Time Inc. Discover Publishing and Business Records: Publisher Bruce Barnet Files
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Abstract
Publisher Bruce Barnet's files document the final review of feasibility of the popular science magazine Discover and its sale.
Historical Note
The popular science magazine Discover was created via task force outside of the Magazine Development Group and first published in 1980. Time Inc. sold Discover to Family Media, Inc. in 1987.
For the majority of Time Inc.'s existence, the company maintained a strict separation of editorial from the publishing and business side of each magazine, colloquially called the separation of "church" (editorial) and "state" (publishing). Publishing and Business Management includes the publisher, general manager, business manager, advertising sales, marketing services, letters, circulation, and public relations. Cofounder Henry Luce structured Time Inc. this way so that the business side could not (in theory) influence the editorial content of the publications. For example, the advertising sales people could not interfere with a magazine's decision to run an article on the dangers of cigarette smoking, even though it might mean losing millions of dollars in tobacco ads.
Biographical Note
Bruce Barnet was final Circulation Director of Life. He also held positions with Time-Life Films, Fortune publishing, and the Magazine Development Group (MDG) publishing. After serving in the MDG, the Discover board appointed him as publisher specifically to "take a hard look at the business potential for the magazine." Ultimately Barnet recommended in a report to the board that Time Inc. sell Discover. After the 1987 sale, Barnet was promoted to Vice President of Planning for the Magazine Group.
Arrangement
Organized alphabetically. All files but the Science 86 Acquisition binder were found together. Alphabetical arrangement was imposed.
Scope and Contents
Publisher Bruce Barnet's files document the final review of feasibility of Discover and its sale. The records include reports on finances and circulation, memoranda on options, press releases, crafted question and answers to use after the announcement, and personnel issues.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Open to qualified researchers with the exception of restricted materials. Restricted materials include contracts, personnel files, and records with personally identifiable information. Restricted materials are located in box R17.
Materials in this collection are stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Conditions Governing Use
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Preferred Citation
This record group should be cited as Time Inc. Discover Publishing and Business Records: Publisher Bruce Barnet Files, MS 3009-RG 43, New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Time Inc. in 2015.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Holly Deakyne in 2020. The original folders were retained although some documents were transferred to archival containers in instances of overcrowding. Documents were rehoused from one binder and the binder cover was discarded. Arrangement was imposed. Deakyne created the inventory and other descriptive notes to produce this finding aid.