Welcome to Technology for Publishing’s roundup of news about women’s roles, contributions, and achievements in the evolving media business. This latest installment highlights how former A+E head Nancy Dubuc plans to turn around Vice as its new CEO, EIC Claire Sanderson on what’s driving the success of Women’s Health, what USA Today editor Nicole Carroll is investing in, the career of advertising trailblazer Jane Maas, and more.
Fixer in chief
Vice CEO Nancy Dubuc, who replaced Shane Smith, founder of the once high-flying media startup in May, has her work cut out for her. Not only is she the first outsider to head the 24-year-old digital brand―which has been struggling to turn around both its culture and financial picture―but Dubuc (pictured) is also looking at some significant shifts, including the end of Vice’s HBO show and the launch of a nightly show on Viceland. Add to that cutbacks and layoffs as part of an overall industrywide downturn. But the former CEO of A+E Networks, who Smith says has “content in [her] blood” and “is a hell of an operator,” is geared up for the task. Check out Hollywood Reporter’s article on how Dubuc plans to approach the challenges ahead and take the brand to the next level.
The hotness of health
Science-backed content can be hard to come by in the world of wellness―which, according to Women’s Health EIC Claire Sanderson, is today’s “social currency,” representing a $4.2 trillion market. Those factors, she says, are what’s behind Women’s Health’s success: With solid fact-based content, presented in an easily digestible and entertaining way, it’s one of the few magazines increasing circulation―and revenue―these days. Sanderson’s role reaches across the brand, from running day-to-day magazine operations to events to product licensing, feeding a network of some 33 countries that share content. In a Media Voices podcast, she details how it all works, her latest achievements, and why she expects developments like VR to change the future of wellness.
Now more than ever
Nicole Carroll, the new editor in chief of USA Today, also sees tech as the future―across journalism. One example of that is a project she headed while still the editor of The Arizona Republic, a WWD Q&A says. Called “The Wall,” the investigative report incorporated augmented and virtual reality, video, podcasts, and nationwide reporting to provide a “deep dive” on the Trump administration’s push for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. “Our job is to spread the truth, and we want to do that in whatever way people want to receive it,” Carroll says―no matter which side of an issue a reader is on. As such, she adds, investigative reporting is a priority, with plans to triple the size of the newspaper’s investigative team. Her other areas of focus include network expansion, innovation in storytelling, and of course, continuing coverage of everything Trump.
‘Mad Women’
As Adweek reports, the world of advertising has lost a trail-blazer: Jane Maas, an “industry powerhouse” often referred to as the Peggy Olson of “Mad Men” fame, passed away last week at 86. “She represents a woman who cleared the path for other women,” says Kat Gordon, founder of the 3% Movement, in the article. Her career, launched in the 1960s, began as a junior copywriter at Ogilvy, where she rose to creative director and became the second female officer at the agency. Maas then became a senior VP at Wells Rich Greene in 1976, where she helped create the “I Love New York” campaign. She went on to head other prominent ad agencies and authored books on the industry, including one in 2012 that revealed what it was like for women working on Madison Avenue in the ’60s. In promoting the book, the article says, Maas told interviewers that the advertising industry in a lot of ways has become harder for women today, as agencies are fighting to survive and demanding more of their talent.
Hiring News Roundup
- Karey Burke, head of Freeform original programming development, is replacing Channing Dungey as president of entertainment at ABC.
- Liz Doupnik was named executive editor at Shape.com. Previously, she was deputy editor of strategic content development at WWD and earlier a fashion editor at StyleCaster and Seventeen.
- Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications, was promoted to CEO.
- Jacqueline Gifford was promoted to editor in chief of Travel + Leisure. Gifford most recently served as travel director and prior to that held several senior editorial positions at the magazine.
- Darline Jean was appointed chief digital officer at Essence Communications. Prior to joining Essence, Jean was chief operating officer at ad tech company PulsePoint.
- Dara Kapoor is now the executive editor of Health.com. Kapoor has worked for Babble and Condé Nast Traveler, and most recently was a consultant for digital strategy and operations at CoveyClub.
- Moana Luu was named chief content and creative officer at Essence Communications. Luu previously served as chief creative and brand officer at PreTrace Media Group.
- Robbie Myers has joined Shonda Rhimes’ media website, Shondaland.com, as editor in chief. Meyers previously was editor of Elle.
- Jessica Pels has been promoted to editor in chief of Cosmopolitan. Pels previously served as director of Cosmopolitan.com.
- Joy Profet was promoted to COO at Essence Communications, where she had been serving as general manager.
- Liz Schimel, former president of Condé Nast China, joined Apple to head its Apple News service. Schimel has also served as entrepreneur in residence at Comcast Ventures and chief digital officer at Meredith.
- Julia Turner, former editor in chief of Slate, was named deputy managing editor for arts and entertainment coverage at The Los Angeles Times.
- Lindsay Peoples Wagner is Teen Vogue’s new editor in chief. Previously, she was fashion market editor at The Cut.
Let us know in the comments if there are any other recent stories or career moves you’d like us to include in our next Women in Media roundup.
Photo: Meredith Jenks/The Hollywood Reporter
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 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
