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Tina Brown steps down after tumultuous tenure at Daily Beast Tina Brown steps down after tumultuous tenure at Daily Beast
(6 days later)
Tina Brown, the mercurial editor whose career has latterly received more attention than the publications for which she was responsible, has announced her departure from the Daily Beast, her experiment in digital journalism noted for its particular success in burning through the cash of its billionaire backer.Tina Brown, the mercurial editor whose career has latterly received more attention than the publications for which she was responsible, has announced her departure from the Daily Beast, her experiment in digital journalism noted for its particular success in burning through the cash of its billionaire backer.
Never one to undersell herself, Brown reserved the most prominent slot on the front page of the Beast's website on Wednesday afternoon to declare that "the irrepressible editor", as the headline-writer called her, was leaving to set up a company dedicated to "theatrical journalism".Never one to undersell herself, Brown reserved the most prominent slot on the front page of the Beast's website on Wednesday afternoon to declare that "the irrepressible editor", as the headline-writer called her, was leaving to set up a company dedicated to "theatrical journalism".
Many of the chapters in Brown's storied career begin with a blaze but end in bitterness, dispute or ignominy, and what the glowing report did not say was that her personal experiment in digital journalism, supported by copious amounts of the media mogul Barry Diller's cash, was at an inglorious end.Many of the chapters in Brown's storied career begin with a blaze but end in bitterness, dispute or ignominy, and what the glowing report did not say was that her personal experiment in digital journalism, supported by copious amounts of the media mogul Barry Diller's cash, was at an inglorious end.
The Beast was launched as a groundbreaking digital publication in 2008, but after a disastrous merger with Newsweek, and the publications' equally traumatic divorce, Diller appears to have decided he had signed enough of Brown's checks.The Beast was launched as a groundbreaking digital publication in 2008, but after a disastrous merger with Newsweek, and the publications' equally traumatic divorce, Diller appears to have decided he had signed enough of Brown's checks.
Brown naturally portrayed the split, first reported by former Beast reporter Peter Lauria of BuzzFeed just a couple of hours before Brown herself went public, as her choice. IAC, Diller's New York-based internet company that hosted the Daily Beast, remained tight-lipped. A spokesperson for IAC told the Guardian: "As you can imagine, we do not comment on ongoing negotiations."Brown naturally portrayed the split, first reported by former Beast reporter Peter Lauria of BuzzFeed just a couple of hours before Brown herself went public, as her choice. IAC, Diller's New York-based internet company that hosted the Daily Beast, remained tight-lipped. A spokesperson for IAC told the Guardian: "As you can imagine, we do not comment on ongoing negotiations."
Under the deal reported by BuzzFeed, Brown's contract to edit the Daily Beast will not be renewed in January. Though Diller is hardly short of a penny – his personal wealth is put by Forbes at $1.9bn – the news is further indication that his patience ran thin over the loss-making venture that saddled the Beast together with the ailing Newsweek two years ago. Both publications barely survived the marriage.Under the deal reported by BuzzFeed, Brown's contract to edit the Daily Beast will not be renewed in January. Though Diller is hardly short of a penny – his personal wealth is put by Forbes at $1.9bn – the news is further indication that his patience ran thin over the loss-making venture that saddled the Beast together with the ailing Newsweek two years ago. Both publications barely survived the marriage.
Brown's departure from the Beast, might be seen as a blow for the energetic British-born editor, were her publishing career not punctuated by numerous ventures – some hugely successful, others less so. She tore a strip through the New York magazine world when she took over Vanity Fair in 1984, aged 31, and went on to have a six-year stint as editor of the New Yorker, where she nurtured a stable of now prominent writers.Brown's departure from the Beast, might be seen as a blow for the energetic British-born editor, were her publishing career not punctuated by numerous ventures – some hugely successful, others less so. She tore a strip through the New York magazine world when she took over Vanity Fair in 1984, aged 31, and went on to have a six-year stint as editor of the New Yorker, where she nurtured a stable of now prominent writers.
What appeared to be a golden touch turned to lead when she launched Talk magazine in 1999 with a star-studded party for 800 guests that in hindsight looked close to hubris. The glossy lasted barely three years, becoming a casualty of the post-9/11 recession.What appeared to be a golden touch turned to lead when she launched Talk magazine in 1999 with a star-studded party for 800 guests that in hindsight looked close to hubris. The glossy lasted barely three years, becoming a casualty of the post-9/11 recession.
The Daily Beast has had a patchy five years in existence. At best it bears the hallmarks of Brown's celebrated editing style: it is elegant, savvy, urbane and writerly.The Daily Beast has had a patchy five years in existence. At best it bears the hallmarks of Brown's celebrated editing style: it is elegant, savvy, urbane and writerly.
Less happily, it failed to break any real ground at the frontier of digital innovation, falling back on an already familiar combination of aggregation of stories and original writing. As one media source familiar with Brown's work put it: "The Beast didn't break stories, was too magaziney, failed to generate enough content and was not sufficiently web-oriented as a business."Less happily, it failed to break any real ground at the frontier of digital innovation, falling back on an already familiar combination of aggregation of stories and original writing. As one media source familiar with Brown's work put it: "The Beast didn't break stories, was too magaziney, failed to generate enough content and was not sufficiently web-oriented as a business."
The media commentator Jim Romenesko told the Guardian that he was not surprised by the news of her departure. "Tina was losing interest in the Beast. I looked at it every day and I wondered about the enthusiasm levels of the people who put it together."The media commentator Jim Romenesko told the Guardian that he was not surprised by the news of her departure. "Tina was losing interest in the Beast. I looked at it every day and I wondered about the enthusiasm levels of the people who put it together."
The Beast was always a loss-making venture, although it was reported its deficit had been reduced in recent months. The real deal-breaker proved to be Newsweek, which Diller took over in 2010 and fused with the Daily Beast under Brown's joint editorship.The Beast was always a loss-making venture, although it was reported its deficit had been reduced in recent months. The real deal-breaker proved to be Newsweek, which Diller took over in 2010 and fused with the Daily Beast under Brown's joint editorship.
From the start, the merger looked shaky, and Diller admitted to Bloomberg earlier this year that "I wish I hadn't bought Newsweek. It was a mistake."From the start, the merger looked shaky, and Diller admitted to Bloomberg earlier this year that "I wish I hadn't bought Newsweek. It was a mistake."
Late last year, Brown announced that Newsweek would cease to exist in print form, and last month Diller got rid of the problem by selling Newsweek to IBT Media.Late last year, Brown announced that Newsweek would cease to exist in print form, and last month Diller got rid of the problem by selling Newsweek to IBT Media.
The future of the Daily Beast now looks uncertain, with BuzzFeed reporting that no decision has been made about whether it will continue under a new editor. According to the Daily Beast's own account of events, the site will live on under the auspices of managing director Deidre Depke and executive editor John Avlon.The future of the Daily Beast now looks uncertain, with BuzzFeed reporting that no decision has been made about whether it will continue under a new editor. According to the Daily Beast's own account of events, the site will live on under the auspices of managing director Deidre Depke and executive editor John Avlon.
"I leave the Daily Beast knowing it has never been better," Brown insisted in her own coverage."I leave the Daily Beast knowing it has never been better," Brown insisted in her own coverage.
As for Brown herself, the pattern of the past is that she never remains idle for long. The Daily Beast report said that her new company – working title: Tina Brown Live Media – would curate "live events, panel discussions, summits and debates, including the Woman in the World conference that she has produced since 2010".As for Brown herself, the pattern of the past is that she never remains idle for long. The Daily Beast report said that her new company – working title: Tina Brown Live Media – would curate "live events, panel discussions, summits and debates, including the Woman in the World conference that she has produced since 2010".
Additional reporting by Amanda HolpuchAdditional reporting by Amanda Holpuch
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