According to wikipedia, in 1995 the same issue of People Magazine was distributed to the public with two very different covers. One of these covers showcased Selena, who had recently been slain, while the other one showcased the TV sitcom, Friends. The magazine with the cover featuring Selena apparently sold out, while the other did not. It is unclear from the information in wikipedia if the sensationalism that surrounded Selena’s murder had anything to do with the sellout of the magazine with that particular cover, or if it was simply its general appeal to the Hispanic population. It is also unclear from this report what prompted the decision to market the magazine with two different covers in the first place. Nevertheless, as a result of that sell-out, people en espanol magazine was born and has only grown in popularity since that time.
The magazine made its official debut n 1996 and in the decade-plus that has followed people en espanol magazine has become the most popular Spanish magazine sold in America. In the beginning, it was intended to contain only a translation of up to 50% of the articles contained in the English version of the magazine, but over time it has evolved into a completely separate magazine with its own unique identity.
An item of interest is that references to the magazine made in English publications follow English rules of capitalization, but in Spanish, it is not required to capitalize proper names. Therefore, “people en espanol magazine,” written without capitalization is, in the Spanish language, correct. Another point of interest made by wikipedia is that the editors of the magazine make every effort to be sure the Spanish verbiage that is used in their articles is impartial to the diverse Hispanic backgrounds that comprise the majority of the readership.
In looking at the information wikipedia offers, it seems that the launch of this magazine has offered a place where the Hispanic population in America can comfortably find a voice more than they ever did before. Maybe it’s because of the magazine’s focus on their own unique culture and style. However, since its launch, people en espanol magazine has been able to obtain many exclusive interviews. Also adding to its popularity is an annual Hispanic Beauty contest that is held in conjunction with Yahoo, giving opportunity for Hispanics, who before were unknown, to send their pictures for a chance to be featured in the magazine.
