In 2011, the magazine caused a stir with a cover that had a computer-altered image of the late Princess Diana - making her appear as she might look if she were still alive - walking alongside Kate Middleton, the then-fiancee of Diana's elder son, Prince William.

In May, after US President Barack Obama came out in favor of same-sex marriage, he was adorned with a rainbow halo and the accompanying headline: "The First Gay President."

The "#MuslimRage" cover in September, which sought to spark a conversation about anti-US violence sweeping the Muslim world, saw thousands take to Twitter to mock the premise with both real and imagined gripes.

Announcing the demise of Newsweek's print magazine in October, Brown, who also is editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast, said the all-digital version will be targeted at today's "highly mobile, opinion-leading audience".

She cited research showing that 39 percent of US citizens get their news online and said Newsweek had reached "a tipping point at which we can most efficiently and effectively reach our readers in all-digital format".

Agence France-Presse