• by Sara Guaglione , December 9, 2020

Former Ad Age editor in chief Brian Braiker has acquired and relaunched Brooklyn Magazine.

In May, Braiker and Michael Bassik, a digital media and political marketing executive, bought Brooklyn Magazine and sister publication The L Magazine from Northside Media Group.

Once a quarterly lifestyle and culture publication that shuttered two years ago, Brooklyn Magazine has relaunched as a digital-first website, daily newsletter and podcast, “with a revamped look, feel and voice to better reflect — and celebrate — the borough’s diverse communities, cultural complexity and rich history.”

“Today, we are introducing a new Brooklyn Magazine, under new ownership and new management, with a new sensibility–and during a pandemic,” Braiker wrote in an introductory post on the website.

Braiker, who has lived in Brooklyn for two decades, will serve as president and editor in chief.

The relaunch was created with New York-based agency Group SJR. The News Project, a publishing platform startup built for small- and mid-size publishers, provided editorial and strategic support.

After a challenging year amid the pandemic, Braiker says: “We aim to cover Brooklyn communities that are rebuilding, persevering and creating.”

Brooklyn Magazine will cover culture, music, arts, fashion and businesses in the borough. 

Braiker left Ad Age in April. He has previously worked at Newsweek, Rolling Stone, The Guardian and Parenting Magazine.

The inaugural episode of Brooklyn Magazine: The Podcast features an interview with Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams. Other episodes will have actor Debi Mazar and Brooklyn Brewery founder Steve Hindy on the podcast.

Sponsors for the podcast include fast-casual chain Just Salad and direct-to-consumer hair care brand Jupiter, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.

The magazine plans to add a paid subscription option early next year, with exclusive content and merchandise from Brooklyn artists, WSJ reports.