Janice Min
Janice Min | |
|---|---|
 Min in 2023 | |
| Born | Janice Byung Min Atlanta, Georgia USA |
| Education | Columbia University, Columbia School of Journalism |
| Occupations |
|
| Notable credits |
|
| Spouse |
Peter Sheehy (m. 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
Janice Min is an American media executive. She started her career in journalism, working at People magazine and InStyle, and was editor-in-chief at Us Weekly from 2002 to 2009. As a co-owner, co-president, and CCO, she revamped entertainment industry publications The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard Magazine.[2][3] In 2021, she became the chief executive officer, editor-in-chief, and co-owner of The Ankler.[4]
Min has won an Emmy Award, was named "Editor of the Year" by Adweek, was listed on CNN's "11 Most Consequential Media and Technology Figures of 2023," and has been described as having "Oprah-esque power over celebrity culture."[5][6] In 2025, Min was a 2025 honoree at WICT's (Women in Cable Telecommunications) 30th annual LEA Awards "Honoring Leadership, Excellence and Advocacy."[7]
She has been a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher, Morning Joe, Power Lunch, and Newsnight, among others.[8][9][10][11]
Early life
[edit]Janice Min, the youngest of three children, was born in Atlanta,[12][13] to Nungsun Min, an IRS agent, and Hong Min, a zoology professor turned businessman.[12][14][15] Her father taught at the University of Georgia[16] and later became an executive for a medical supply company.[17] Min's parents emigrated to the United States from Seoul, South Korea.[14][15]
Min grew up mostly in Littleton, Colorado, where her family moved just before she started first grade.[15] She excelled in school, skipping third grade and graduating high school at age 16. As a child, Min was a fan of journalist Connie Chung.[14] Min said her parents were "oddly permissive" of her interest in journalism for Asian-American immigrants.[14] Min also had an interest in fashion, ever since she was a little girl.[12]
When Min was 13, she lied about her age, saying she was 14, to get a job at McDonald's.[15] In middle school and at Heritage High School, she contributed to the schools' student newspapers.[15] Min worked at a clothing store in a local mall, became a cashier at Target, and sold cosmetics at Foley's during a summer break in college.[15] She interned one summer at MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.[18]
Min moved to New York City to attend Columbia University when she was 16.[15] There she met her future husband, Peter Sheehy,[15] and graduated in 1990 with a degree in history.[18] She also obtained a master's degree in journalism from the same university.[16]
Career
[edit]Early work
[edit]Min began her journalism career in 1991 as a reporter for The Reporter-Dispatch in Westchester County, New York.[19] She covered the crime beat, as well as local school board and planning committee meetings, among other topics.[18]
Min joined People magazine in 1993 as a staff writer.[12][20] She did not have an interest in celebrity gossip, but was looking for a job and had a friend that worked there.[15][21] At first, Min struggled at People. According to one of her former coworkers, she was a "poor writer". Paula Chin, then-senior editor of the magazine, mentored her.[12] Min became better suited for the position as People began to focus on lighter stories. She covered fashion for the "Style Watch" section, which became a regular weekly feature.[12] Min was promoted to senior editor in 1997.[12]
After five years at People,[18] Min left the paper and briefly joined Life Magazine[12] as the assistant managing editor.[13] According to Adweek, she was "bored and miserable" at Life, because of the slower pace of a monthly publication. Min left in 1998, after less than a year at Life, to work for InStyle under the same job title.[12][13] There she led the development of InStyle Weddings and InStyle Makeover.[12] In 2001, Min quit InStyle and started looking for another position.[12]
Us Weekly
[edit]In 2002, Min applied for the editor-in-chief position at Us Weekly and was instead hired as an executive editor under Bonnie Fuller, who became editor-in-chief.[12][17] The following July, Fuller resigned and Min was appointed to take her place.[18][19][22]
According to The New York Times, Min turned Us Weekly into one of the magazine industry's "major success stories".[23][24] Public interest in celebrity news was growing, as was the magazine's circulation.[14] In her role at Us Weekly, Min had a significant impact on popular culture[12][24] and was influential in creating an industry for celebrity gossip.[25] For example, Us Weekly was largely responsible for the popularity of the reality TV show about a couple with eight children, Jon & Kate Plus 8, after it featured John and Kate on the cover of eight sequential issues.