Brian Gorman, a founder of Lords South Beach hotel, has taken on an additional role: He's working with a new company called Grand Editorial, which will provide news content for Out magazine and Out.com.
Out, owned by Here Media, has laid off its entire editorial staff and many will be hired back as freelancers -- without salaries or benefits, according to an article published today by Capital.
[Grand Editorial founder Aaron Hicklin] said he plans to offer long-term contracts at Grand to "most" of his 12 editorial employees at Out. Should any of them take it, he said, the gig will come with flexible hours and the opportunity to work on other projects in the Grand stable, but not full-time salaries or benefits. (They will be contracted freelancers.)
Here's the Grand Editorial news release:
Aaron Hicklin Launches GRAND EDITORIAL, Initiating a New Publishing Model
April 18, 2012 – After six years as Editor-in-Chief of Out magazine and Out.com – with a resume that includes Editor-in-Chief at fashion and arts magazine, BlackBook,and executive editor at men’s title Gear – Aaron Hicklin announced today that he is launching a full-service editorial agency. Grand Editorial is aimed at creating new efficiencies in the editorial process by providing customized content for a range of consumer titles and corporate clients. In addition to managing Grand Editorial, Hicklin will continue overseeing the editorial content and mission of Out magazine and its affiliated websites.
“I’m thrilled that Here Media, Out’s parent company, sees the value in this exciting new initiative,” says Hicklin, adding: “I’m profoundly committed to Out’s ongoing evolution, and beyond happy to be able to continue doing what I love best while also having the opportunity to explore new ways of thinking about the relationship between editorial and publishing.”
Brian Gorman, founder of Lords Hotel, is working with Hicklin as president of Grand Editorial and will spearhead business development and marketing efforts. He brings to the company years of experience in brand building from a variety of backgrounds including hotels and real estate development. Gorman, who will remain CEO of Lords Hotel, says “We feel there is a tremendous amount of opportunity in the editorial space to bring fresh ideas and content to companies looking to establish their own unique voice. I am excited to be a part of this venture and utilize my network of contacts to help Grand Editorial achieve its goals.”
Hicklin added, “Grand Editorial will include familiar faces and core talent from Out. It’s no secret that the media landscape is changing rapidly, and I think our talent will find this new approach both more flexible as well as empowering. I’m looking forward to producing some very special issues and digital initiatives for Out in the fall, while offering a unique blend of editorial consultancy and customized content to a wide range of new clients.”
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About Aaron Hicklin:
Aaron Hicklin joined Out magazine as editor in chief in April 2006, after serving as editor of BlackBook for three years. Prior to joining BlackBook, he was executive editor of Gear, which he helped launch in 1998 after moving to New York from Edinburgh, Scotland. He began his career at Scotland on Sunday. Among other things, he covered the war in Bosnia for The Scotsman, and was runner up in the Foreign Press Awards in 1996 for his coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian peace accords. After moving to New York in 1998 he wrote a column for the UK’s Sunday Herald. He also has written for The Washington Post, The Guardian, Salon, and InStyle UK. He is the author of Boy Soldiers (Mainstream Press, 1995), as well as the editor of The Revolution Will Be Accessorized: The Best of BlackBook (HarperCollins, 2006). He lives in Brooklyn.
About Brian Gorman:
Brian Gorman is the Founder of Lords Hotels. In addition to creating the brand, he led the design and management efforts required to launch the brand’s first location in South Beach, Florida. He continues to guide all aspects of branding, design, creative, marketing, public relations, and programming. Prior to managing Lords, Brian served as VP of Business Development at SHVO. He began his career at BBG-BBGM, a leading global architecture and interior design firm with extensive expertise in the design of hotels and resorts.
About Grand Editorial:
Grand Editorial is a full service editorial, branding, and creative agency that will create and execute content and marketing initiatives for a range of clients. Grand specializes in consumer media titles, as well as lifestyle brands in the fashion, hospitality, and wine and spirits categories.
