Despite all the leaked reports about 25 percent across-the-board budget cuts and dire times ahead, it's still a shock. Condé Nast yesterday announced the closing of Gourmet magazine, that 68-year-old institution of food and luxury lifestyle, along with three other titles: parenting magazine Cookie and the wedding books Elegant Bride and Modern Bride.
According to today's New York Times' appreciation, the move signals a dominance of middle-class appetites over those of the elite. Translation: Mass-market food advertising is not hurting as badly as the deluxe category. (Chief executive Charles Townsend explained the company's thinking in more detail to the Times' Media Decoder blog.)
This is a dramatic confirmation of the reality we can't escape. At least in this economy, publications that emphasize practical, servicey coverage will have a better survival rate than the inspirational, aspirational, good-read magazines.
Think Every Day With Rachel Ray, a quick-cooking guide. And Condé's own recipe-heavy Bon Appétit--which survived this latest round of grim reaping.
