Jack has signed up Steve Read as its new creative director and increased its size and cover price as part of fresh investment under new owner Dennis Publishing.
The changes will see Jack’s format increase to the same size as National Geographic to improve visibility on the news-stand and allow more space for photography. Pagination will increase by 21 per cent to a minimum of 308 pages and there will be increased coverage of sport, travel and style. The cover price will go up by 50p to £3.00.
Jack will also feature cover-mounts for the first time since its launch, on the November and December issues. In addition, Maxim’s editor-at-large and Daily Mirror columnist Bill Borrows has become a regular contributor.
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The announcement follows the £5.1m takeover of I Feel Good, Jack’s owner, by Dennis in May and the appointment of new editor Michael Hodges following James Brown’s exit in June. It also comes two months before a redesign appears in the November issue.
Read, who has taken the place of Jon Link, Jack’s former creative director, told Press Gazette: “Jon did a great job, but I think the magazine has lost direction a little over the past few issues. It just needs a change. My objectives are to give it more of an identity and more of a refined look.”
Read oversaw the launch of Trash last month, the title produced jointly by Condé Nast and Ministry of Sound.
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Prior to that he worked in New York for three years on Tina Brown’s Talk.
“Trash is a great idea and has a really good team, but it was quite limiting because you’re being pulled in one direction by Ministry of Sound and another by Condé Nast. But I really enjoyed working at Condé Nast and I certainly have no reservations about working there in future.”
Jack’s publisher Bruce Sandell said the new size would mean Jack would not have to rely on boxes or boards used to promote the title at the newsstand.
“You can still fit it in your pocket, I’ve tried,” he added.
By Ruth Addicott
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