The conveyor belt between Out/The Advocate and BlackBook continues this week, with the hipster photo-fashion glossy losing publisher Joe Landry to his old haunt at the gay rags, filling in for Out publisher Jay Adams, who was fired this week. [NYO] Landry left the PlanetOut magazines two years ago. But this isn't the only example of high-level shuffles between the two. Out's editor Aaron Hicklin was courted away from BlackBook in April 2006; he's since been named the company's editorial director. Landry's exit, meanwhile, comes on the heels of managing editor Una LaMarche and photo director Shannon Hall leaving the magazine, and editor Steve Garbarino, who took over in May 2006, in a bind.

Meanwhile, Landry's move represents more than your average publisher swap. Out and The Advocate have battled very public financial blows, with declining ad revenue and a parent company, PlanetOut, that has looked upon fiscal responsibility as a child's pastime. Last month, the company was sold to Regent Entertainment for a glorified ad deal worth $6 million, putting the pressure on Landry to move ad pages even more intense.

Since another state isn't legalizing same-sex marriages, our quota on GLBT stories requires an update on outgoing Out publisher Joe Landry. Stolen from Out by BlackBook (only fair, since Out stole EIC Aaron Hicklin from BlackBook), Landry is set to leave in March. And while some are glad to see him go, one tattler says insists "Joe was 'fabulous,' to use one of his favorite words. Let's show him a little love."

And by love, we mean the memo to LPI Media staffers announcing Joe's exit, from president Bob Cohen, which includes the following newsworthy nugget:

This week, we will announce the selection of a new creative director for OUT and a design consultant for the redesign of The Advocate. Plus, we have already launched a wide recruiting effort to bring in a new group publisher for our print division. Stay tuned for further developments.

CONTINUED »

In the biggest staff shakeup since Aaron Hicklin took over Out – the gay magazine with straight people on the cover – exclusive word arrives from fagala cousin Queerty that publisher Joe Landry is out the door. And he's headed for BlackBook. You know, the magazine where Hicklin was just editor.

But from what we understand, his exit was a long time coming.

CONTINUED »

(L to R: Genre's July 2005 issue; Out's September 2006 issue)

New Out editor Aaron Hicklin – known around Jossip Worldwide Headquarters as "that guy who skipped his own magazine's first party on his watch" – was supposedly the successful catch by publisher Joe Landry, who stole Hicklin from BlackBook after an eight month search. But many an insider are already wondering: Where's the payoff?

The "let's be David Bowie gay—not Cher gay" Hicklin isn't exactly proving himself, according to those with direct knowledge of the situation. With the September 2006 issue – the first edition fully under Hicklin's control – he's gone with Out's tradition of choosing straight coverboys who play to the gay audience, throwing Johnny Knoxville on his book. The coverline? "Is Jackass the gayest show on TV?" (Excuse our rather sloppy scan.)

Johnny Knoxville? How innovative, we know. Especially when you look back to July 2005, when competitor Genre magazine put Knoxville on its cover shortly after it launched its own revamped image, flashing its redesign alongside new editor Chris Ciompi and owner Window Media.

Meanwhile, in his March 2006 publisher's letter, Out's Landry wrote "We have many weighty requirements for this extraordinary role," and that "Out will help to uncover this voice—defining gay for a new generation. And for the United States itself." That, or copying the gay generation of last year.

Related: All Aaron Hicklin and Out coverage