• by Fern Siegel , November 13, 2020

Martha Stewart Living is celebrating its 30^th anniversary. To mark the milestone, the December issue notes the magazine’s key moments, the editors’ favorite recipes and the covers that proved most popular.

The magazine, led by Stewart, focuses on cooking, gardening, crafts and entertaining. Or as Stewart wrote in the first issue in 1990: “This magazine will always be filled with ways to make those homes more beautiful, more comfortable, and more full of life and light and joy for those we love." 

In the ensuing years, Stewart created her own media empire, Omnimedia, which includes TV, Internet, merchandise and brand-extension magazines.

The December issue of Martha Stewart Living is on newsstands November 20, with ongoing features available at marthastewart.com. Antoni Porowski, food and wine expert for Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” and TV personality Chrissy Teigen are featured in the issue.

Additional highlights include a reel of the mag’s history, 12 DIY gifts you can make and décor ideas inspired by Amish and Shaker designs.

Stewart stated: “We created this magazine for everyone, because good living can be learned, honed, and enjoyed by all.”

Yet the 30 years haven’t been without incident.

Stewart did a short term in prison in 2004, which did not tarnish her brand. Forbidden to act as director of Martha Living Omnimedia for five years, she still controlled 50% of stock and 90% of the voting stock. During her imprisonment, the value of her stock doubled, and she became a billionaire again in 2006, according to ABC News.

Per Google Analytics, the Martha Stewart Living magazine brand claims more than 12 million digital users, 10 million social followers and 7 million magazine readers.

While Stewart celebrates a big anniversary, Wine Spectator and Whisky Advocate, two respected publications in a niche market, are switching editorial management.

Thomas Matthews, a decades-long veteran of M. Shanken Communications, which owns both pubs, is exiting Wine Spectator as executive editor. He was also the lead taster for the wines of Spain. Jeffrey Lindenmuth, former executive editor of Whisky Advocate, will take the top editorial post at the end of this year.

Lindenmuth has been with the company for 20 years and has headed Whisky Advocate for the last four. He was instrumental in overseeing content and design changes and instituting blind-tasting methodology for whisky reviews, mirroring procedures at sister pub Wine Spectator, which claims a print readership of 3 million worldwide.

Seasoned whisky connoisseur David Fleming will take the reins as executive editor of Whisky Advocate. He has headed the company’s trade division, including Market Watch, Impact and Shanken News Daily. Earlier in his career, he ran Wine Spectator’s London bureau.

Matthews will retain an advisory role, heading the magazine’s annual New York Wine Experience program and other special projects.