Toast - Series 4: Reader's Digest UK

About this episode

<p>Why did we lose Reader's Digest magazine when it is still going in America?</p><p>The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers what happened to the brand which started over a hundred years ago and became the most widely read magazine in the world. </p><p>Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes. </p><p>How did a magazine which pinched articles from other publications become so successful? And why did it end up toast in the UK? </p><p>Sean speaks to: - Sir Alexander McCall Smith, the best-selling author of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency who also wrote for The Reader's Digest - Richard Junger, Professor of Communication at Western Michigan State University - Tom Browne, a former editor of Reader's Digest UK - Gary Hopkins, a former owner of the business's UK division - Jason Buhrmester, Chief Content Officer for Magazines &amp; Books at Trusted Media Brands which owns the Reader's Digest brand, still publishes it in America and licenses it for publicaiton in other parts of the world. </p><p>Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. </p><p>You can email the programme at <a href="mailto:toast@bbc.co.uk">toast@bbc.co.uk</a></p><p>Feel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes. </p><p>Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in December, where Greg Foot investigates so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.</p>