The Shot That Rang Around Many Kitchens
The news that Conde Nast is getting rid of Gourmet magazine stunned food lovers around the world yesterday. Click here for the story.
It’s a fierce blow to what otherwise has been a stellar career for editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl, a former restaurant critic for The New York Times.
It has been widely known that Gourmet’s ad sales have suffered badly in this economy. But the news is surprising especially considering that Gourmet recently got its own Web site after having to share epicurious.com with Bon Appetit for years.
Reichl, who brought Gourmet into television a few years ago with Diary of a Foodie, also is just launching the first season of a second PBS show titled Gourmet’s Adventures with Ruth. And a new Gourmet cookbook, Gourmet Today, came out just came out last month.
Reichl also had modernized the magazine quite a bit since joining it in 1999, by adding stories about food politics, local food and much more. In fact, blame for the demise cannot be foisted on Reichl. Industry analysts are blaming the Internet, the economy and the increasingly tough sell of anything on a printed page.
Gourmet is the oldest food magazine in this country. November is expected to be its final issue.
On the morning of Oct. 6, gourmet.com didn’t even contain a mention of its own imminent death. It’s quite possible the whole staff is numb with shock.
This analogy may not quite work, but a few weeks ago the Journal cut out the bridge column. And people came out of the woodwork to complain in no uncertain terms.
The result: The bridge column is back.
Here’s hoping that food lovers come out of the woodwork to show their support for Gourmet.
