Reality Weekly Names Omarosa O. Manigault West Coast Editor

NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- David J. Pecker, President, Chairman and CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI) today announced that Omarosa O. Manigault has been named West Coast Editor of Reality Weekly, the first weekly magazine devoted exclusively to the hottest reality shows on TV and their stars.

As West Coast Editor, Ms. Manigault will be responsible for breaking news and exclusives on the west coast.  Omarosa will serve as the brand's West Coast ambassador with access to exclusive red carpet events, show premieres and press junkets.  In addition to editing for the weekly, Omarosa will appear on behalf of Reality Weekly as the authority on all topics providing insider information to various news outlets.

The weekly celebrity magazine, which launches its premiere issue on January 2, will feature glossy pages splashed with photos of reality TV's biggest stars with news, recaps, tidbits, and scoops including exclusive columns penned each week by various celebrities, and will also include a companion website realityweeklymag.com.

Ms. Manigault is perfectly positioned to help Reality Weekly become an instant hit on newsstands. Omarosa has solidified her place as a reality TV stalwart by appearing in more than 20 reality shows including the "Celebrity Apprentice", "Surreal Life", "Fear Factor" and "Girls Behaving Badly".  She has also served as co-producer with business mogul and reality TV tycoon Donald Trump on her own show "Ultimate Merger".

Prior to her reality career, which has spanned nearly a decade, Omarosa served as Education and Research Director for NVLP, a production company owned by Dr. Bill & Camille Cosby.  She has worked in the CNN Washington, D.C. newsroom and held various political appointments at the White House with President Clinton. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Master's of Mass Communication degree.

"Omarosa has exactly the combination of skills needed for Reality Weekly," said Mr. Pecker. "She has experience in journalism, politics, business and, most important, in reality television in front of and behind the camera."

"I'm excited to be joining the AMI team on this amazing new project," said Ms. Manigault.  "Reality Weekly will speak to millions of reality TV fans and is much needed and right on time. This truly will be a labor of love for me and I look forward to being a part of this new venture and contributing to this being one of the most popular magazines in the industry."

Editor-in-Chief, Richard Spencer added, "In my mind, Omarosa is the first star of reality TV.  She captivated a nation with her tough, yet vulnerable persona on 'The Apprentice' and has strengthened her resume with impressive media experience that even Donald Trump would be proud of.  Simply put, Omarosa, 'You're hired!'."

Ms. Manigault will begin her duty as West Coast Editor effective immediately and will report to Mr. Spencer.

About American Media, Inc.
American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI's titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Country Weekly, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men's Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI's magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI's digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.

AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI's publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions.  Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services. 

SOURCE American Media, Inc.