PlanetOut’s stocks tumbled this week after the gay media company announced it may sell itself to the highest bidder. We’ve been hearing murmurs of staff shake-ups – event marketing director Chip Stevenson, media man Rich Rodriguez both out – but our details are hazy, homos!
Meanwhile, a reader has also been picking up some chatter:
I’ve heard that some very prominent people over at LPI have resigned and that a few others have been let go. At The Advocate mostly. You might have already heard about this but just in case you haven’t…
Any of you kids got the goods?
nudeforMoney
That is so sad, I heard of some friends who were axed. That ax in the picture is very frightening. It is a shame that the Advocate folks are suffering (they are providing us with great news products)- they are real news enthusiasts. The OUT guys are all snots and are getting what they deserve. I feel for the advertisers who put their money into this plane crash group.
gregg
I agree that OUT team has had a chip on their shoulder, but the Advocate Magazine has gone way down over the years, it is a pamphlet. It is hard to feel sorry for bad management.
Jack Jett
Maybe someday someone will produce a magazine for gay people of all ages and one that will include stories about gay people….and even photos of gay people.
qjersey
I have subscribed to The Advocate and Out for years. I’ve noticed in the last few years…with the rise of gay sites like Queerty and others, most of the stuff in the mags is old news by the time it arrives in the mail. Well except for the “celebrity puff pieces.” These days they tend to pile up and then I force my self to read them.
NetworkGuy
The news in the mags is old – that is so right. Internet rocks. The only helpful magazines are those that speak to our body, mind & spirit. The magazines that help us be better gay guys and girls. I don’t care if a story is about a gay guy’s success, and success story about a guy speak to me – a gay man. I am a man first.
Randtobewild
The Advocate is on life support. The magazine once coexisted comfortably with its other competitors on the newsstand like the Washington Blade and the Bay Area Reporter. They use to whore themselves to politico-types and give away editorial integrity to bring a straight celebrity into the pages. But when it first appeared in 1967, The Advocate had a real mission. Now that mission is down the toilet, along with Planet Out. Why did they become such whores?
LA1281
Instinct Magazine rules. Instinct kicks OUT’s ass. We want Chris Ciompi back in LA! It is the #1 Gay Magazine in the world. All the coolest guys read Instinct. Planet Out is down the drain!
roland
LA – you are so wrong. Instinct is for morons who are 18 and want to learn what the hot drink is at their all night drug club, what young, food service and retail “renters” are doing on dates — when they only have $20 bucks for the entire night. I am surprised that the readers can afford the magazine, given the demographic. It is a bar guide that got on the Newsstand by its all in one Publisher – who puts himself above the Editor on the masthead and who supports the magazine’s mission – as their site says “grounded in fun.” Advocate is a REAL magazine.
hells kitchen guy
LA1281: Well, you can tell why you live in LA!
Mark Walsh
The Advocate is a paradigm of bougeoise heteronormal corporate placation. Made for people with sub 80 I.Q’s. Someday lets hope that someday a group has the brights to produce something that talks about real issues and people. A magazine that presents the real art and stories made by our culture and doesn’t try to present gay peole as mindless corporate dodo’s..
bling_bang
ROLAND: When was the last time you picked up an issue of Instinct? I agree that Advocate is viable news source and a wonderful magazine, but to call Instinct a publication “for morons who are 18 and want to learn what the hot drink is at their all night drug club” seems incorrect and biased. First of all, I can’t recall ever CARING about this “hot drink” thing, and I’m pretty sure that no one knows what you’re even talking about. We ALL have had some difficult “bar experiences” and many of us don’t care for “the scene”, but don’t take your insecurities out on a publication that you obviously haven’t picked up in quite some time. Give it another go. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with their current editorial content.
On another note, I will miss Advocate. In the years it’s been in print, it’s done some amazing work for our community. As for OUT; it’s unfortunate. But OUT lost it’s voice many years ago to greed, and instead strives to appease the advertiser…and ONLY the advertiser.
Charley
If you confuse a civil rights movement with celebrities, then you get what you deserve. No respect.
hells kitchen guy
I think Out has some good articles between the advertiser friendly “service” pieces.
hells kitchen guy
Oh, and Instinct usually has one really good article. They’ve profiled gay midgets, gay deaf people, gay old men, etc. – refreshing!
volitility
Thanks hells kitchen – you are so smart. Out and Instinct are really intelligent publications, Are you a crazy retard-date?
Angel
I like Instinct. They have fluff and fun stuff but some real articles too. Its better than straight crap like Details or GQ…here buy all these fuckin expensive clothes. fuck that. I like Instinct. I think it’s real.
SoupBone
You might be interested to know that top executives are being offered $500K to stay on (to sink the proverbial ship even further) meanwhile the lower level employees are being axed and given next to nothing. This company was a disaster from the moment it decided to go public. Worst run company, ever.
Rock
The magazine divisions are a fraction of the overall company. Gay.com is the major money-maker and it’s hemorrhaging customers because the corporate parent is incapable of producing anything beyond spreadsheets.
Chip left on his own accord.
hells kitchen guy
“Are you a crazy retard-date?”
This sentence, from someone who questions my intelligence?
hambone
Why all the mindless hate for Out staff? The Advocate staffers are their friends and colleagues and no-one is anything other than devastated at the thought of friends losing their jobs. Thankfully there’s a damn sight more unity and compassion within the vast majority of staff on the mags than seems to exist here from some people… there’s almost a glee here that people are or might lose their livelihoods.
Tom
You can’t blame a company for wanting more money but you don’t throw out the baby with the bath water!