as a queer-rooted tastemaker. On November 12, 2025, Paper launched its Spanish-language edition featuring singer on the cover.

Overview

Founding

Paper magazine was established in June 1984 by Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits, who had previously served as editors at the Weekly News, with assistance from designers Lucy Sisman and Richard Weigand in creating the inaugural issue. Hastreiter and Hershkovits, inspired by the vibrant downtown New York scene, sought to capture the city's emerging creative energy following the closure of their former publication. The magazine launched as a monthly black-and-white 16-page fold-out poster, reflecting a minimalist and DIY aesthetic that echoed the ethos of . Its content centered on , pop culture, and the underground scenes of art, music, and nightlife, positioning Paper as a chronicle of New York's young, , and irreverent subcultures. The core mission emphasized blending high with low culture, fostering inclusivity by highlighting undiscovered talents and boundary-pushing movements in subcultures like hip-hop, skateboarding, and gay nightlife, often ahead of mainstream adoption. Early operations faced significant funding and production hurdles, largely self-financed through Hastreiter's inheritance from her grandmother, which covered the purchase of a loft for offices, alongside personal ad sales around the city. Production was rudimentary, with layouts completed after hours at using borrowed facilities, and bookkeeping handled by Hastreiter's mother. Distribution relied on efforts, placing copies in independent bookstores, galleries, and alternative venues to reach the creative without traditional newsstand support.

Format and Evolution

Paper magazine launched in June 1984 as a monthly black-and-white fold-out publication consisting of 16 pages, capturing the raw aesthetic of New York City's downtown scene. Over the subsequent decade, the magazine expanded its format while maintaining a monthly frequency, growing its circulation to 50,000 by 1994 and incorporating more substantial content on , , and fashion to appeal to a Generation X audience. Although specific details on the introduction of are limited, the publication evolved from its minimalist origins to include visual enhancements that aligned with its expanding cultural influence during the 1990s. In 1996, Paper pioneered digital expansion among lifestyle magazines by launching its website, papermag.com, marking an early foray into online content distribution. This digital presence initially supplemented the print edition, allowing for broader reach, and by the early , it began featuring online-exclusive articles and multimedia to complement the physical issues. The magazine's print frequency shifted over time; following its acquisition in 2017, it transitioned from six issues per year to a quarterly schedule starting in 2018, reflecting strategic adjustments to distribution and content focus. The onset of the prompted a significant pivot in 2020, when owner ENTtech Media halted print production in spring, citing economic pressures from . The final print issue was the Spring 2020 edition, featuring a cover that encapsulated the magazine's signature bold visuals. In April 2023, ENTtech laid off the entire editorial staff amid financial difficulties, leading to a temporary shutdown; the publication was then acquired by Street Media in June 2023 and relaunched in September under new leadership. By late 2023, Paper had fully embraced a primarily digital model, prioritizing publications to sustain operations amid industry-wide declines in print viability. As of 2025, Paper operates a hybrid publication approach, functioning as a digital-first platform with daily online updates while reserving print for special editions. This model was highlighted in with the release of four limited-edition zine-style print issues for the magazine's 40th anniversary, each representing a of its history and designed in the original fold-out poster format to evoke its founding roots.

History

Early Years (1984–1999)

Paper magazine's early years were marked by a commitment to documenting the vibrant, often marginalized scenes of under the steady leadership of co-founders and co-editors Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits. Operating initially as a DIY fold-out from Hastreiter's , the publication quickly established itself as a voice for and underground communities, capturing the raw energy of downtown culture amid social upheavals. The magazine's coverage of the era's New York scenes was pioneering and unflinching. Joe Dolce provided early reporting on the AIDS crisis, addressing the epidemic when mainstream outlets largely ignored it, as Hershkovits later recalled: "Reagan wouldn’t even say the word AIDS in 1984." Graffiti artist Futura contributed pieces on and emerging cultural phenomena like video games, bridging underground expression with broader artistic discourse. Meanwhile, George Wayne chronicled the pulsating , spotlighting clubs and social hubs that defined the city's nocturnal pulse. By the late 1980s, Paper expanded its scope to include celebrity interviews, bold fashion editorials, and incisive pop culture critiques, solidifying its reputation as an avant-garde tastemaker that influenced . By 1999, as it marked its 15th anniversary, the magazine had evolved into a full monthly format with a circulation of approximately 100,000, reflecting its growing influence while maintaining its edge.

Expansion and Challenges (2000–2019)

In the early , Paper magazine expanded its reach by enhancing its digital presence, building on an initial online launch in as one of the first publications to go digital. This move facilitated increasing online readership alongside its print editions, allowing the magazine to engage a broader audience through early web content focused on , , and . By the mid-2010s, print circulation had peaked at approximately 155,000 copies per issue, reflecting sustained growth in its core markets of New York and , while digital platforms amplified visibility—exemplified by the 2014 Kim Kardashian cover, which garnered 16 million web views in just two days via sharing. The period also brought internal challenges, culminating in a significant ownership change in 2017 when founders Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits sold Paper Communications to ENTtech Media Group, a newly formed entertainment and technology company led by Tom Florio—former publisher of Vogue and —and , Paper's editor-in-chief. This acquisition marked a shift toward more commercially oriented strategies, integrating technology-driven initiatives and partnerships to bolster revenue streams amid evolving media landscapes. Under the new ownership, the magazine introduced elements like enhanced and shoppable features, aiming to align its avant-garde aesthetic with broader market demands. Drew Elliott played a pivotal role as editor-in-chief and chief creative officer following the sale, steering creative direction until his departure in October 2019 to become senior vice president and global creative director at . His tenure emphasized blending Paper's signature irreverence with commercial viability, including high-profile collaborations that expanded the digital audience through social media platforms like and . This era highlighted the magazine's adaptation to digital-first consumption, though it faced ongoing pressures from declining print advertising and the need to balance artistic integrity with financial sustainability.

Recent Developments (2020–Present)

In response to the , Paper suspended its print production in May 2020, marking the end of physical issues after the Spring 2020 edition, while shifting focus to amid economic pressures that included temporary pay cuts and staff layoffs. By April 2023, under owner ENTtech Media, the magazine faced further challenges with the layoff of its entire editorial team of 20 to 30 full-time staff, including key figures like editorial director Mickey Boardman, effectively halting operations due to declining ad revenue. In June 2023, entrepreneur Brian Calle's Street Media acquired , leading to a relaunch in September with Justin Moran returning as to oversee a renewed emphasis on digital publishing and cultural coverage. To mark its 40th anniversary in 2024, Paper released a series of four collectible print zines featuring cover stars such as The Dare, , , and Halsey, alongside digital retrospectives highlighting its queer-rooted history and events like anniversary parties in New York and . As of 2025, Paper maintains robust digital operations, producing high-profile covers and red-carpet coverage for events including the and Golden Globes, supported by a social media presence that includes over 2 million Instagram followers. In November 2025, Paper launched its Spanish-language edition, PAPER Español, featuring on the debut cover.

Editorial Content

Style and Themes

Paper magazine has cultivated a distinctive editorial voice characterized by bubbly enthusiasm tempered with Gen-X skepticism, delivering irreverent and inclusive coverage that celebrates the fringes of culture while engaging mainstream audiences. From its inception, the publication has embraced an aesthetic that seamlessly blends high fashion with street culture, , art, and LGBTQ+ issues, often highlighting raw, minimalist designs inspired by Lower Manhattan's underground scene. This approach positions Paper as a gritty yet glamorous chronicler of New York's nightlife and creative undercurrents, prioritizing youth, coolness, and perspectives in its storytelling. Central to Paper's themes is an emphasis on irreverent, inclusive explorations of , , sex and dating, beauty, and entertainment, fostering a space where marginalized voices—particularly from the LGBTQ+ community—gain visibility and empowerment. Editorials and interviews often push boundaries through bold, visually provocative content, such as covers featuring icons like and that merge high-fashion glamour with street-level authenticity. The magazine's coverage extends to figures like and , art scenes, and diverse creatives, underscoring themes of diversity and resilience in queer-rooted narratives. Over time, Paper has evolved from its 1980s focus on underground downtown scenes to broader pop commentary, adapting to digital platforms while preserving its queer-rooted perspective and commitment to boundary-pushing visuals. Under recent leadership, the editorial direction continues to amplify underrepresented talents in , , and pop , blending irreverence with cultural relevance to platform hyper-niche trends and viral phenomena. This progression maintains the magazine's core ethos of empowerment and inclusivity, ensuring its content remains a vital lens on evolving social dynamics.

Signature Features

One of Paper magazine's most iconic ongoing series is "Break the Internet," launched in November 2014 with a provocative cover feature on photographed by , depicting her in a champagne glass pose and an oiled, pearl-adorned backside image designed to challenge digital virality. The issue's release generated over 34 million unique page views by December 2014, shattering previous traffic records for the publication and propelling it into mainstream cultural discourse. By 2017, "Break the Internet" had been trademarked, solidifying its status as a branded franchise that continues to produce high-profile, visually daring covers featuring celebrities like and . Complementing this, Paper's annual "Beautiful People" lists, running for over two decades since the late 1990s, spotlight emerging and influential figures in art, music, fashion, and culture, such as , , and , emphasizing diverse talents beyond conventional celebrity. The magazine's signature fashion week coverage, particularly for , includes in-depth runway reports, backstage insights, and exclusive party recaps, often tying into collaborative events like the 2025 aespa-hosted kickoff with . Similarly, its music and film reviews form recurring editorial pillars, offering critical takes on albums, tours, and releases from artists like alongside analyses of films and TV series that intersect with pop culture. The "Break the Internet" series significantly boosted Paper's digital footprint, contributing to a surge in monthly unique visitors to over 70 million in the years following 2014, while inspiring extensions into live events and brand partnerships, such as themed parties and multimedia collaborations. In the 2020s, the franchise has evolved into primarily formats, with covers like the 2025 "HalloQueen" edition blending horror aesthetics with immersive artist narratives to maintain its viral edge.

Publications

Books

Paper magazine has ventured into book publishing to commemorate its milestones and encapsulate its cultural commentary. In 1999, coinciding with the magazine's 15th anniversary, editors Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits released From AbFab to Zen: Paper's Guide to Pop Culture, a vibrant compilation of the publication's coverage of 1980s and 1990s pop culture icons, trends, and obsessions. Featuring an introduction by filmmaker John Waters, the book includes essays, images, and stickers drawn from Paper's archives, serving as an irreverent A-to-Z guide to the era's zeitgeist, from Absolutely Fabulous to Zen influences in fashion and media. Published by Paper Publishing Company in association with Distributed Art Publishers (D.A.P.), it highlighted the magazine's role in charting underground and mainstream cultural shifts. Building on this success, Paper marked its 20th anniversary in 2004 with 20 Years of Style: The World According to Paper, an anthology edited by Hastreiter and Hershkovits that surveys two decades of style evolution through the lens of , , , and street culture. The volume features contributions from notable figures including , , , , and , alongside archival photographs, essays, and year-by-year layouts tracing influences from 1980s punk and new wave to 2000s hip-hop, , and celebrity glamour. Released by Harper Design, an imprint of , the coffee-table book functioned as a visual encyclopedia of Paper's stylistic legacy, reinforcing the magazine's influence on pop culture discourse. These publications extended Paper's brand beyond its periodical format, transforming its editorial voice into tangible, collectible artifacts tied to anniversary celebrations and appealing to fans of its irreverent, trendsetting aesthetic. By curating imagery and commentary, the books solidified Paper's position as a chronicler of cultural formation among diverse audiences.

Digital and Multimedia Expansions

Paper magazine's digital presence began evolving in the early with the launch of its , initially serving as a basic online extension of its print content focused on , pop culture, and . By the , the platform had transformed into a robust digital hub, incorporating dedicated sections for , music, celebrity news, and the signature "Break the Internet" series, which gained prominence after its 2014 Kim Kardashian feature and drove a 900% increase in by 2016. The magazine's social media strategy expanded significantly with the launch of its account in 2010, amassing 2 million followers by 2025 through visually striking posts highlighting viral fashion shoots and cultural moments. Complementary platforms like (now X) and have been utilized for sharing viral clips and real-time event coverage, with reaching 562,400 followers by late 2025, emphasizing short-form videos that amplify "Break the Internet" content and nightlife recaps. Multimedia initiatives took off around 2015 with the development of video series on YouTube, featuring celebrity transformations, behind-the-scenes footage, and style overhauls, such as David Dobrik's 2020 makeover episode, alongside live event coverage from festivals like Coachella. These efforts extended to audio formats through occasional interview series and partnerships, though the core focus remained on video-driven storytelling to engage younger audiences. Post-2020, Paper pursued digital partnerships with brands including , , GAP, and MINI USA to enhance interactive content, alongside newsletters that deliver curated updates on and trends. These expansions have significantly grown the platform's audience, with the 2014 "Break the Internet" cover driving a peak of over 70 million unique monthly digital visitors and underscoring a shift toward non-print media amid the temporary pause in print production that year.

Cultural Impact

Influence and Legacy

Paper magazine has been a pioneering force in queer-inclusive media since its founding in 1984, when Kim Hastreiter and David Hershkovits launched it as an underground publication chronicling New York City's vibrant, queer-rooted downtown scene. By spotlighting queer artists and culture early on—such as featuring Keith Haring's graffiti-inspired work and giving their first magazine cover in June 1993—the publication helped normalize and amplify LGBTQ+ voices in fashion and pop culture at a time when such representation was rare in mainstream outlets. Its boundary-pushing aesthetics, blending gritty urban visuals with glamorous irreverence, contrasted with the styles of subsequent alternative media like . Paper's early coverage elevated underground artists to mainstream recognition, serving as cultural touchstones through features on movements and ; for instance, contributor documented the AIDS crisis, while the magazine highlighted nightlife icons like , who shaped fashion aesthetics. Over four decades, has documented pivotal shifts in pop culture, from 1980s punk and club scenes to 2010s digital memes, creating an archival legacy recognized by institutions like the , which holds items such as a advertisement from the in its design collection. This enduring record underscores its role in preserving the evolution of urban and cultural narratives. In 2025, Paper maintains ongoing relevance through its digital platforms, leveraging viral content strategies—like the iconic "Break the Internet" series—for widespread engagement, and producing event tie-ins such as festival guides for Coachella and Lollapalooza that connect readers to contemporary music and fashion scenes. Revived in 2023 under queer-owned Street Media, the publication continues to champion emerging talent, ensuring its influence in an increasingly digital media landscape.

Recognition and Milestones

Paper magazine has garnered significant recognition for its innovative approach to , pop culture, and visual storytelling, with several key milestones underscoring its enduring influence. A defining moment came in November with the release of its Winter issue, provocatively titled "Break the Internet," featuring reality star in a series of bold, nude photographs shot by . The cover and accompanying images sparked global media frenzy, generating massive viral attention with over 50 million clicks across Paper's website and social channels on the release day alone, far surpassing the magazine's previous digital traffic records. This issue not only revitalized Paper's financial position during a period of industry challenges but also popularized the phrase "break the Internet" as a cultural shorthand for viral phenomena, cementing the magazine's reputation for boundary-pushing editorial risks. Marking its longevity in a volatile media landscape, Paper celebrated its 40th anniversary in September 2024 with a limited-edition print project comprising four collectible zines, each highlighting a decade of the publication's history—from its origins in New York City's underground scene to its modern digital expansions. This commemorative effort, distributed as a single issue with multiple covers, paid homage to the magazine's role in chronicling cultural shifts while reaffirming its commitment to amid digital dominance. The anniversary underscored Paper's resilience, having outlasted many contemporaries through consistent innovation in content and design. In January 2025, co-founder and longtime creative director Kim Hastreiter received the prestigious National Design Award for Design Visionary from the , honoring her four-decade stewardship of . The award specifically acknowledged Hastreiter's visionary curation that integrated , , , and , influencing generations of creators and elevating the magazine's covers—over 200 under her direction—as icons of . This recognition highlighted Paper's broader impact on , with the jury noting its pioneering fusion of high and low forms. Additional milestones include the establishment of Paper's annual Nightlife Awards starting in the early , which became a staple event celebrating New York City's club culture and drawing luminaries like for performances; by its seventh edition in 2011, with performances by luminaries like , the awards had solidified Paper's status as a tastemaker in and nightlife by its eighth edition in 2012. These achievements collectively affirm Paper's evolution from a niche downtown publication to a globally referenced arbiter of trends.

References

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