It’s been only five months since Technology for Publishing launched the Women in Media blog, although our aggregated news posts date back to December 2011, where we picked up the announcement that Laura Lang would be taking over as CEO of Time Inc. We wanted to take pause to point out the quickening pace of change, as roles shift and evolve in reaction to more major developments in the industry. The publishing industry as we know it is struggling to map out its future in a rapidly changing technological—and cultural—environment.
Here’s a look back at some of the changes that have occurred in the publishing and media industry in recent months and how they’ve affected the women who have made it to the highest levels of organizational leadership.
Woman’s Day
We recently wrote about Kassie Means moving to Woman’s Day within Hearst as Publisher and Chief Revenue Officer, but we didn’t mention the roles had been vacated by Ginger Sutton, whom Min described at the time as “one of two remaining ‘carryover’ publishers from the former Hachette Filipacchi Media (Elle Decor vp/publisher Barbara Friedmann is the other), which Hearst Magazines acquired in May 2011.” No word yet on what prompted Sutton’s departure or what her next move might be.
In addition, when Susan Spencer became Editor in Chief of Woman’s Day in January, she replaced Elizabeth Mayhew, who, according to a Hearst press release, “decided to leave the company.” Mayhew had been part of that Hachette Filipacchi Media deal. She seems to be keeping busy, with recent appearances on The Editor at Large and LifeMinute.tv as a lifestyle expert.
Women’s Fashion/Lifestyle Magazines
When Kate White, the Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan for 14 years, announced last September that she’d be leaving the magazine to focus on writing and speaking opportunities, it set off a chain reaction: Joanna Coles left Marie Claire to become EIC at Cosmo, Anne Fulenwider left Brides to become EIC at Marie Claire, and Keija Minor moved up at Brides to become EIC. Those changes at the top had a not-unexpected trickle-down effect on the staffs of those magazines and others. Here’s just a sampling:
- More Staff Changes at Marie Claire
- Alfano Returns to Harper’s Bazaar
- Harper’s Bazaar Makes Two Executive Moves
- Khidekel Joins Staff of Cosmo
- Garcia Promoted at Marie Claire
- Chang Moves to Cosmo
- Roitfeld Joins Harper’s Bazaar
- Cruz Named Executive Editor at Marie Claire
Federated Media
The announcement that Deanna Brown would be the recipient of the Exceptional Woman in Publishing Award came out in January, but by the time she received it, she had stepped down as the CEO at Federated Media. In a blog post about the change, company founder and Chairman John Battelle announced that he would take on CEO role and explained that “Deanna told me earlier this year that she wanted – in a thoughtful and appropriate manner – to move on and do something smaller and more directly related to content creation.” No official word yet on what Brown’s plans, though in her acceptance speech at the EWIP awards ceremony, she announced that she was founding a new digital talent agency called Digital Scouts. Stay tuned for more from TFP (wink).
Time Inc.
A little more than a year after Laura Lang was hired as CEO of Time Inc., she announced that she’ll be leaving the organization when it’s spun off from Time Warner. Meredith had been in talks to buy the Time Inc. unit, but those Time Warner announced the change in plans earlier this month.
Also notable was the announcement in December that Martha Nelson would become the first female EIC of Time Inc., replacing John Huey, who stepped down.
Newsweek
The announcement by Tina Brown, Editor in Chief of The Daily Beast and Newsweek, that Newsweek would be going digital-only shook things up and led to layoffs. It led to much speculation on that other print magazines might soon follow suit.
Yahoo
Marissa Mayer has been shaking things up at Yahoo since she left Google, where she’d been since 1999, to take over as CEO of the struggling online media company last July. Her decision to take only two weeks of maternity leave after giving birth, prompted debate about women’s ability to juggle career and family, as did her latest announcement that telecommuting will no longer be permitted at Yahoo.
Martha Stewart Living
This media organization has been struggling, announcing that it was shutting down Whole Living magazine, and that Everyday Food would become a supplement to Martha Stewart Living in print, with its emphasis shifting to digital. The Martha Stewart Show was also canceled last year. Meanwhile, the company has seen its share price drop.
One casualty of those changes was Lisa Gersh, who only last July had been named CEO. But after a rocky five months, she announced in December that she would be stepping down.
Variety and AOL
The promotions of three people to EIC roles at Variety meant that 31-year veteran and EIC Tim Gray was “kicked upstairs,” apparently for remaining too print-centric and failing to capitalize on the industry shift to online. Not coincidentally, on the same day the management shift was announced, Variety also revealed that it would no longer produce a daily print edition.
Likewise, it was announced this month that COO Artie Minson is leaving AOL, making room for Susan Lyne to become CEO at AOL Brand Group. Minson reportedly disagreed with AOL CEO Tim Armstrong about strategies for the Patch network and The Huffington Post, both of which are AOL properties.
While you may not have the time or interest to follow every female (or male) change in leadership within the industry, the important takeaway is the pace of change, and the shifts in publishing that are driving these changes. It seems safe to say that never before have publishing requirements and content creation and distribution objectives shifted so dramatically in such a short amount of time. Technology and consumption are changing beneath our feet. Those with eyes wide open are envisioning bold new ways to publish and to connect with readers; those who are not paying close attention are struggling to make sense and keep up.
Watching our female leaders gives us a focused view on the shifts and changes, and allows us to observe and learn from what’s happening at the forefront of the industry. We have some exciting Women In Media spotlight interviews coming in the next few months—watch for them so you, too, can listen and learn.
Technology for Publishing’s Women in Media blog highlights the news and achievements of female leaders and role models in the publishing and media industry. Look for our monthly in-depth profiles and interviews of top women to watch. Is there someone you’d like to nominate for an upcoming Q&A? Drop us a note!
Posted by: Margot Knorr Mancini
