Brands aren’t the only players having to change tack and adapt to the new normal of post-coronavirus life. Magazines and publishing houses have undergone serious transformations over the past few weeks that may be enforced for the foreseeable future. From offering free digital copies to launching social media campaigns, there’s plenty of switch-ups in the media world to keep on top of. To make it a little easier, Fashion & Beauty Monitor is rounding up what we know so far of how press are responding to COVID-19.
Time Out has been very quick on its feet in an inspired, spontaneous re-brand that saw the title change to Time In. Both the New York and London editions of the print magazine and website now sport a new logo in recognition of the restrictions imposed by social distancing. The editorial now champions in-home entertainment avenues rather than external venues or sites. According to the outlet: ‘Judging from the half-empty restaurants and deserted pubs, leaving the house might not be on everyone’s agenda at the minute.’ Content now focuses on the likes of takeaway food delivery services and top videos to stream.
For the first time in its 193-year history, the Evening Standard (and weekly supplement ES Magazine) has pivoted to home delivery, offering a direct-to-home service across London zones 2 and 3. Giving commuters in twenty-six residential neighbourhoods access to the title, the newspaper has employed a fleet of vans to bring the news into people’s homes. The move permits the removal of high-risk merchandising staff on the city streets to reduce person to person contact. According to a message from ES Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Laura Weir: ‘We are your London magazine and in the face of crisis and isolation we will be doing everything in our power to unite the capital.’
Free weekly UK women’s title Stylist has postponed its print publication entirely and instead launched a digital magazine app, which is available to download free during the pandemic. Ceasing print production for what it said would be ‘hopefully a relatively short period of time’, Stylist is available digitally on Apple News Plus and Readly platforms, alongside the new dedicated app. A spokesperson said: “The volume of our content publishing won’t change and we stay close to the Stylist woman during this time.”
Dazed has announced for the first time ever, that its spring/summer 2020 issue will be free to download digitally a whole week before the print issue goes on sale. ‘World Interrupted’ will be available online from 9 April, featuring Billie Eilish on the cover. Editor-in-Chief, Isabella Burley called the decision a ‘gift to all of our readers who are facing a whole new king of present in the wake of this crisis.’ Additionally, Dazed Media has launched the #AloneTogether campaign, which celebrates community in the face of isolation. Over the next month Dazed partners across all verticals will take over the Instagram feed, publish quarantine diaries and share live DJ sets amongst other creative activities.
Similarly, the Summer/Autumn 2020 issue of AnOther Man will be available to download free of charge digitally, making history for the cult magazine. The upcoming 15th anniversary issue will feature cover star Jake Gyllenhaal.
Fashion magazine W has gone on a temporary hiatus, postponing its print edition, which was previously scheduled for publication in May. The decision comes in addition to a number of editorial staff on the print team being furloughed, whilst online journalists will be staying on at reduced salaries throughout the crisis.
by Dale Barnett, Fashion & Beauty Monitor
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