Outside is a magazine focused on the outdoors. The first issue debuted in September 1977 with its mission statement declaring that the publication was "dedicated to covering the people, sports and activities, politics, art, literature, and (especially) hardware of the outdoors..." Its founders were Jann Wenner (the first editor in chief), William Randolph Hearst III (its first managing editor), and Jack Ford (an assistant to publisher Donald E. Welsh and a son of former U.S. President Gerald Ford). Outside is known as the magazine that launched the career of Jon Krakauer, Sebastian Junger, and numerous other successful freelance travel and adventure writers. Though the magazine has tilted toward a more commercial aesthetic in recent years, it is notable for recruiting leading figures from the literary world for freelance assignments. Other highly regarded writers whose work has frequently appeared in Outside include Bob Shacochis, E. Annie Proulx, Bruce Barcott, and Tim Cahill. In 2006 it had an average circulation of 593,676 paid and verified. Lawrence J. Burke is its current owner and chairman, and Christopher Keyes is its editor. (via Wikipedia)