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Gourmet Magazine - R.I.P. - OnMedea

Gourmet Magazine - R.I.P.

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Gourmet cover.jpgSad news today for foodies who have way too much time on their hands.  Gourmet Magazine, the magazine that showed all of us hack-chef-wannabees that we had no chance of ever being any good, is going out of business.  [I mean, seriously, look at that picture - who can possibly make that?  It's hard enough just ordering pizza.]

The print business is living a nightmare.  Conde Nast also announced they are axing three other titles (Cookie, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride).  The publishing business model, as it stands today, is truly fucked up but Gourmet has a different problem.  It is a victim of its own name. 

Gourmet is a top-notch magazine to be sure and its Editor-In-Chief Ruth Reichel is one of the classiest and most talented publishing executives in the business (and one hell of a good cook). 

The problem with Gourmet, in this economic climate, is its title.  The middle and lower income people that purchased a subscription for $1 an issue finally gave up on the dream of having 5-star restaurant food in their apartment.  It just wasn't practical in the overall scheme of things.  It's the equivalent of reading a copy of Yachting when you have no idea if you're going to have a job next year - much less... a yacht.  Scary stuff.

ruth_reichl.jpgBon Appetit and Food & Wine are scraping by (maybe) but only because their generic titles allow them to have cover stories like 10 (Great) Wines for Under $10 Bucks, and Feed Your Family For Less Than 5 Cents A Day.  The best Gourmet could do was Eat Like A King On A Prince's Salary (or something like that).

The good news is the website (which includes the fabulous Epicurious.com) and TV show will continue (I didn't know there was a TV show - but good luck with that).

I wish the Ruth Reichl and her entire staff the best of luck as they try to move forward.  It's a fucked up world and nothing is fair right now.

Once we start extending the OnMedea brand into the food & wine area, I'll be looking for a few good writers.  But you may need to learn how to make a grilled cheese first.

jill_kennedy_small.jpgJill Kennedy - OnMedea

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6 Comments

Molly Glover said:

I got a free subscription to the LA Times if I ordered Gourmet for $1 an issue. I looked at the cover but never really inside. It just didn't speak to me. The pictures of the food looked good though. You're right, jill, print is in big trouble.

Hollywood Producer said:

Print is dead. Gourmet should just be thankful it has some brand value. At least everyone won't lose their jobs.

Sad today said:

Rat bastards! The greatest job of my life now gone. I've been sacked by Gourmet.

Jill Kennedy said:

Sorry Sad today,

I've heard it's a real bloodbath.

Bibbitty said:

I loved Gourmet. I will really miss it and don't look forward to reading Bon Appetit until my subscription runs out!

Molly Glover said:

Here's a nice appreciation by Kara Swisher over at Allthingsd.com

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20091006/the-web-helped-kill-gourmet-if-so-now-i-hate-the-internet/

About Jill Kennedy

Jill Kennedy - Blogger - OnMedea Jill Kennedy is an Ivy League MBA / refugee from Lehman Brothers.

Manka Bros. (and the Manka Business Channel) hired her (for a very low sum) to cover the world of media (not the world of Medea) in her own words without corporate interference.

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About Medea

Medea Medea was a real bitch from classical mythology - as most famously dramatized by Euripides.

She was a sorceress and wife of Jason, whom she assisted in obtaining the Golden Fleece. When Jason deserted her, she chopped up their children. One could say, Medea acted as rationally as a major media company.

 

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