There are a few magazines that have transcended their status as mere sources of current events. A select few publications have risen up over the years to become nothing short of institutions of popular culture. These rare publications have managed to stand the test of time, remaining relevant for decades. I'm talking about magazines such as Rolling Stone, Time, People, New Yorker, Playboy, and National Geographic - those outlets that you just can't imagine not existing.

Most of the magazines I mentioned have quickly acquired reputations for their writing quality. These magazines have featured legendary writers at one point or another, and all of their contributors produce fascinating, well-written articles. To become a pillar of magazine publication requires stellar literary contributions!

Many of the Rolling Stone's successful publications were due to the clear public image they created from day one. This distinct branding differentiated them from other magazines and ensured that readers would be interested in what they had to offer. Without this public image, it is doubtful any of these publications would have been successful.

Another magazine that I have yet to mention in this list of influential and legendary periodicals is Entertainment Weekly. Although this magazine is quite different from the majority of the others on the list - they do not focus on news or politics or offer up what most people would refer to as literature by any means - they are no less a magazine with a rich legacy. A legacy that they have managed to successfully carry with them into the digital age.

Entertainment Weekly has continued to thrive online with new content on celebrities all the time, keeping up with social media demand with ease. It is almost as if Entertainment Weekly was always made for the 21st century.

The first issue of Entertainment Weekly was published on February 16th, 1990. It was a sister magazine, actually, of the already insanely popular magazine, People, and as such it offered a more mainstream-ready glimpse at pop culture icons than its sister publication did (often steeped in more elaborately in-depth features, profiles, and interviews). It could be said that Entertainment Weekly was something like People's express.

When Entertainment Weekly was first released, it was described as a guide to popular culture including movies, music, and book reviews. However, over time the magazine has shifted its focus away from higherbrow concerns and become more of a celebrity gossip rag. We will go into more detail about this later on.

Despite its initial negative reception, Entertainment Weekly was well-received by the American Society of Magazine Editors when it first came out in 1996. In 2002, they won the same award again, which shows how well the magazine has been doing for over a decade.

Entertainment Weekly has not stopped at just print media or just partnering with People. In September of 2016, EW teamed up with its sister publication People in order to launch the People and Entertainment Weekly Network - a free online video network that is supported by ads and streams both short and long-form content surrounding celebrity news, lifestyle concerns, pop culture, and human interest stories. The network was rebranded as People TV (which has a much better ring to it, does it not?) in September 2017.

Since the eighth of this month, Entertainment Weekly has operated under a monthly publication schedule, but is not renaming themselves as Entertainment Monthly.EW.com continues to publish content constantly regardless of magazine publication schedules.

Speaking of the website, I think that Ew.com is design is very sleek and modern. It has a sharp, minimalist look with a white background, black text, and occasional pops of color from Entertainment Weekly's iconic sky blue logo. It is a gentle and calming news site layout that easily guides the eye where it needs to be.

The website is easy to navigate and features recent stories, featured stories, and a site menu bar at the top. You can browse the site by interest: TV, Movies, Music, Books, Theater, Podcasts, Events, Celebrities, and Awards.

Well, in addition to all of the sections that I just mentioned, EW.com also offers a well-balanced blend of text and video content. Almost every article is accompanied by a relevant video (some, however, are more relevant than others). You can also, of course, subscribe for the monthly hard copy of Entertainment Weekly here if you so desire, order past issues, sign up for the EW newsletter, enter sweepstakes, and keep up with awards season. By visiting EW.com, you will have access to literally any and all entertainment news and celebrity information (film/tv, book/play reviews included), as well as general news. There is a great mix of content here— something for everyone if you ask me!

I absolutely adore the in-browser site experience of Entertainment Weekly. I think it looks sharp, there are plenty of interactive and immersive features, and it is sophisticatedly understated. The app, on the other hand, I find less appealing. Instead of making the app in the same clean-cut and streamlined fashion, the design is basically just like opening up an issue of EW magazine but on your phone.

The app's layout toggle does not compare well to the desktop site in my opinion. It looks as if many people also share this sentiment, as the app has only received an average rating of 3.3 stars on the Apple App Store.

The site is free to use to the content of your heart without any pesky paywalls or subscription fees. Just ads here and there. As far as subscribing to the magazine is concerned, it is a fair price. Pay per month (per issue) for only $2.99 (recurring until canceled); or save some money and pay per year ($24.99). These prices are not bad at all for a hard-copy magazine of this stature.

I would like to see EW try to dig a little deeper with some of their articles. I appreciate that you cannot always make every article on your website profound or poignant, but it seems reasonable to attempt this from time to time. Although EW is better than, say, the Hollywood Reporter with its content, I still think they could strive for a bit of a more thought-provoking style overall.

Overall, if you are looking for a reputable and dependable source for entertainment news, Entertainment Weekly is one of the best sites out there. Additionally, if you are a fan of physical copies of monthly periodicals, EW has one of the best deals on the market. You won't find much in the way of deeply considered, thought-provoking content, but if you want to ensure that you never miss a pop culture beat, Entertainment Weekly is the way to go.