INSIDE OUT: And now, the latest evidence that celebrities are — to borrow Bonnie Fuller‘s immortal formulation — just like us: V Life, the glossy Variety spin-off for and about Hollywood players, is looking for new readers among the general public. The September issue, out this week, is the first that will be sold on newsstands. Previously, the two-year-old magazine was distributed only to 62,000 subscribers of Variety’s daily and weekly editions — that is, to people who have a professional interest in movies and television. Executive editor Tom Tapp said he hoped the expansion would allow V Life, which is also going to monthly frequency from bimonthly, to double or triple its readership.
But is that a good thing? Until now, V Life’s ability to bill itself as a true insider’s read has set it apart from competitors such as Vanity Fair and Premiere. Won’t bringing civilians into the fold force the magazine to lower its level of knowingness? Will they be interested in stories about Jerry Bruckheimer‘s favorite microbrews, or Creative Artists Agency’s new headquarters? “I think there is another circle of people who are knowledgeable enough and interested enough in how people at the top of the entertainment industry work and play that we don’t have to change much of what we do,” said Tapp. “The minute that we start pandering to the outsider, we lose our point of differentiation.” In other words, don’t expect V Life to play in Peoria.
MASTHEAD MOVES: With mammoth September issues finally out the door and on newsstands, there’s finally a brief window of time to relax, recharge and, not least, restaff. With that in mind, Harper’s Bazaar has poached Stacey DeLorenzo from Vogue to be its new director of photography, starting Sept. 12. She replaces Cary Estes Leitzes, who recently left to start a company that helps pair artists with commercial ventures. In Style also beefed up its photo department, hiring Michelle Thomas as senior photo editor. Thomas, who has worked as a photographer’s rep and booking agent, will report to Bradley Young, the magazine’s new photo director. Finally, Teen Vogue has made three additions to its fashion department: senior market editor Taylor Tomasi, market editor Joanna Hillman and associate accessories editor Sarah Kuhn.