• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, August 16, 2012

Best Life Is Reborn

After the recession cut a wide swath through the magazine business, some departed titles are being resurrected by publishers banking on continued interest by readers and advertisers. Rodale is bringing back men’s lifestyle magazine Best Life, which shuttered in May 2009, on a limited basis. The news was first reported by Women’s Wear Daily.
 
Rodale decided to bring Best Life back, given the accelerating recovery in luxury and men’s fashion advertising, WWD reports. The special October issue, featuring Hugh Jackman on the cover, still hasn’t closed. So far, it has attracted advertisers including Cartier, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein. Another issue is planned for this spring.
 
As the timing indicates, Best Life has not returned to its regular monthly publication schedule -- yet. That will depend on advertiser and reader response. In its previous incarnation, it had a circulation of over half a million and contributors including David Mamet, Jay McInerney, Rick Moody, Anthony Bourdain and TC Boyle.
 
Best Life is one of a handful of defunct magazine titles tentatively returning to print. This year has seen the relaunch of M magazine by Fairchild, among others. But there’s still a much longer list of print titles on the rocks and likely to be closed. In July, IAC boss Barry Diller publicly speculated that Newsweek may cease its print publication in the not-too-distant future.
 
Condé Nast Gets Into Gaming With Fashion Hazard
 
Making a bunch of supermodels navigate obstacle courses may sound like a new twist on reality TV, but it’s actually the premise of a new casual game from Condé Nast targeting teenage girls and young women. Fashion Hazard, a 3D animated game developed in-house by the Interactive Product Group for iOS, challenges players to navigate perfectly coiffed and dressed models down fashion runways facing a variety of obstacles, using simple tilt, acceleration, touch and swipe gesturing. Players are racing against the clock and also looking to snag some blingy prizes along the way.
 
New York Launches The Cut as Stand-alone Site
 
New York magazine is expanding The Cut, its popular fashion blog, to make it a stand-alone fashion and lifestyle Web site. The new, improved blog will feature twice the amount of original photography and writing, arranged into five sections: fashion, beauty, goods, fame and love & war. Its re-launch is supported by high-end advertisers including Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Cartier, Chanel and Macy's Denim & Supply and Ralph Lauren.
 
 
Folio: Implements Paid Access
 
Foliomag.com, the Web site for magazine trade title Folio:, is implementing a paid access model for online content. Like other metered models, readers will get free access to a certain number of articles per month -- in this case, eight. After that, they will be asked to either buy an annual subscription to the Web site for $69.95, or a monthly pass for $14.95.
 
Eric Zinczenko Named Exec VP, Bonnier’s Men’s Group
 
Eric Zinczenko has been named executive vice president of Bonnier’s newly formed Men’s Group, with responsibility for brands including Popular Science, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Popular Photo, American Photo, Cycle World and Shot Business. Zinczenko previously served as vice president and group publisher for Bonnier’s outdoor titles, and played a role in the company’s acquisition of Cycle World in 2011.
 
AmEx Promotes Van Sicklen To Exec. Digital Director
 
Nick Van Sicklen has been promoted to executive digital director for both FoodandWine.com and TravelandLeisure.com, American Express Publishing announced this week. Van Sicklen previously served as digital ad director for Food & Wine. In his new position, Van Sicklen is responsible for selling ad programs across both brands, while maintaining their distinct identities.

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