‘Out’ magazine lays off its entire editorial team
The US-based gay lifestyle ‘Out,’ will lay off its entire editorial staff with one month’s severance as of tomorrow, Capital New York reports.
Though, all is not as it seems, according to the magazine’s editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin. He is set to hire back an unspecified number of editors on a contractual basis to an editorial agency he is to found, called Grand Editorial. Grand Editorial will continue to operate the magazine as a contractor for Here Media, which acquired the magazine in 2008.
Denying that this was a cost-cutting measure, Mr Hicklin said that there will neither be a reduction in the magazine output, nor any major changes to its editorial content. He also told Capital that he plans to offer long-term contracts to “most” of the twelve editorial employees at the magazine. How though is something of a question, given that the magazine is Grand Editorial’s only client so far, and Mr Hicklin is involved in a lawsuit against Regent Entertainment Inc., which is in a business relationship with Here Media. The latter has had problems paying its freelancers and vendors over the past few years.
Joe Landry, senior vice president and group publisher of Here Media, said in a statement: “The media landscape is a rapidly evolving. I’m confident that the model we’re utilizing will offer us the best opportunities to remain competitive. We continue to have complete confidence in Mr. Hicklin and his team, most of which will continue to work with him on the OUT brand as he adds new staffers to continue to grow and evolve the brand.”
