James Truman
Magazines Are Turning Into Luxury Objects, Says James Truman
Former Condé Nast editorial director James Truman spoke about the future of publishing at a San Francisco conference recently, and what he had to say sounds a lot like what we've been talking about in this space for the last few months.
Gawker Media's io9 has a report: "Here's what [Truman] decided about print magazines: They're becoming obsolete, but the final stage along that path is to become luxury items. Look at horses, which became obsolete as a form of transportation after the car came along. The upkeep and gear for a horse used to be affordable to the average family, but now it's a luxury bestowed on Muffy in the Hamptons on her sixteenth birthday. read more »
Editorial Director James Truman Resigns, Again; Will Found Media Company
He informed Ms. MacBain last week, in person, in London, that his resignation was effective immediately.
The debut issue of LTB Media's 'Culture and Travel' was recently celebrated at Ms. MacBain's Richard Meier penthouse.
Mr. Truman has said he has been talking to finance people and will launch his own media company.
"I came on board a year ago to help Louise out. I thought I'd done everything I could. The magazines' ad pages are up between 20 and 50 percent," Mr. Truman said this morning of his work at LTB Media.
"My interest was in moving on and setting up my own company. I was never going to do it long-term," he said. "The project interested me because I tried so long to get an art magazine at Conde Nast."
"I don't think there's much VC money that would want to back a conventional magazine," Mr. Truman said of his new plans. —Michael Calderone
Off the Record
Ms. MacBain Presents
Truman's Zen Retreat
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Can Fairchild Recast Scruffy Glossy as W With Testosterone?
