Barrett to Lead LGBT Newsmagazine and Web Property in Fresh New Direction
Based on the Tradition of the Iconic Brand
LOS ANGELES, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- here! Networks is pleased to
announce that, upon its final purchase of the LPI Media properties from
PlanetOut Inc., it will name Jon Barrett as Editor in Chief of The Advocate
and Advocate.com, the world's leading news and entertainment destinations
for the LGBT community.
"Over the past 40 years The Advocate has become the publication of
record for the LGBT community," said Paul Colichman and Stephen P. Jarchow,
CEO and Chairman of here! Networks, respectively. "We are thrilled that Jon
Barrett will bring his talent to this important brand and continue the
historic tradition of The Advocate. Barrett will provide the magazine with
a provocative new perspective around the critical issues affecting the
lives of the LGBT community as well as expand Advocate.com into a
definitive, daily online news source. "
Barrett replaces Anne Stockwell who has resigned to pursue new
opportunities after 15 years of strong leadership at the magazine, most
recently overseeing its major redesign and 40th Anniversary Issue.
Stockwell will continue writing for The Advocate as Editor at Large, in
addition to story assignments for sister publications Out and Out Traveler.
"The Advocate has always mirrored the needs of its readership, whether
that meant advancing the explosive push for civil rights in the 1960s,
documenting the heady liberation of the 1970s, or assuming the serious --
and necessary -- mantle of newsmagazine in the 1980s and '90s," said
Barrett. "What it means to be a member of the LGBT community continues to
evolve, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to carry on with Anne
Stockwell's incredible work, ensuring that The Advocate and Advocate.com
are in step with -- and ahead of -- these changes."
With over 15 years experience as a journalist and in publishing,
Barrett most recently served as the Features Director for O at Home, an
Oprah Magazine published by Hearst. Prior to that, he worked as the Senior
Editor for Cargo, from the Conde Nast group, and as a Senior Editor for
Real Simple, a Time Inc. publication. Barrett now comes back to The
Advocate after having served for six years as the publication's Senior News
Editor from 1997-2003. Before coming to The Advocate he was an Assistant
Editor at the Windy City Times, Chicago's premier LGBT weekly newspaper.
His writing credits also include two books: 2002's Hero of Flight 93:
Mark Bingham, from Alyson Books, and working as a writing collaborator on
Evan Wolfson's Why Marriage Matters, published by Simon & Schuster in 2004.
Barrett has worked extensively as a freelance writer and has been published
in titles including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, People, Teen People and Paper.
Barrett will report directly to Aaron Hicklin, Editorial Director of
Out and The Advocate. "In these extraordinary times for the LGBT community,
I can't think of a better steward for a magazine that continues to
chronicle, and advance, our struggle for equality," said Hicklin. "Jon
Barrett is a proven talent who brings with him experience, perspective, and
passion. I look forward to working together."
The Advocate is currently available to consumers as a bi-weekly
publication via subscription or by logging on to its award-winning website
at http://www.advocate.com.
About Regent Entertainment
Regent Entertainment and its affiliates finance, produce and distribute
award-winning and profitable theatrical and television content. Regent
Entertainment's properties include: Regent Studios, an award-winning full
service motion picture studio; Regent Releasing
(http://www.regentreleasing.com), one of the leaders in independent theatrical
releasing; here! Networks (http://www.heretv.com), a groundbreaking
multi-platformed distribution company focused on critically-acclaimed gay and
lesbian programming; and GayWired Media, one of the leading digital media
companies targeting the LGBT consumer. The decade-old company produces
30 films annually and now has a library of over 3,500 titles, including such
high-profile projects as Bill Condon's Academy Award-winning Gods and
Monsters, starring Sir Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser, and Franco
Zeffirelli's Callas Forever, starring Jeremy Irons and Fanny Ardant. For more
information, please visit Regent's website at
http://www.regententertainment.com.
About The Advocate
Celebrating over 40 years in print this year, The Advocate is the
world's leading LGBT news magazine. The magazine reports twice monthly on
news, politics, business, medical issues, and arts & entertainment. Hailed
by The Washington Post as the "standard of gay journalism," The Advocate
distributes almost four million copies each year. Please visit
http://www.advocate.com.
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