The Business of Magazines

[Sensation]

From NY Post:

It is almost beyond the fashion world’s wildest imagination, but the chatter coming out of Condé Nast and the publishing industry has reached a deafening crescendo — Anna Wintour could be on her way out of Condé and Vogue as artistic director.

A host of stunned sources have told Page Six that Wintour — the grand high priestess of both the fashion and publishing industries since she became editor in chief of Vogue in 1988 — is to exit her all-powerful role at the publishing house this summer after the July wedding of her daughter, Bee Schaffer, to Francesco Carrozzini, the son of former Italian Vogue Editor Franca Sozzani.

The move would also allow Wintour, 68 — who has for three decades been fashion’s ultimate power broker — to step aside on a high after closing Vogue’s all-important September issue.

But Condé Nast strongly denies Wintour is going. A Condé corporate spokesperson told Page Six on Monday, “We emphatically deny these rumors,” but declined to comment more specifically on Wintour’s plans.

However, we’re told Vogue UK’s editor, Edward Enninful, is the likely replacement as the editor of US Vogue. It’s unclear who — if anyone — might replace Wintour as the artistic director of Condé Nast, the title she ascended to in 2013, giving her oversight over all Condé magazine titles.

https://pagesix.com/2018/04/02/is-anna-wintour-out-at-vogue/

 

[mikel]

I was willing to believe everything, until I read the last paragraph. Not in a million years will Edward replace Anna at US Vogue.

 

[Marc10]

Rumors like this one come and go every other year.

She's only leaving that magazine in a coffin, forget it.

 

[caioherrero]

Rumors like this one come and go every other year.

She's only leaving that magazine in a coffin, forget it.

True!!!


Even if this was true, I doubt that Edward would be choosen for the job. They will give her this last drop of power and let her choose who will replace her

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Oh she will leave, if not this year, then soon. Shame this came from Page Six, otherwise i would be inclined to wonder if it could be true. The fact CN gave such categorical denial puts it to bed. Would they lie like that?

But, sad to say, i totally could see Edward taking over, don't forget that he is Jonathan's "favorite"! He will get US Vogue once she leaves, just the thought of that makes me yawn! I would rather put up with Anna than have him in the job!

 

[MON]

I have a feeling that she’ll retire by November 208, marking her 30th anniversary as editor. Just the thought of Anna leaving Vogue breaks my heart. She may no longer be at her best, but her name brought more authority than the title itself. Deny it as you may, but Anna is Vogue.

Edward taking over is a big JOKE. Edward is a stylist, not an editor. He doesn’t have the experience yet to takeover a big magazine like US Vogue. Do you honestly think Anna would allow herself to share the same cover with another magazine? Edward did. Alexandra never. The fact that he allowed his magazine to suffer such fate, speaks MUCH about his leadership. A good stylist doesn’t mean one will be a great editor.

I do hope that Anna be given the chance to choose her successor and it be not Edward.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

^ I agree, don't think there has been an EIC in the last 50 years who has embodied their magazine as much as Anna. But Fashion is all about change, and I feel its time for her to leave. What shocks me is that they imply she would leave CN alltogether, was certain she would stay as AD!

Seeing this reported online, it's so interesting to see so many mention the fact she gave Kimye the cover as some sort of career touchstone for her, that is part of her legacy now. I wonder how she feels about that.

Edward is yet to fully impress me at UK Vogue, but don't forget that Wintour was also just a stylist, and a very, vey bad one, before she took bigger roles that lead to editing UK, HG and eventually US Vogue. She had Si always believing in her, and Edward has Jonathan. Will be interesting to see how it plays out, but man..Edward at US Vogue makes no sense to me!

 

[Benn98]

I wouldn't flatly rule out the PageSix rumours. They've been right about quite a bit recently and they clearly have an informer on their books. Just shocked to see Edward's name bandied about, my God! Anyone who takes cues from Alexandra Shulman doesn't deserve that job. Katie Grand will go at it with all her might, I'm sure.

The idea of Anna Wintour no longer at Vogue scares me. Sure the magazine is not what it used to be, but next to others they're still more consistent. Now her no longer as consultant I could live with. She sucked at it anyway. Just get rid of Tonchi before you go, Anna.

 

[axiomatic]

they clearly have an informer on their books.

.

Definitely not a coincidence that NY Post has these two Wintour stories back to back

 

[axiomatic]

From the Poynter Institute:

Reeling print businesses stand to take a significant hit this year as a tariff on Canadian newsprint and a scheduled postal rate increase for magazines kick in.

The ultimate amount of the increases is still in flux, but worse case or even next-to-worse case, they may lead to staffing and content cutbacks at strong publications and spell the end for smaller and weaker ones.

Paul Tash, chairman and CEO of Poynter's Tampa Bay Times, said in a letter to readers Sunday that the Times' newsprint bill stands to go up 30 percent or $3 million for this year. The Times and other publishers will cut the size of the print edition and eliminate jobs as a result, he wrote.

Meanwhile magazine industry executives are mobilizing against a proposed postal rate increase for periodicals. They claim that what the Postal Service is asking could add 40 percent to their cost of mailing over the next five years.

If that sticks, Meredith CEO Tom Harty wrote to the Postal Commission, his company will be forced "to pursue magazine closures, circulation cuts, issue frequency reductions and conversion to digital formats."

Interesting to see if magazines will be affected or if this is just PR threats from Meredith.

 

[Benn98]

First the Royal Mail, now Canada too?
It seems us print readers are being systematically ambushed into going digital? Digital means less jobs, are they even aware of that!

 

[Miss Dalloway]

I wouldn't flatly rule out the PageSix rumours. They've been right about quite a bit recently and they clearly have an informer on their books.

They have also had a history of writing stories about Wintour leaving Vogue, with quoted sources, and every single time it was just pure nonsense. I wouldn't trust them, especially since CN deined it. If she was to leave by July, then they would have to announce it very soon anyway, so why lie, now?

There were rumors back in December that Anna told top CN people she will exit Vogue at the end of this year, but gossip like that is around every year.

Grand has zero chance to take US Vogue, while Edward has the right people fangirling for him. CN suits love what he is doing at UK Vogue (that reprint and all ),so i guess his Vogue could be selling well. I don't think he can last at US Vogue though! Sally Singer is another gossiped name to take over, after Anna. But i don't see her taking Edward.

 

[MON]

The successor has to be as bold as Anna when she started. He/she has to be a leader. That I don’t see Edward doing.

If I were CN, I wouldn’t let go of Anna just yet. Let’s be honest, Nina Garcia’s Elle is gaining ground. Good numbers, good features. While all that Vogue has is Anna Wintour, and the brand that comes with the name. As we stand, it really is Anna Wintour v. Elle, Anna Wintour v. Bazaar. The industry rallies behind US Vogue not because of the prestige of the magazine, but because of the influence of the editor herself. All that Vogue (influence) is now, is all her. Take her away, and all you’ll have is just another American magazine. Now couple that with an editor who merely follows and not leads.

Ya’ll might think I’m giving her too much credit, but facts are facts ya’ll! Anna Wintour is a brand herself.

Although, I can see Anna leaving Vogue, but climbing higher in CN ranks.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

CN spokesperson gave a statement to The Cut:

"There’s zero truth to the story."

I don't think they would be giving more than one denials if there was any truth. Page Six back with their nonsense!

 

[tigerrouge]

There have been times in the past when the identity of a major magazine seemed inseparable from the person in charge of it... those people are long gone, yet those magazines remain with us.

Diana Vreeland and Helen Gurley Brown were all shown the door. They were also larger-than-life during their tenure, and no doubt significant and influential, but all they are now are footnotes in magazine history.

 

[Benn98]

There have been times in the past when the identity of a major magazine seemed inseparable from the person in charge of it... those people are long gone, yet those magazines remain with us.

Diana Vreeland and Helen Gurley Brown were all shown the door. They were also larger-than-life during their tenure, and no doubt significant and influential, but all they are now are footnotes in magazine history.

Exactly! Miss Dalloway, weren't you the one who told me how cruelly they sacked Diana Vreeland and painted her rouge office to beige? Same could happen to Anna. And it wouldn't be entirely unjustified.

I think maybe they will remove her only from the artistic position, not Vogue. Maybe the gossip wires fgot crosses. In fact I wish they'd remove her from that overlord position. She's not doing the magazines any justice, quite frankly.

 

[Marc10]

Diana was fired because she went crazy with the budget, and her bold ultra-glamorous vision started to to feel out of touch with the new decade, causing sales to dip. Anna is not facing any crisis of the sort, other than print in general dying. US Vogue is still fairly relevant and commercial successful... so there's no reason imo for them wanting to get her out. And most importantly in this whole debate is the fact that she has an gigantic influence and presence at Conde Nast. So if she were to leave, it would be because she wants to. And I cannot picture her wanting to.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Exactly! Miss Dalloway, weren't you the one who told me how cruelly they sacked Diana Vreeland and painted her rouge office to beige? Same could happen to Anna. And it wouldn't be entirely unjustified.

I think maybe they will remove her only from the artistic position, not Vogue. Maybe the gossip wires fgot crosses. In fact I wish they'd remove her from that overlord position. She's not doing the magazines any justice, quite frankly.

Oh yeah, no one is above firing at CN (we all know how Linda Wells ended years ago), they did Vreeland so wrong! And don't forget that they fired her successor in the same brutal way. Grace wasn't even informed of it, she found out on TV, and friends who called to say its on the news.

But i feel like Wintour is still too valuable to the company to get that fate. Who knows though, i think its time for Wintour to go!

 

[tigerrouge]

I believe what will set her apart is that she'll probably choose to leave on her own terms.

But history has proven that even if you're considered solid in your position, there comes a point where cracks start appearing, and you realise you're on your way out. The reality is, if you don't own/control the business you work for, you can be let go whenever the real owners wants to move on to someone else. It doesn't matter whether you're a football coach or a fashion editor, or anyone else who's produced results for years - if you don't own the business, you're just an employee, and being a legend doesn't prevent you from being unemployed.

 

[Lola701]

This rumor is a total non-sense to me and seems to be motivated only by the fact that this year mark the 30years of Anna at Vogue.
When you’re a woman of power and even more, a very ambitious woman, you don’t get fired. When she will leave, it will be because she decide to and to either retire or take a position specially created for her somewhere.

One thing about Anna is that she has made herself into this essential personality. The world of fashion is different from what it was under Vreeland and no one in this industry has taken that much importance in the entertainment industry, the fashion industry as a whole (she can sit to the table with the Arnault, Pinault, Pavlosky) and also the politic world. And she is a pop-culture icon...

She was really clever because she used her persona as a weapon to increase her power.

But one thing is sure: she will leave one day. When you have power, you have the ego that goes with it and Mr Newhouse will also want to leave his mark on his legacy.