Time Inc on Friday announced a remaking of its editorial structure in a bid to increase collaboration across its portfolio of magazines.
In a memo to staff, newly appointed chief content officer Alan Murray announced a series of appointments aimed at improving “our ability to take advantage of opportunities that cut across individual titles.”
All titles will be divided into four groups, each headed by an editorial director who will be charged with finding new ways to work together to grow our audience and our business across brands, new ways to take advantage of digital and video opportunities that may cut across brands and new efficiencies in how we operate across brands. The editorial directors will report to me.
Time Inc’s news titles, including Fortune, Time, Money, Time for Kids and Motto, will be consolidated under one group led by Time editor Nancy Gibbs. A similar remaking is underway for Time Inc’s other properties — Jess Cagle, the editor of People, will manage the Celebrity, Entertainment and Style Group, which will encompass the company’s entertainment-focused properties, and so on.
In addition, Time Inc is appointing an editorial director, Michael Duffy, who will be responsible for fostering company-wide cooperation. Duffy, the deputy managing editor of Time, will report to Murray.
The changes are part of Murray’s vision for the new Time Inc, which aims to do away with individual fiefdoms around each magazine and encourage teamwork between the various titles.
Here’s his memo:
Team,
One week into this job, I come away amazed and impressed by the extraordinary quality of the work our editorial colleagues do every day and the passion with which they do it. We talk a lot about the enduring quality of the Time Inc. brands, but the real power of those brands clearly lies in the very talented people who bring them to life every day, week and month.
Today, I’m announcing a series of changes designed to put an editorial structure in place that will both nourish those great brands and improve our ability to take advantage of opportunities that cut across individual titles and to find more efficient ways to work together.
All titles will be divided into four groups, each headed by an editorial director who will be charged with finding new ways to work together to grow our audience and our business across brands, new ways to take advantage of digital and video opportunities that may cut across brands and new efficiencies in how we operate across brands. The editorial directors will report to me.
Nancy Gibbs will be Editorial Director for the News Group, which will include Time, Fortune, Money, Time for Kids and Motto. She will remain Editor of Time.
Jess Cagle will be Editorial Director for the Celebrity, Entertainment and Style Group, which will include People, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, StyleWatch, People en Español, Essence, Instantand xoJane. He will remain Editor of People.
Chris Stone will continue to be Editorial Director of the Sports Group, which will include Sports Illustrated, Golf and SI Kids.
Nathan Lump will be Editorial Director of the Lifestyle Group, which will include Real Simple, Southern Living, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, Sunset, Coastal Living, Health, Cooking Light, Cozi and MyRecipes. Nathan will remain Editor of Travel + Leisure. (Departures Editor in Chief Richard David Story will report directly to me.)
In addition, the following people will help lead the Time Inc. editorial team:
Michael Duffy will become Editorial Director, Time Inc., and will work — as he has so effectively at Time—to put together great editorial acts that cut across our brands and help us attract both audience and advertisers. Michael will also work closely with me on matters of editorial standards and integrity. He will continue his role as Deputy Managing Editor of Time and will report to me.
Alex Brez will become Editorial Operations and Finance Director for the Celebrity, Entertainment and Style and Sports groups described above and will work with the relevant editors on matters of operations, workflows and budgets. Alex will continue to oversee operations at People and Entertainment Weekly and will report to me.
Clare McHugh will become Editorial Operations and Finance Director for the News and Lifestyle groups described above. She will work with the relevant editors on matters of operations, workflows and budgets. Clare will remain Editor of Health and will oversee the Time Inc. Food Studios in Birmingham.
Because our digital opportunities may not always line up perfectly with our magazine brands, I am appointing two digital directors who will look for new ways we can combine forces to serve readers across digital, mobile and social platforms. They will both work closely with Jen Wong and me to make sure we are maximizing the growth of our digital audiences and business.
Will Lee will become Digital Director for the Celebrity, Entertainment and Style and Sports groups described above. He will remain Digital Editorial Director of People and Entertainment Weekly and will report to Jess Cagle. The digital editors for other brands will report jointly to their title editors and to Will.
Edward Felsenthal will become Digital Director for the News and Lifestyle groups described above. He will remain Digital Editor for Time and will report to Nancy Gibbs. The digital editors for other brands will report jointly to their title editors and to Edward.
In addition to the changes outlined above, Lisa Arbetter, Editor of StyleWatch, will serve as interim editor of InStyle as we search for a replacement for Ariel. Lisa will remain Editor of StyleWatch.
These appointments are effective immediately.
Please congratulate all those named above and welcome them to their new jobs as we work to make One Time Inc. a reality.
Best,
Alan
