Explore a treasure trove of singular American journalism

Faculty and librarians increasingly are turning to real-world, primary sources to ground academic inquiry in cultural relevance. Now, thanks to a partnership between ProQuest, from Clarivate, and Penske Media Corporation (PMC), institutions can offer a suite of rich, influential media archives, including Rolling Stone, Variety, Billboard, Women’s Wear Daily, The Hollywood Reporter and more.

This collaboration enables libraries to support classrooms with seamless access to the leaders in capturing the pulse of politics, fashion, music, entertainment and social movements with the authentic insights only primary sources can provide.

Penske Media Corporation: A Trusted Publisher of Iconic Content

PMC is the publisher behind some of the most recognized and respected names in publishing. From the in-depth music and cultural reporting of Rolling Stone to the entertainment industry coverage of Variety, and Artforum’s lens on the contemporary art world, PMC titles are central to understanding modern history and culture.

Through its partnership with PMC, ProQuest makes these leading archives available in full-image, searchable formats, turning decades of cultural commentary into essential tools for teaching and interdisciplinary research.

Among PMC’s titles, Rolling Stone holds a particularly influential role due to its legacy of shaping and chronicling music, politics, and social change.

The Significance of Rolling Stone

Since its founding in 1967, Rolling Stone has been a vital chronicle of music, politics and social change. Its archive offers compelling primary source material through coverage of:

• • Major music genres including rock, hip-hop, pop and alternative
  • In-depth political and social commentary
  • Investigative journalism on social justice, environmental issues and political controversies
  • Profiles and interviews with artists, activists and thinkers
  • Firsthand documentation of key cultural movements, from the counterculture era to digital activism

How Rolling Stone Enhances Teaching

Libraries and educators can use Rolling Stone to expand academic frameworks and engage students directly with contemporary sources.

Sean Woods, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Rolling Stone, says: “The Rolling Stone archive, available through ProQuest, is an unparalleled resource for educators, journalists, students, and anyone eager to explore our history. The archive spans more than seven decades of pop culture, covering everything from the Beatles to punk, hip-hop to BTS.

“Rolling Stone was there for the birth of counterculture and New Journalism, publishing landmark work like Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff and Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In more recent years, the publication has delivered award-winning coverage of the Iraq War, the financial crisis, the gangs of Haiti, the rise of AI, and so much more. This truly is an all-access pass to a treasure trove of singular American journalism.”

Educators can engage students with compelling content on topics such as:

• • Climate change and environmental activism In "Greta Thunberg", Kate Aronoff chronicles the rise of youth climate protests, supporting analysis of international social movements and public communication.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lorena O'Neil’s 2023 piece “These Women Tried to Warn Us” traces the overlooked contributions of early female AI researchers, ideal for classes in tech ethics, STEM equity, and digital culture.
  • The global reach of Hip-Hop Matthew Bremner’s 2025 feature “Famo Wars”, explores the Lesotho rap scene to reveal local identity, violence and globalization.
  • COVID-19 and global public health “The President and the Plague” (2020), by Jeff Goodell and Tim Dickinson, examines leadership during COVID-19, supporting studies in crisis communication and political accountability.
  • Human rights and advocacy In “Inhuman Bondage,” Jefferson Morley profiles Amnesty International’s anti-torture efforts in the 1980’s, supporting research in Cold War history, human rights law and international relations.

Why Rolling Stone Matters to Libraries

The Rolling Stone archive, as part of ProQuest Digital Collections, connects journalism with scholarship, offering access to decades of cultural insight and historical context. These articles function as powerful primary sources, enhancing research and coursework in:

• • History
  • Media and journalism studies
  • Political science
  • Sociology
  • Cultural and identity studies

Alongside Rolling Stone, other PMC titles available in ProQuest Digital Collections, including Variety, Billboard, Women’s Wear Daily, The Hollywood Reporter and more, offer a unique record of historical and contemporary events and trends, supporting course development, student research and critical media literacy.

Learn More

The partnership between ProQuest and Penske Media Corporation empowers institutions with access to iconic media titles that energize learning and scholarship.

Explore how your library can harness the full potential of this collaboration. Contact us to start a free trial and explore ProQuest Digital Collections.

Jodi Johnson

Product Marketing Manager for History and Social Change, Social Science and Performing Arts portfolios. With a profound appreciation for history and a background steeped in the arts, she fuses creativity and scholarly insight to offer compelling narratives and to delve into the historical significance behind them.