• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, April 3, 2014

Allure, Vanity Fair To Launch New Video, TV

Condé Nast is serious about this whole video thing. The high-end magazine publisher unveiled a new digital video channel for Allure and revealed plans for a new TV show from Vanity Fair. The new Allure channel, available at video.allure.com and www.youtube.com/Allure, features four original new series devoted to makeovers, expert beauty advice and celebrity beauty, among other things.
 
The new Allure series include “Hair Tyrant with Ashley Javier,” whose host operates an invitation-only salon where customers agree to submit to his follicular vision, along with liberal helpings of brutal honesty; “Cassandra to the Rescue,” in which model Cassandra Bankson shows viewers how to use makeup to prepare for major life events; “Beauty Evolution,” an extension of Allure’s print franchise feature, delving into the beauty looks and mishaps of various celebrities; and “Beauty Basics,” featuring tips and techniques that teach women how to recreate popular hair and makeup looks.
 
The new series will extend the reach of Allure’s existing video productions, including Backstage Beauty, which delivers trend reports from fashion shows and celebrity photo shoots. In addition to the digital channels listed above, the content will also be distributed via syndicated partnerships.
 
Vanity Fair is planning to launch a new series on Discovery Communication’s Investigation Discovery, called “Vanity Fair Confidential,” sometime in the fourth quarter of 2014. According to previous reports, the show will consist of documentary-type features further exploring some of the magazine’s famous investigative journalism.
 
These are just the latest in a series of new video offerings from Condé Nast, which previously unveiled digital video channels for Vogue, Teen Vogue, GQ, Glamour and Wired.
 
Government Executive Expands Coverage
 
Atlantic Media’s Government Executive is expanding its coverage of public sector management beyond its previous focus on federal government to include more news and analysis about city, county and state government. Set to launch this summer, the state and local initiative will include new digital and mobile offerings, as well as events. One of the main goals will be sharing of best practices and new ideas among elected, appointed and career public officials in areas including technology, health care, citizen services, infrastructure, and security.
 
Gleiberman Out as EW Film Critic
 
Longtime Entertainment Weekly film critic Owen Gleiberman has been laid off, Poynter reported this week, as the magazine moves toward a greater focus on its “Community” strategy, with film reviews penned by bloggers from social media and journalism school. This is the second veteran film critic to leave EW in as many years. Last year, Lisa Schwarzbaum accepted a buyout offer. Gleiberman had been with the magazine since its founding in 1990, while Schwarzbaum joined a year later.
 
Self EIC, Publisher Out
 
Self magazine’s Editor in Chief Lucy Danzinger and publisher Laura McEwen are both leaving the women’s healthy lifestyle title. Danzinger is being replaced by Joyce Chang, who previously served as executive editor of Hearst’s Cosmopolitan, effective May 1, Self publisher Condé Nast announced. The company is looking for a replacement for McEwen. No reason was given for the departure of the business and editorial bosses.
 
Silverstein To Editor, NYT Magazine
 
Jake Silverstein has been named editor of The New York Times Magazine, NYT executive editor Jill Abramson announced last week. He previously served as editor in chief of Texas Monthly. Abramson stated: “With Jake at the helm, The Magazine will be redesigned, making it more beguiling, displaying more of the best riches of The Times. The traditional magazine forms will continue -- narratives, deep profiles, investigative reporting, essays, photography -- and others will be invented.” Under Silverstein, Texas Monthly received 12 National Magazine Award nominations and won four times, including once for General Excellence, once for Public Interest and twice for Feature Writing.