The Entitled Generation?

Ed was at a lunch recently with a bunch of big shot magazine editors and the subject turned, as if it often does when Ed is in the room, to "today's generation." What does Ed think about kids today? asked a couple editors at the table. Ed knew what they thought just by the tone of their question.

The conventional wisdom is that recent graduates and young editors in the industry -- the tail end of Gen Y -- are spoiled, selfish and entitled. Before Ed could even answer the question, one editor went on to share a story about a recent graduate who asked her to write a letter of recommendation for a job in her company and then when she was offered the job, she turned it down to stay at a competing magazine. Even worse, the candidate didn't apologize to the editor who'd done her the favor. Ed agrees that the situation was in bad form. But what is most disturbing isn't that this one young woman acted like a spoiled brat, it's that the rest of the editors at the table nodded along, mumbling that the story was "typical" of "this generation."

Ed meets a lot members of this generation. And for the most part he finds them humble and willing to work hard. Sure, there are some who have an air of entitlement. One intern comes to mind who argued with Ed (who you know is also an editor at a magazine like all of his staff) for several days (!) about why he deserved a byline for a story he only contributed one quote to. But those incidents are rare. And Ed believes that this generation gets a bum rap.

Most of you reading this blog are young editors and recent grads. What do you think? Do you think your generation is spoiled and entitled? Are a few folks ruining your generation's reputation for the rest of you? Or is this just a case of the typical old people stereotype of "kids today" that happens with every new generation? Ed wants to hear your thoughts.

xoxo,
Ed

The skinny on the magazine model

Ed's been putting a lot of thought lately into how the lady magazines portray women's bodies. Have you noticed how more and more of the high-end fashion titles like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, now have coverlines that read "beautiful at any size" or "the best clothes for every body type?" Used to be that only the health mags or mags that focus on the "every girl" like Glamour had such declarations of self-love on their covers. Ed thinks this a great step forward, especially considering that young girls often grow up with these glossies. BUT when the coverlines are going in such a positive direction, why is there such little change actually inside the magazine?

For the most part, those gorgeous girls in the fall fashion features are still just that—girls. Young girls and still at least four sizes smaller than the average American woman. And don't even get Ed started on the amount of retouching that goes into covers to slim down whatever curves that month's Hollywood starlet actually does have.

Perhaps a "streamlined" cover girl does sell issues, and maybe thin models do sell clothes. (Who doesn't like to look at beautiful people?!) But do you think it's the public's own fault for buying into the skinny ideal or do you think it's up to the industry to start featuring real size women in its fashion features? What do you think, Edsters? Venting welcome!

—Ed

Did you ever doubt that you have what it takes?

Ed is confident and all, but sometimes—just like everyone—he questions his abilities. With tons of magazines and newspapers out there that he admires, he’d love to write for them all—naturally, since he’s a print (and website) junkie.

But since every title has its own tone and style, and Ed has his own style, he wonders if he’d be able to work at some prestigious titles or have enough wittiness to be funny at a certain weekly he adores.

This came about when he was having dinner with a good friend and commenting on how much he loved x magazine. The friend responded, “Why don’t you try to work there?”

Though we all know it’s not that easy to just “work there” in our industry, Ed didn’t correct his friend (who is so lucky to be in the marketing world) and looked past that snafu and onto the bigger picture: Could he work at that title?

Did he have what it takes to be funny, snarky, sarcastic, and creative on another level day in and day out? He is a funny guy if he does say so himself, but for one of the first time in years, Ed questioned himself.

Edsters, does this ever happen to you? Do you ever feel like you may not have a certain attitude, tone, or style that would fit one of your highly-admired titles?

Summer Fridays: Dead or alive?

Ah, the summer Friday. Ed remembers when he was a whippersnapper summer intern and his editor told him he was free to leave at 1 p.m. on Friday afternoons. “Wow,” Ed thought. “What a job!”

But many editors (and interns!) say it ain’t so anymore. It turns out magazines aren’t just scaling back their budgets, they’re reigning in their staffers’ summer hours too.

According to this New York Times article, Martha Stewart Living, Elle, In Style, and others have all trimmed their summer hours this year.

In a country that already complains about its scarce vacation time—especially compared to Europe—shortened summer hours gave overworked and underpaid magazine staffs a well-deserved green light to hit the beach early, and indulge in a longish weekend. It’s sad to see that go.

So, Edsters, how are summer hours at your magazine? Do you have a set number of predetermined half-days? Have the summer hour scale-backs hit your publication yet? Do you get any time off for good behavior in the summer? Ed wants to know.

Wishing you a tall lemonade and a shorter work week,
Ed

Netflix for Magazines?

Ed loves his magazines. (Recycling day usually sees Ed begging to keep ‘just one more’ back issue on the communal coffee table, and those gorgeous magazine racks at Barnes and Noble can induce euphoria.) But actual subscriptions? Ed’s allowed 5. After that, the mailbox starts to clog up, the piles overflow, and general chaos ensues. So Ed makes his picks and sucks it up. If one doesn’t work out, there’s always next year.

Then Time Inc. introduced Maghound (it officially debuts in September). Pay a flat fee each month, and pick the magazines you want. $3.95 gets you 3 titles a month, not including ‘premium’ titles. Ed’s thinking Backpacking in the summer, Ski in the winter, maybe checking out those smaller mags that catch his eye at the store. But there are some magazines he needs every month (or, ahem, every week). So maybe he’ll try a combo—subscribe regularly to some, and mix it up with 3 Maghound choices.

What do you think? Good for magazine lovers? Good for the magazine business? Good for the coffee table overload?
-Ed

Is it just Ed, or is the economy starting to hit magazines HARD?!

Not to be a downer, but Ed's gonna be honest—when all the reports came out about the current economic recession—or as Mister Bush likes to put it, a "slowdown"—he didn't really think he'd be affected all that much. Sure, maybe those suits down by Wall Street, but Ed? No way. But ever since Ed's own place of work has been cutting way back on its own magazine pages as a result of advertisers feeling the money crunch, he's been wonderin'...once they cut back on enough pages to stop the financial bloodshed, how much of the magazine will be left? And if they don't want to sacrifice content, will they start sacrificing employees like (gulp) Ed himself? After all, Ed doesn't work at any small mom and pop paper—this is a big national monthly that, well, is frankly starting to resemble more of a tabloid with its page numbers. And what about the people from recently closed Quick and Simple and Golf for Women? Did they get the ax because of already low newsstand numbers, or is the economy to blame?

Obviously, Ed's gettin' pretty nervous...but he's not losing hope yet. Please share—are you feeling the effects at your own publications?

Quick & Simple Put to Quick and Simple Death

Ed found it a bit curious when the publishers of relatively high-brow fare, such as Esquire and Harper's Bazaar, decided to venture into Bauer-land, where $1.99 supermarket buys reign supreme. But then Ed thought, "Hey, it's Hearst. They must know what they're doing." Unfortunately, not this time.

Quick & Simple's untimely shuttering and shift to exclusively online content is yet another solemn reminder that business isn't booming in print media. Ed's a little miffed that Hearst vehemently denied rumors months ago that Q&S wasn't faring well, even though the magazine's staff was denied a spot in the highly coveted tower on 57th and 8th, relegated to less stylish digs down the block. Maybe ignorance is bliss, and they were doing the staff a favor. At least they could take advantage of the airy cafeteria! Sadly, now Ed's got friends from Q&S who are all brushing up their resumes and mass e-mailing their contacts in hopes of landing another gig quickly and simply.

Ed can't help but wonder if Hearst is using the money saved from closing Q&S to help fund their soon-to-launch new food magazine, which is sure to give Everyday with Rachael Ray a run for her yum-o. Maybe they'll even attempt to entice those on Q&S's subscriber list to order the launch mag.

Whatever the case, if you run into any Q&S alums, buy 'em a drink or five.
—Ed