• by Ray Schultz , February 10, 2024

Noah Shachtman, the high-profile editor chief of Rolling Stone,  is leaving his post on March 1, according to media reports. 

The apparent reason is that Shactman’s differences with Gus Wenner, the chief executive of Rolling Stone, over the direction of the magazine.  

“It’s the right decision, one Gus Wenner and I made after many discussions about the direction of the brand,” Shachtman said in letter to the staff. 

Wenner told the staff he will start looking for a new editor but that there is no rush. Pending that hire, editorial will be led by Sean Woods, deputy editor and Lisa Tozzi, digital director.

In his note, Shactman lists these accomplishments: “Culture-shaping scoops and profiles, a National Magazine Award, an Emmy nomination, more than two billion views in the last year alone, and, most importantly, the assembling of a genuinely remarkable team.”

Shachtman will be a contributing writer for the magazine, and will also be “writing for other outlets while I work on a start-up project.”

Media reports on Shachtman’s departure were published by The New York Times and CNN.