New owners at The Advocate - magazine

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, May 15, 1993 by Erika Isler

A group of investors led by Sam Watters, a New York-based entrepreneur, hopes to finalize a deal by the end of June to acquire Liberation Publications Inc., publisher of The Advocate, from the firm's chairman, Niles Merton.

One of the nation's oldest and most prominent gay magazines, the 25-year-old biweekly has fallen into debt and onto hard times in recent months. Employees continue to leave, both of their own accord and through layoffs. In late March, Kevin Allman, arts and entertainment editor for only seven months, resigned and three other staffers, including the human resources director, were let go. Allman declined to comment on his departure, but sources close to the company speculate that the change is linked to the sale.

"The working conditions in those offices have become quite different" since Watters arrived in March, says one source. "There is a dress code, people are required to be at their desks by 8:30 a.m. and sign in and out every time they leave the building."

With the April 20 issue, The Advocate switched from perfect-bound to saddle-stitched. Another change was the deletion of the word "news" in the tagline, "The national gay and lesbian news-magazine," signaling an editorial shift to more lifestyle coverage.