The revolving door of the media trade by no means stops. Here, WWD rounds up some notable strikes of late.
Thursday, June 10
Popsugar’s new president
Lisa Sugar has stepped down from her position as president of Popsugar, making method for Angelica Marden.
Sugar based the model along with her husband Brian Sugar in 2006 and it was acquired by Group Nine Media in 2019. It’s understood that she’ll stay a key member of the management group at Group Nine.
Marden, in the meantime, could be very conversant in the San Francisco-based model, having spent 15 years there, most lately as its normal supervisor. Prior to that, Marden was senior vp of content material operations.
“Angelica is a natural leader who understands what it takes to continue growing Popsugar in a media environment where audiences’ attention is more fragmented than ever before,” mentioned Group Nine CEO, Ben Lerer. “Popsugar is already a category-defining media brand and I’m excited to see her continue to grow the brand for next-generation audiences.”
Marden added: “I am excited to take on this new role and lead the team into this next decade of growth where there is endless opportunity for the brand.”
A launch saying the promotion of Marden made no point out of Sugar.
Friday, May 28
Fortune’s editor is departing
Cliff Leaf is stepping down as editor in chief of Fortune, a task he has held since 2017.
CEO Alan Murray knowledgeable staffers of the change earlier this week in a memo, stating that Leaf plans to write down a e book, in addition to different endeavors he’ll announce shortly.
“There is no way to fairly measure the many contributions he has made to this esteemed brand,” Murray mentioned. “He is the best editor I’ve worked with — I still use him for all my important writings; he is a tireless idea generator, and he is a constant source of humor and wisdom.”
While the search is underway for his successor, deputy editor Brian O’Keefe will function appearing editor in chief.
Monday, May 24
Changes at Time
When Time editor in chief and chief govt officer Edward Felsenthal introduced on Monday an formidable goal of 10 million subscribers by 2030 (it has two million paying subscribers throughout all its platforms), he additionally unveiled workers modifications in a bid to rework its digital providing to realize this purpose.
Among the various modifications, govt editor Kelly Conniff turns into senior govt editor, including the journal to her portfolio and main the group of editors that oversee all of its platforms. After greater than three years of main the journal, govt editor Ben Goldberger will tackle a brand new portfolio, specializing in new methods for Time to develop its attain and affect, together with creating a podcast technique and rising editorial partnerships.
Elsewhere, Dan Macsai takes on the extra position of vp of editorial technique. He has been rising the Time 100 most influential individuals checklist into different mediums, together with an ABC present. As effectively as persevering with to do that, in his new position he’ll work to develop and launch new editorial merchandise designed to develop Time’s viewers.
Thursday, May 6
Hearst Buyouts
Hearst Magazines is providing voluntary buyouts to staffers in its promoting gross sales and advertising division, it was introduced Thursday.
WWD understands that the phrases on supply embody three weeks’ fee for yearly of service, whereas for 2021, bonuses and fee will likely be paid out for full at 100% of the goal for eligible workers.
“Being part of Hearst, a well diversified and stable parent company, has enabled us to stand by our employees through the worst of the pandemic by protecting jobs and enhancing benefits. I am so grateful for that,” mentioned Debi Chirichella, president of Hearst Magazines, mentioned in a workers memo. “However, this shift will require some changes to the structure of our magazines business, specifically within our advertising sales, marketing and iCrossing teams. These changes will not affect any editorial positions in the U.S.”
She cautioned that it’s potential that involuntary departures could happen later this spring and that extra modifications are on the horizon in Europe, particularly within the U.Ok. and the Netherlands, together with some reductions in frequency and model closures.
“Moving forward, our brands around the world will collaborate more closely. Some colleagues in Europe will be impacted by these changes, and — as in the United States — we will offer generous voluntary separation packages whenever possible before the difficult decision to make any involuntary actions,” she added.
Unlike rivals Condé Nast and Meredith Corp., Hearst didn’t implement layoffs and furloughs amid the worst days of the pandemic. The exception is O, The Oprah Magazine the place 59 staffers have been laid off, however that’s understood to be as a result of journal’s transition to a quarterly.
Wednesday, April 28
Ebony’s New Editor in Chief
Following its relaunch beneath new possession, Ebony has tapped Marielle Bobo as editor in chief and senior vp of programming.
In her new position, Bobo will report back to Ebony CEO Michele Ghee and oversee the event of editorial tone, video content material, and the model’s social media cadence throughout all platforms. At the highest of her to do checklist will likely be hiring new editorial staffers and launching her first digital cowl for Ebony in May.
“As both a seasoned editor and an experienced leader, she stood out to us as a multifaceted dynamo who not only possesses a wealth of proven editorial experience but who also understands the brand and has a definitive vision for its future,” Ghee mentioned.
Bobo isn’t any stranger to Ebony, having beforehand labored there for over 5 years as the style and wonder director. She has additionally held management roles at Essence and Urban One and most lately, she led editorial route and technique for Ayesha Curry’s AC Brands together with Curry’s journal, Sweet July.
“As the assault on Black bodies continues and a global pandemic ravages our communities, making sure the breadth of our stories is told is as important now as it was then,” she mentioned. “I pick up this mantle with a reinforced commitment to continuing that legacy of excellence — providing a safe space for talented Black creators and ushering in a new generation of readers through bold storytelling and impactful experiences that educate, engage and inspire.”
Last yr, former NBA participant Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman acquired Ebony and Jet magazines, which have chronicled Black life in America for three-quarters of a century, from chapter by means of his firm Bridgeman Sports and Media for a reported $14 million.
Thursday, April 22
Keke Palmer Joins Refinery29’s Unbothered
Vice-owned Refinery29 has tapped Keke Palmer as a inventive adviser to its Unbothered vertical, created for and by Black ladies.
In this newly created position particularly curated with Palmer, she’s going to creatively seek the advice of throughout Unbothered, supporting and co-developing new initiatives that push conversations and Black tradition ahead, in accordance with an organization launch.
“I’m literally too excited about this. I started working with Unbothered years ago as a talent and I just loved how they created a safe space for Black women to share their stories, their experiences, their creativity — and their joy, honey. Because let’s not get it twisted, I’m very joyous…and no one’s going to steal my joy,” mentioned Palmer, who can also be the duvet face of Unbothered’s first digital cowl, photographed by Kanya Iwana.
In addition to Palmer, Unbothered has employed Brooke Obie as deputy director, overseeing the execution of Unbothered’s editorial technique. Obie most lately served as managing editor at Shadow & Act.
Last yr, Christene Barberich stepped down as Refinery29’s high editor after quite a lot of former staffers shared their unfavorable experiences as individuals of shade working on the ladies’s way of life website. In September, she was succeeded by Simone Oliver, who joined from Facebook.
Monday, April 19
Insider Staffers Form Union
The pattern of media employees unionizing is actually exhibiting no indicators of slowing down in 2021.
The newest to take action are 300 staffers at Insider (previously Business Insider), who’re forming a union with The NewsGuild of New York.
The group, which represents a mixture of journalists and editorial employees throughout a number of departments, on each net and video, hopes such a transfer will enhance transparency in firm decision-making, promote range, inclusion and fairness in hiring and retention, and “build a collaborative environment that values their contributions and labor.”
“My colleagues and I deserve to have our voices heard and recognized,” mentioned Nico Reyes, a producer at Insider. “We’re uniting to demand a seat at the table to bargain for a fair contract and better workplace. I’m so proud of the work that has been done so far and can’t wait to see where we go from here.”
The Insider Union is without doubt one of the largest digital retailers to arrange with the NewsGuild-CWA. It follows within the footsteps of The New York Times tech employees, the New York Daily News, The New Yorker, NBC News Digital, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times.
“I continue to be inspired by the ongoing commitment of media workers to address the deep challenges of our industry in their workplaces,” mentioned Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “As the editorial workers at Insider declared this morning, they organized with the NYGuild to strengthen their newsroom and create an inclusive, safe, and collaborative professional workplace. Today, we all stand proudly and in solidarity with Insider Union.”
Insider is owned by Berlin-based publishing home Axel Springer.
Friday, April 16
Choire Sicha’s New Role
Choire Sicha is stepping down as editor of The New York Times’ Styles desk after almost 4 years to tackle a brand new position within the group’s e-newsletter division.
The Times simply introduced that Sicha will turn out to be a senior editor “charged with a project to help expand our newsletter portfolio” alongside Sam Dolnick, an assistant managing editor, and Adam Pasick, who oversees The Times’ portfolio of newsletters, together with The Morning, DealBook and the Coronavirus Briefing.
“Newsletters are the internet’s oldest and newest format, and there is no one better than Choire to help us think through how to use them to form deeper connections with our readers and showcase new voices in ways that meaningfully expand and evolve Times journalism,” it mentioned in a observe posted on its website online.
The place of Styles editor is now open.
Monday, April 12
BDG Attempts to Revive Gawker Again
Leah Finnegan has been tapped as editor in chief of Gawker as a part of proprietor Bustle Digital Group’s newest try and revive the the traditionally snarky gossip website.
Finnegan isn’t any stranger to the model, having been its options editor between 2014 and 2015. Most lately, she was govt editor of The Outline, the Millennial-focused, normal curiosity information website which BDG shuttered in April 2020 in a bid to scale back prices amid the pandemic.
Finnegan, who has additionally labored at The New York Times, addressed the information, first reported by The New York Times, on Twitter, stating: “The rumours are true.”
BDG acquired Gawker in 2018 for $1.35 million in a chapter court docket public sale and set about brining it again to life with former Details editor in chief Dan Peres on the helm. That didn’t final too lengthy as the trouble was killed and Peres and everybody else he employed departed.
A rep. for BDG confirmed that it was relaunching Gawker, however didn’t present any additional info.
Thursday, April 8
Teen Vogue Has a New Executive Editor
While the search continues for Teen Vogue’s subsequent editor in chief after Condé Nast reduce ties with incoming high editor Alexi McCammond, Danielle Kwateng has been named govt editor, taking the helm from Samhita Mukhopadhyay who left final month.
In a publish saying her new place, Kwateng, who has labored at Teen Vogue for 2 years because the leisure and tradition director, defined why the model’s social media accounts have been quiet amid the fallout over the appointment of McCammond as high editor in March.
Condé Nast ultimately parted methods with McCammond after stress continued to mount on the writer over her previous racist and homophobic tweets. That included Ulta pausing its present promoting marketing campaign with Teen Vogue that’s mentioned to be value seven figures, whereas the Fashion for All Foundation, a nonprofit that goals to create consciousness and promote range and equality within the trend trade, referred to as on the writer to instantly take away McCammond from her place. Earlier, greater than 20 members of Teen Vogue’s workers wrote to Condé Nast expressing issues over McCammond.
“As history has taught us, society has the capacity to evolve. We’ve seen this countless times throughout history with movements, uprisings, and even renaissances. But accountability is a critical part of that growing process. We at Teen Vogue have read your comments and emails and we have seen the pain and frustration caused by resurfaced social media posts,” mentioned Kwateng.
“While our staff continued doing the groundbreaking and progressive work we’re known for, we stopped posting it on social media as we turned inward and had a lot of tough discussions about who we are and what comes next. We’re not perfect, but we do know our place in the media landscape and recognize that our readers make up the DNA of our work.”
In addition to McCammond’s tweets, Newsweek reported that Christine Davitt, a senior social media supervisor at Teen Vogue, had additionally made racial slurs on-line, utilizing the n-word on Twitter twice in 2009 when referring to a good friend.
Tuesday, April 6
Refinery29’s New Beauty Editor
Refinery29 is beefing up its magnificence providing with the appointment of Sara Tan as magnificence director. Tan spent virtually seven years at Bustle as senior trend and wonder editor and has additionally held roles at Tiger Beat journal and AOL.
“Refinery29 is known for its genre-defining beauty content which celebrates self-expression, acceptance and innovation,” says Simone Oliver, world editor in chief of Refinery29. “I’m thrilled to continue that legacy with the addition of Sara Tan, who will bring her unique perspective and experience to further Refinery29’s authority in the beauty space.”
Tan’s appointment comes as Refinery29 groups up with Very Good Light, a platform aiming to democratize magnificence for all individuals, for an editorial partnership exploring gender by means of the lens of magnificence.
Last yr, Christene Barberich stepped down as Refinery29’s high editor after quite a lot of former staffers shared their unfavorable experiences as individuals of shade working on the ladies’s way of life website. In September, she was succeeded by Oliver, who joined the Vice Media-owned website from Facebook.
Monday, March 29
Bustle Digital Group Announces New Hires
BDG has made two hires in its way of life division, comprised of Bustle, Elite Daily, Nylon, Romper and The Zoe Report.
Faith Xue joins as govt magnificence director, the place she’s going to oversee magnificence content material throughout all websites in addition to set magnificence technique for the corporate, whereas Melissa Dahl involves the corporate as govt director of well being and wellness, the place she will likely be chargeable for constructing out well being protection. Xue was most lately the editorial director at Byrdie and Dahl was the chief editor of The Cut, New York Magazine’s trend vertical.
“There is an increasing demand from our readers and advertisers to deepen our coverage within the health, wellness and beauty spaces,” mentioned Emma Rosenblum, BDG’s chief content material officer for way of life. “Both Melissa and Faith bring extensive experience and knowledge in these categories, and I am excited to see what they bring to each of our sites.”
She beforehand instructed WWD that she will likely be trying to find potential acquisitions within the well being and wellness or meals areas.
For extra, see:
Departures Magazine Is Going Digital First and Will No Longer Be Published by Meredith
EXCLUSIVE: Verizon Media to Launch Yahoo Shops
Alexi McCammond Is No Longer Heading to Teen Vogue
