OUT Magazine lays off entire editorial staff

The editorial staff of the influential gay lifestyle magazine Out is being laid off with one month's severance as of Friday, according to Capital New York.

According to Out editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin, it's more complicated than that.

Hicklin said he has formed a new company called Grand Editorial that will function as an editorial contractor for Here Media, who owns Out Magazine.

Hicklin told Capital there will be no reduction in the frequency of the magazine or other major changes to the content.

"This was not a cost-cutting measure," he said.

He said he'd been hatching plans to launch Grand for awhile. Having spent six years running Out, he informed Here that he was forming a new venture, a custom-content shop that would work on projects like producing magazines for corporate clients, he said.

Apparently, the re-hired editors will have more flexibility in their work and work load, however no full-time salaries or benefits. They will be contracted freelancers.

Read more at Capital New York.