The People

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, March 1, 2003 by Susan Thea Posnock

Byline: Susan Thea Posnock

Entertainment Weekly managing editor Rick Tetzeli, who inherited the Time Inc. title last October from longtime m.e. Jim Seymore, kept the staff largely intact for several months, but lately Tetzeli has begun to shake things up.

The biggest changes are in "News & Notes," the mag's highly readable front-of-the-book section. In January, Tetzeli let deputy news editor Jeff Gremillion go and reassigned senior editor Thom Geier to the back of the book. Taking over "N&N" are new senior editors Jason Adams, arriving from Blender, and Ari Karpel, from TV Guide.

Tetzeli won't discuss his plans for the section but stated in a release announcing the hires that it will be revamped. Gremillion says, "My understanding is the two new people he brought in are charged with a massive overhaul of the section. He wanted something so new that he wanted four brand-new eyes on it."

The look of EW could also be in for changes. Photography director Sarah Rozen is no longer with the mag.

Furthermore, speculates Gremillion, the transformation Tetzeli plans overall for the 13-year-old book will be significant. "There clearly is a major cultural shift in the making at Entertainment Weekly," he says. "It will affect the tone and substance of the magazine, and it will affect the day-to-day working environment for the staff." Current staffers approached by FOLIO: would not discuss the personnel moves.

Some EW editors recently appear to have lost luster, although titles don't necessarily reflect that. In addition to Geier's move to the back of the book, former book reviews and book features editor Tina Jordan will no longer be handling the reviews. However, a spokesperson for the magazine says Jordan's role has not diminished, as she's been handed a weekly books column, and she will continue to edit features. As for Geier's new role, Tetzeli told FOLIO: in a statement that "some of the changes in assignments are designed to bring a new perspective to various sections of the magazine. This is one of them, and I'm confident that Thom will bring new energy to the books section."

Tetzeli, who arrived at EW from Fortune, has also announced several important promotions. For example, in February he increased the number of assistant managing editors at EW from three to five. (See box.)

"This is a terrific magazine and a great place to work, so it isn't surprising that there's been very little turnover [over the years]," says the new m.e. "Change can be difficult, but the staff here seems really energized."

ADVERTISING & SALES

Popular Science promoted Jill Schiffman to northeast sales manager, from New York sales manager.

Maureen O'Connell to consumer products director, Self, from This Old House, where she managed the Sony, Kraft, and DuPont accounts.

James Manry to southeast endemic sales manager, Time4Media's Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and SHOT Business magazines. Previously, he was southeastern sales manager for American Hunter and American Rifleman.

Lance M. Adeszko to sales development manager, USA Weekend Magazine, from midwest director for Meredith Interactive.

Michelle Balaz to midwest ad director, Biography, from midwest manager.

CORPORATE

Angelo Gaziano was promoted to chief operating officer of Mariah Media, parent company of Outside magazine. Gaziano had been vice president of finance and administration for Mariah.

Gerard Griffin to vice president of enterprise financial systems, Primedia's Consumer Magazine and Media Group (CMMG), from chief operating officer of Primedia's Media Central division.

Chuck Cordray to vice president of consumer marketing, TV Guide Publishing Group, from vice president of circulation business development for Primedia's CMMG.

Kevin McKean to CEO and editorial director of IDG's InfoWorld Media Group, from vice president and editorial director of IDG's PC World.

Linda McCutcheon to director of publications for AARP, overseeing AARP: The Magazine and the monthly "AARP Bulletin," among other titles. A former executive at Time Inc., most recently she was CEO of KOZ, Inc.

CMP Media announced the promotion of Jeff Patterson to the new position of executive vice president, corporate sales and marketing. Patterson had been president of the electronics group at CMP. The company also named Paul Miller to group publisher, electronics. Most recently he was publisher and vice president/managing director of the electronics group.

Mountain Sports Media has named Andy Bigford to vice president of the Warren Miller Entertainment division. Bigford was promoted from editor-in-chief of Ski magazine. Kendall Hamilton, deputy editor at MBA Jungle, was named Bigford's replacement at Ski.

EDITORIAL & ART

Michael Lafavore to editor-in-chief, TV Guide. The former editor-in-chief and founder of Men's Health magazine, Lafavore was most recently a consultant.

Cathy Cavender, former editor-in-chief of Rosie, was named deputy editor of Hearst's Lifetime magazine. The magazine also announced the following appointments: Deborah Baer as entertainment editor, from senior editor at Cosmogirl!; Darcy Jacobs as senior editor, from senior editor at Seventeen; Lauren Hicks to photo director, from photography editor of Travel Leisure Golf; and Farah Ameen to copy chief, from copy chief at Seventeen.