Ex-Jane Editor Holley Lands at Yahoo [Mediaweek]

Now they're saying that: ... and ... we give up.

Except... wait. We sorta did.

"Tell you what—we'll just hold on to this list and play mix and match later. You know, when we see the goods," we wrote when the list originally leaked. To us, it seemed clear that we were kidding. But in retrospect, it's easy to see how a concerned boob shoot participant could have interpreted our joke as a sincere promise to match up breasts and identities, especially in light of rumors that "paparazzi" would be staking out the shoot location (gross!) Anyway, we called Brandon and asked whether she hated us.

"We were sensitive and just wanted to protect the women involved. Women should be able to show their breasts without worrying that people will make fun of them," she told us. [Ed Note: Where are we, Big Sur? Whatever, sister!] Also! She apologized for lumping us in with tawdrier gossips.

Still, though we're the ones who should be apologizing to the heroic ladies who took off their tops in spite of adversity—adversity that was partially our fault! Gawker should so totally be a safe space for womyn, and we mean that in the most ironically detached but sort of deep down 100% sincere way. —Emily

Earlier: Jane Boob Coverage

Earlier: Gawker's coverage of Joel Stein
'Jane' Virgin Still Unsacked, Intact

I decided to do something a little different this month, instead of our usual drinks party. How about a discussion among six top editors.. with a drinks party afterward (ostensibly to discuss what we've learned—or just for the hell of it!)?

Editors on Truth Serum [Media Bistro]

• Evil, Inc.'s Rupert Murdoch and Liberty Media's John C. Malone kiss and make up. [NYT]
  
• NYT's Sulzberger tells investors to lick his left one. [NYP]
  
• Ugly rumble at Jane editor Brandon Holley's fortieth birthday party. Happy Birthday, Brandon! [WWD]
  
• Mickey Kaus takes time out from mocking Andrew Sullivan and Markos "Kos" Moulitsas to resume his long-running attack on CNN's Jonathan Klein. [Kausfiles, second item]
  
• Newspapers tell readers what they want to hear. Which, in the Times case, is that women have small dogs. [NYT]

• Subpar oral-sex provider Dave Zinczenko's advice book for the ladies isn't exactly licking sales charts up and down until they achieve climax. (Sorry.) [Radar]
  
• Very touching tribute to CNET's James Kim. [CNET]
  
• Andy Rooney's not a racist. A doddering old crank, sure, but not a racist. [CBSNews]
  
• How much does it cost a celebrity to keep a picture of nose-pickage out of the papers? About $10.5 grand, if you're in Italy. [Guardian]
  
• An idea so tacky we're shocked we didn't think of it first: Who's the hottest media wife? [MWD]
  

God. Some women will do anything for just a little attention.

The 29-Year-Old Virgin [Jane]

Earlier: Brandon Holley Revives Neon Palette

The other thing, however, is a bit more troubling. We don't know how else to put this, but Jane is a little hopped up on bloggy goofballs. In this issue alone, there are bylines from Elizabeth Spiers and their current guest blogger Lindsay Robertson, photos of Melody Nelson and Jessica Cutler, a gentle ribbing of Perez Hilton, quotage from Sarah Lewitinn, plus a handful of "blogs you need to check out." Every other page, another blog thing. It was a RSS feed on paper.

Not that this is necessarily a bad thing. It's just that we read magazines to get away from the blogfuck.

Jane

Thanks to all of you who wrote sweet letters to send Jane Pratt off. It's awesome to know that even though you'll miss her, you have faith we're gonna keep on making a kick-ass magazine every month. And sorry to Sally in Baton Rouge, La.: Jane is not training to become a champion paraglider.

None of these "sweet letters" were actually printed, mind you. Translation: Get over it, bitches.

But these editorial ebbs and flows are hardly our chief concern. What we're worked up about is the November cover, the first under Holley, which reportedly sports a "neon logo." Neon? Ugh, bag your face. That is so not Jane.

Jane Editors Jump Ship [NYP]
Earlier: Brandon Holley Gives 'Jane' Staff a Make-Under

We also hear that Holley has decided to replace creative director Johan Svensson, who's responsible for the magazine's most recent redesign. Svensson has held the position for about a millenium or so, but Holley reportedly has an as-yet-unnamed replacement in mind.

We're not sure if any of this comes as a surprise: Guess it depends on how naive staffers were when Holley said she'd rather take them camping in Montauk than "shake things up." (Camping in Montauk? So Jane!)

Memo Pad [WWD]

Former beauty market editor Anais Lombard was promoted to beauty editor, working under Schulte-Hillen.

Former editorial assistant Joanna Douglas was promoted to staff writer.

Melissa Walker, currently a senior editor, will also receive a title change, but we're waiting to hear from today's edit meeting to figure out what it is.

And, warranting the most fanfare is Erin Meanley, who now dons the title of assistant editor after slaving away as the assistant to EIC Brandon Holley.

Next month, check out their ten tricks to boost morale through masthead movement and fall eyeshadow special!

ELLEgirl's Masthead Adolescence [Jossip]

[A]ccording to sources close to the magazine, her leaving had less to do with her wanderlust and more to do with a power struggle between Pratt and Fairchild s upper ranks that had been brewing for more than a year.
[...]
A source close to the magazine says that a tearful Pratt told her staff in a closed door meeting following the announcement of her departure, I just hope you can read between the lines.

Frankly, there might be even more reading to be done. The power struggle between indie Pratt and her corporate overlords was, as Folio mentioned, evident in her monthly columns. But we also know Pratt was experiencing some serious health issues (not related to work, we'd say, but we all know these things are hardly mutually exclusive). In our clammy little heads, we see a long power struggle finally ending with Pratt walking away, for the sake of her health and sanity (or "wanderlust," as she put it). And, sad as we are to see her go, you can't fault a woman for taking care of herself.

Now, let's leave Jane Pratt be and focus on her successor, Brandon Holley, and whether or not she can make drag-racing "so Jane."

Did Jane Jump, or Was She Pushed?

From the ads, we learn that Holley is a style maven, a hoarder of lipsticks, once Advertising Age's Woman to Watch, music obsessed, a drummer in search of a band, a newsstand-sales record breaker, a rule breaker, someone who gets away with it, an Adweek Hot List alumni, a surfer, a drag racer, a power player (in a good way), a former bartender, a maker of good martinis, a reason to celebrate, able to change her own oil, and driven.

It's amazing she finds time to edit a magazine.

All six "She's So Jane" ads after the jump.

Click on any ad to get a larger view:

Full release after the jump.

*********************

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [xxxx]

BRANDON HOLLEY NAMED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF JANE MAGAZINE

New York, August 8, 2005 Brandon Holley, founding editor-in-chief of ELLEgirl magazine which launched in 2001, has been named editor-in-chief of Jane magazine. The announcement was made jointly today by Mary G. Berner, president and CEO of Fairchild Publications and Patrick McCarthy, chairman and editorial director. Her appointment is effective August 15th.

Ms. Holley, 38, says, Jane is the perfect move for me. I'm ready to move out of the teen world and interestingly, the transition will be natural. The Jane reader is the reader I have been talking to at ELLEgirl, only now she is a woman. The potential for Jane is incredible: Who doesn't want to be 25? There is no magazine out there like it, for this smart, sophisticated woman in her twenties. It is such an amazing time in her life and Jane knows how to address
her.

Jane Pratt, Ms. Holley continues, who has always been an inspiration to me, changed women's magazines forever, much the same way she changed teen magazines at Sassy. I am excited to have the opportunity to build on the magazine's success and to have Jane as an
advisor.

Mr. McCarthy says, Brandon was a real match to be the editor of Jane. She launched ELLEgirl in a crowded teen market and offered a cool, edgier content and fashion focus than her competitors and instantly connected with her readers. Brandon Holley has the credibility with readers and an instinctive way of drawing them in that will translate well to Jane and the twentysomething reader.

Ms. Berner says, Brandon totally gets the so Jane sensibility. Her track record at ELLEgirl is impressive and we are confident she will continue to forge the indelible bond Jane has with its readers and take it to the next level. For the first half of 2005, ELLEgirl's newsstand sales are up 23% over last year and have increased 33% since the February 2005 issue. The magazine was ranked in Adweek's Hot List for 2005, for magazines under $50 million.

Ms. Holley has had a diverse editorial background in the magazine industry. Prior to joining ELLEgirl, she served as senior editor at GQ from 1998 to 2000. Before that, she was part of the launch team of Time Out New York where she served as the eating and shopping editor from 1995 to 1998. She started her magazine career as a writer for Paper magazine in l989, worked as a fact checker for Rolling Stone and worked in various editorial positions from Women's Own magazine to executive editor of Sportswear International. In 2002, Ms. Holley was named one of Advertising Age's Women to Watch.

For fun, Ms. Holley surfs, drag races in New Jersey and competes in horse shows with her retired horse Relo. She also plays drums (a Ludwig 7-piece), but is currently without a band.

Jane magazine launched in September, 1997 with a circulation rate base of 400,000. The magazine is published ten times a year with a current rate base of 700,000. For January through June 2005 compared with the same period last year, Jane's newsstand sales are up 15.6%, according to publisher's estimates. Year to date through September, advertising pages are flat, up .8% over last year.