But something I found from the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education's Web site about a pending new magazine from Essence Communications.
--ST, 1989 graduate of the Maynard Institute's Summer Program
Richard Prince's Journal-isms™
Posted January 8, 2004
Canadian From West Indies to Edit Essence Spinoff
Photo (New York Post)
Suzanne Boyd, editor-in-chief of Canada's Flare magazine and twice named to Canada's best-dressed list, has been lured south by Essence Communications Partners to steer a new fashion and beauty magazine on to the newsstands, the Toronto Star reports.
Suzanne Boyd:
"A spin-off of Essence lifestyle magazine for African-American women, the as-yet-unnamed book is positioning itself as a cross between Vogue and InStyle for women of colour.
"'There's a lot of room there, especially in the fashion context,' enthuses Boyd, a native of Halifax who grew up in the West Indies. Her father hails from Dominica and was studying civil engineering at Dalhousie University when he met Boyd's mother, a Jamaican nursing student, in Quebec city.
"Boyd, as is well-documented in the Star's annual Canadian best-dressed list, is a fashionista par excellence. But she also has remarkable charisma and a relentless work ethic. It's a sure-fire combination not lost on Essence, or its much larger partner," Star fashion editor Bernadette Morra writes, following up with a q-and-a with Boyd.
In the New York Post, gossip columnist Keith J. Kelly writes that, "The 40-year-old fashionista . . . is the hottest editor to come out of Canada since Bonnie Fuller, who has edited YM, Marie Claire, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Us and now Star and the American Media tabloids."
Posted January 7, 2004
Who Will Put Out Revived Vanguarde Magazines?
If Honey and Savoy magazines, the Vanguarde publications shut down in November, are revived, as Media Life magazine reports is in the works, one big question is who will do the reviving.
When Vanguarde filed for protection from bankruptcy, CEO Keith Clinkscales also left the company.
Savoy's editor-in-chief, Ron Stodghill, told Journal-isms today that "I passed up" the opportunity to help revive the publication, though "I'm still very much supportive of that group," meaning those who remain at Vanguarde; "I think we proved that the market is there." Stodghill, who came from Time magazine, said he is finishing up a book on the 1996 slaying of prominent Atlanta entrepreneur Lance Herndon, which looks at the city’s black jet set -- and going out on job interviews.
Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, the executive editor, who came from The Source hip-hop magazine, said he, too, had "conversations with the principals about joining the effort," but could not become involved in the revival, either. "I'm using the time to get some writing done: finishing a book with Wynton Marsalis and writing two documentary projects for Russell Simmons. So I'm putting off the decision as to when, how and where I re-enter the magazine world," he told Journal-isms.
Managing Editor Carla Williams is working as an editor of BlackAmericaweb.com. "Like everybody else who's been there, I'm listening to what the principals have to say," she told Journal-isms.
Jeff Bercovici, a staff writer for Media Life, on Tuesday quoted Joe Sarachek, managing partner at Triax Capital Advisers, who is overseeing Vanguarde’s restructuring, as saying, "It’s our current intention to get Honey and Savoy cranked up as soon as possible. The market seems to have real interest in a stand-alone reorganization.”
"The two magazines will then be put on the block for sale," Bercovici continued.
"The company’s third title, Heart & Soul, will not resume publishing but could end up being sold, at least in name, as part of a deal involving the two active titles, or sold separately. 'We’re entertaining offers to purchase all or some of the assets,' Sarachek acknowledges,” Bercovici wrote.
Last month, Paul D. Colford reported in the New York Daily News that Vanguarde's biggest severance claim was from Stodghill, at $194,192, and that Provender Opportunities Fund II, run by lead investor Provender Capital Group, had a secured claim of $1.75 million, covered by Vanguarde's assets.
AOL Reportedly Interested in BlackVoices.com
"The nation's leading Internet service provider, America Online, is in negotiations to purchase BlackVoices.com from the Web site's owner, Tribune Co. A deal could be announced before the end of January," Ken Smikle reported today for Target Market News.
"The Tribune Co. had planned to simply shut down the wholly-owned division at the end of last year but delayed action when AOL, a division of TimeWarner, expressed interest.
"Though BlackVoices.com remains an active Web site, most of the employees have already been laid off or have taken a hiatus until the company's future is decided. Tribune is attempting to find positions for some staffers within its newspaper business," the story continued.
As might be expected during delicate negotiations, the parties would say little to Journal-isms today about a potential deal.
"I'd feel uncomfortable confirming or denying," said Kenn Turner, who, as reported in December, was recently promoted to senior vice president and general manager for key audiences for AOL; those audiences being African Americans, Latinos and small businesses.
"It's not something I would comment about," said Gary Weitman, spokesman for the Tribune Co.
Barry Cooper, CEO of BlackVoices.com, said only that "it is true that we have severed some [non-editorial] employees as we continue to look for the right strategic partner. That process is continuing and we're optimistic that we'll be successful."
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TTT/More about Honey, Savoy and new Essence mag
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