We tried to go to Women's Wear Daily for our promised recap of Elle Girl's demise, but unfortunately the article was in the "subscriber" section. Boo. So, we had to go to Nat Ives for the follow-up. Sigh.
Well, as it turns out, Elle Girl the magazine is shutting down, but the "brand" will keep chugging along as a web publication.
"After running this magazine for the past five years and continually doing research on the teen market, Jack is totally redefining the strategy," said Anne L. Janas, a Hachette spokeswoman. "The print magazine is closing down but there will be increased investment online and in wireless. He believes that's where he needs to direct the primary investment of the company."
We will really miss the fun glossy, though. Especially the masthead, where assistant editors and art directors plugged their fave movies, heartthrobs, and lip glosses.
It is our sincere hope that gals will take a break from sticking their asses out on their MySpace profiles to check out EG's site.
'ELLE GIRL' SHUTS PRINT EDITION, MOVES TO WEB ONLY [Nat Ives, Ad Age]
At this point, we have a glass of gin (light on the tonic) in hand and are smoking in the apartment. Via the Fishbowler, the news that really is bringing a tear to our already salty ojos:
Elle Girl, headed by Christina Kelly since the departure of she's so Jane Brandon Holley, will say goodbye with their June/July issue.
One source says staffers were alerted earlier today, and that the June/July issue will be its last.
Shocking, too, because, 2005 was a monster year for ElleGirl in terms ad pages and revenue — taking in over $33 million in advertising revenue on 750 ad pages, increases of 77 percent and 46 percent, respectively. And in 2006, the magazine was outpacing 2005's numbers through February.
UPDATE: Women's Wear Daily allows us to remove the question mark.
What the fuck is going on? What are we supposed to read at the gym now? How are we supposed to know what our little sisters are listening to on their iPods or what's cool in pre-teen feminism?
Inside Mischa Barton's home we can live without — but inside her heart? We just don't know if we can make it without that.
Ellegirl To Fold [WWD, Sara James]
Elle Girl to Fold [Fishbowl, NY]
Earlier: Christina Kelly loves your body
Remember when covers of Gwenyth Paltrow on Vogue gave you eating disorders? Well, Elle Girl's new EIC Christina Kelly (as well as terrifying photos of post-break-up Lindsay Lohan ) give society a shot at keeping pre-teen middle fingers out of girls' throats, and sticking them back in the air, where they belong.
While Elle Girl has a heavy fashion and beauty base, Kelly will also broach new topics. She will add regular service and advice columns on well-being and mental health. She’ll also make Elle Girl more body conscious.
Kelly, who made headlines with YM in 2002, tossing out stories on weight loss and dieting, will incorporate models of all shapes in the Elle Girl’s fashion spreads. Moreover, February will have an eight-page body image feature with commentary—mostly positive—from 10,000 girls polled worldwide. “I feel strongly about not having a 15-year-old girl saying, ‘I hate my body,’†said Kelly.
We have admired Elle Girl as our fave teen read since its launch - but now that they are going to have a teen blog section, we are really super stoked. Oh, to be a teen blogger. We bet their boss even lets them eat lunch.
Teen Beat: Vet Editor Kelly Tweaks Elle Girl [Stephanie D. Smith, MEDIAWEEK]
We promised you an update to ELLEgirl's masthead jungle gym this morning based on what came out of this morning's meeting.
We're almost heartbroken to report: Spirits are high! ELLEgirl staffers (nearly all female) are friends and friendly! Zero bitchslaps were delivered! Laughter could be heard!
About the only thing staffers did whine about? New EIC Christina Kelly moved editorial meetings from Tuesdays to Mondays, which means weekend hangovers will have to be tamed. And what's Sophie Schulte-Hillen doing at the head of the table? Expect some intra-office IMing about that one.
Now that former ELLEgirl editor Brandon Holley helped shove Jane Pratt out of her throne at Jane (leaving Pratt all sorts of upset) and executive editor Christina Kelly has been promoted to editor-in-chief, there are the less headline-worthy transitions at ELLEgirl to note.
But as you readers of Jossip surely know, no masthead hopscotch is too mundane for us to care and their sheer mass of title housekeeping is worthy of your – and the New York Observer's – attention.
You're already aware Vitals' Nancy Gillen is taking over as managing editor and Sophie Schulte-Hillen was promoted from beauty director to deputy editor/beauty director.
Now, from right next to the oversized blowups of Hilary Duff at 1633 Broadway, we're tipped off that:
• Former beauty market editor Anais Lombard was promoted to beauty editor, working under Schulte-Hillen.
• Former editorial assistant Joanna Douglas was promoted to staff writer.
• Melissa Walker, currently a senior editor, will also receive a title change, but we're waiting to hear from today's edit meeting to figure out what it is.
And, warranting the most fanfare is Erin Meanley, who now dons the title of assistant editor after slaving away as the assistant to EIC Brandon Holley.
We're sure there's more to come, but if we revealed all our ELLEgirl secrets our friends at CosmoGIRL! might start struggling to show their frown lines.
Editorial Director
