What Happened to Ms. Magazine?

Ms. Magazine emerged in December 1971 as a "one-shot" insert in New York magazine, co-founded by journalist and activist Gloria Steinem and others, including Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Patricia Carbine. Its immediate success, with 300,000 copies selling out in eight days, demonstrated a significant demand for a publication that addressed women's issues beyond traditional homemaking and fashion. The first stand-alone issue followed in January 1972, boldly featuring Wonder Woman for President, signaling its commitment to challenging norms and advocating for women's liberation.

Throughout the 1970s, Ms. played a pivotal role in mainstreaming feminist discourse, covering topics like abortion rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. However, its progressive stance often led to financial instability, as many advertisers were reluctant to associate with a magazine that challenged conventional female stereotypes. This struggle culminated in 1979 when the magazine transitioned to a nonprofit model under the Ms. Foundation for Education and Communication.

The late 1980s and 1990s saw Ms. undergo several ownership changes and periods of financial precarity. A significant turning point came in 1990 when it relaunched as an advertisement-free bimonthly, a revolutionary move that prioritized editorial integrity over commercial pressures. In 1998, a consortium of feminists, including Gloria Steinem, formed Liberty Media for Women, LLC, to ensure its independent ownership.

On December 31, 2001, the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), a leading feminist research and action organization, became the sole owner and publisher of Ms. Magazine. This acquisition solidified the magazine's place within the non-profit feminist movement, allowing it to continue its mission free from corporate influence. Under FMF, Ms. shifted to a quarterly publication schedule and expanded its digital presence, launching the "Ms. Blog" and developing tablet and mobile apps to reach a broader, cross-generational audience.

In recent years, Ms. has continued to adapt to the evolving media landscape. In June 2025, the magazine launched a comprehensive digital archive, making over five decades of its content accessible to academic and public libraries, further cementing its legacy as a historical resource for gender justice and social change. As of September 2026, Ms. Magazine remains a vibrant online and print publication, actively covering contemporary issues such as reproductive rights, electoral integrity, and global feminism.

The year 2026 marked a poignant period for Ms. Magazine and the feminist movement. On September 2, 2026, co-founder Gloria Steinem passed away at the age of 92, followed shortly by the death of longtime editor and influential feminist Robin Morgan on September 5, 2026. The Fall 2026 issue of Ms. is dedicated to remembering Steinem's profound impact, underscoring the magazine's commitment to carrying forward the torch of feminist journalism and activism that she helped ignite.