Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge

The programme traces the evolution of the magazine launched in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and Ralph J. Gleason. It highlights how the publication combined music journalism with pioneering political reporting through its influential pages, shaping both cultural and political discourse.

The programme is a concise episode that tracks the origins of a notable magazine that first appeared in San Francisco back in 1967. It sets out to map the early days of the publication, giving viewers a clear picture of how the title came into being and why it mattered at the time. Central to the story are the two founders – Jann Wenner and Ralph J. Gleason – whose partnership shaped the magazine’s direction from the outset. The episode follows their collaboration, showing how they deliberately combined coverage of contemporary music with a fresh, politically‑oriented style of reporting that was unusual for the era. What makes the magazine stand out, and therefore the focus of the programme, is its blend of music journalism and innovative political commentary. By pairing concert reviews, artist profiles and cultural trends with incisive political pieces, the publication forged a hybrid voice that appealed to readers interested in both worlds. The episode charts how this dual approach defined the magazine’s identity, illustrating the way Wenner and Gleason’s vision set a precedent for future media outlets. In doing so, it offers a straightforward account of how a single publication managed to marry two seemingly disparate subjects into a single, influential editorial line.