As part of an ongoing restructuring, Time Inc. is rejiggering its editorial structure into four groups in part to sharpen its digital focus.
The shifts come just one week after Alan Murray took on the role of chief content officer. In an e-mail to staff Friday afternoon, he outlined some of the changes including Lisa Arbetter’s appointment as interim editor at InStyle. Arbetter takes on some of the duties handled by Ariel Foxman, who surprised a dedicated staff by resigning as the magazine’s editorial director earlier in the week. Arbetter, editor of StyleWatch, will maintain that role while the company scouts a full-time successor to Foxman.
Murray explained that all titles are being divvied up into four groups, each of which will be led by an editorial director who is being tasked with “finding new ways to work together to grow audience and our business across brands, new ways to take advantage of digital and video opportunities that may cut across brands and new efficiencies in how we operate across brands.”
More work and more digital seems to be the marching orders for the new setup with most of the individuals affected keeping their current jobs. Time’s editor Nancy Gibbs is now editor of the News Group and People’s editor Jess Cagle is now editorial director for the Celebrity, Entertainment and Style Group. Chris Stone continues as editorial director of the Sports Group and Nathan Lump is the newly minted editorial director of the Lifestyle group.
Alex Brez is now editorial operations and finance director for Celebrity, Entertainment and Styles and Sports groups. She will also oversee operations at People and Entertainment Weekly, reporting to Murray.
Claire McHugh has been tapped as editorial operations and finance director for News and Lifestyle groups. She too will be doing double-duty, keeping her current job as editor of Health and will oversee the Time Inc. Food Studios in Birmingham.
To try to maximize the digital side of things, Will Lee has been cued up as digital director for Celebrity, Entertainment and Style and Sports groups. He keeps his current job as digital editorial director of People and Entertainment Weekly, reporting to Jess Cagle. Edward Felsenthal is now digital director for the News and Lifestyle groups and remains digital editor for Time Inc., reporting to Nancy Gibbs.
With the new regime in place, some suspect it will just be a matter of time before budget cuts and layoffs follow.