WCME: Hiring—The New Top Editor of Vanity Fair
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest editor of them all?
What Caught My Eye is a new daily column about pushback.
Hello everyone—I hope you had a good weekend.
In the spirit of new beginnings, Condé Nast is hiring a new top editor to spearhead its Hollywoodian saga. If Victorian, Elizabethan, or Regency were never really your thing because you prefer being in the now—this job is for you. But a fairytale HR process is hardly in store.
Today’s column brings you a digest on what Anna Wintour—Condé’s ever-watchful gatekeeper—is looking for at the top of the masthead, and the gossip surrounding the press. I’ll be following this story closely.
Meanwhile, back in New York, there was weekend rumbling about spring really arriving—and with it, a new wave of dissertations. In Paris, it hit a cool 71°F, which sent me into denim jacket mode, (and straight into Zara Home for a little light shopping). To read the story, I encourage you to upgrade to a paid yearly subscription.
Also worth noting, over the weekend,
, writer of What Looks Good and a friend of this newsletter made a sharp point in a post.She’s right. Fashion is stuck in a holding pattern, it’s basically on cruise control. Only evidenced by the chaos of designer musical chairs, the endless posting (and reposting) of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s picture, and trends like the super cuff—which is basically brands admitting they have no clue on what to do next with the hemline. It’s a pattern a budding designer, or an enterprising editor, would be wise to break.
And last but not least, I reached out to The Row about their new handwoven blankets. They replied that they’d get back to me within 7 business days. Once I get pricing and product details, I’ll report back.
Let’s get to it.
WCME: Vanity Fair is Looking for a Top Editor
There’s an open seat at Vanity Fair—and it’s a big one. Behind the scenes, the usual dance is already underway: an interim editor has been appointed from the inside, a job posting quietly went up, and Anna is reining in the publication with a little fairy dust: Royals, the Met Gala, Kaitlan Collins, Sports. Here’s how to get the job, and the gossip on the inside.
What qualifications do I need to apply?
Specifically, the job desk calls for 10-15+ years as a senior editor. A flair for storytelling, leading teams, and determining which stories to run on which platforms. You’ll have to “understand consumer behaviour”, reads the desk, and host the Oscars Party. The most important facet of this role is an ability to work with people, and lead the fast-paced developing conversation in a topsy-turvy world.
Who’s the interim EIC?
Daniel Kile, VF deputy editor, is holding the reins for now. It’s not uncommon for Condé to test-drive an interim editor to formalize the succession. Most recently, Anna plucked the interim EIC, Claire Thomson-Jonville, to lead Vogue France. Still, my hunch is Condé is out for fresh blood. The current climate calls for a leader who’s just as comfortable on a podcast or red carpet, as they are shaping narrative arcs.
Is it an EIC role?
Officially, the role is Global Editorial Director, which means the person in charge has wide international reach. While the title on the masthead is not “Editor in Chief”, it’s almost the same thing. The caveat is the role reports to Anna Wintour.
What’s the gossip?
The New York Times is questioning whether the role is even worth it anymore. Will you have the budget to rent out the Crillon for a weekend editorial? Probably not, but you’ll need the contacts to get Annie Leibovitz to do a group shot. Plus, how will everyone get to Paris? Then there’s the part about dressing the stars, and getting the President in there.
Which means, the new lead will have to have vision, and develop a robust business strategy. Anna tells The New York Times, “they will need to break news and make noise — and have a little fun, too, whether that means with politics, Hollywood, the doings of reality stars or the billionaire class.”
Are there any leads?
The New York Times mentions Will Welch of GQ, Sara Moonves of W, David Haskell of New York magazine and Janice Min of The Ankler as strong contenders.
So, is it a good job?
That seems to be the question on everyone’s mind. If you like cabaret, maybe know your way around PowerBI, are modest with your spending, and have an interest in what’s going on right now—it is.
Have a good day!
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Hey Kevin, thanks so much for the mention! Great post BTW, you always have the scoop!