Media Darlings (w/ Samantha Leach)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thenewgarde.substack.comYou’ve likely noticed lot of talk about media’s “good ol’ days” bubbling up recently: Two of the most buzzed about books in New York’s literary circles are “When the Going Was Good,” Graydon Carter’s dishy memoir on the industry’s heyday, and the upcoming “Empire of the Elite,” a look back at Condé Nast’s golden age. Last week, Radhika Jones — one of the last remaining American editors (reportedly) to pull a seven-figure salary — announced her departure from Vanity Fair, where she’s been at the helm since 2017. This all begs the question: What lies ahead for magazines, and what power do legendary titles hold in 2025? This week, Alyssa is joined by Samantha Leach, associate director of special projects at Bustle and NYLON (and author of “The Elissas”), to discuss the state of both print and digital media in depth. Tune in to hear their insights about cover booking, as well as the politics and strategies behind it; the shift from journalists to creators when it comes to interviewing celebrities; how scrappiness in editorial can breed creativity and yield great results; the tricky topic of access to talent and dealing with increasing demands from publicists; how publishers can stay relevant during this time of major change; stealth sponsored content; why events are crucial for any media brand; why print is neither back nor dead, but a secret third thing, and so much more.