View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
September 13, 2001updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Fears about staff after ‘the worst catastrophe’

By Press Gazette

 Magazine companies in the UK were frantically trying to contact their staff on Tuesday – many of whom were in the US covering New York Fashion Week.

Meanwhile, as the impact of the attack on the World Trade Center sunk in, a British journalist working on a magazine in New York described how staff abandoned their desks to donate blood.

Elly Trickett, news editor of PR Week, told Press Gazette on Tuesday: "We, and many, many other publications, are on the horns of a dilemma right now. What to do? What to write? How to address the worst catastrophe in our lifetimes.

"People have the option of going home, of course, but few have exercised it. A number of my colleagues have left the office to give blood. Obviously, we are all in a state of shock.

"Not being able to get through to our friends and family was a major problem, because nearly all lines of communication were down."

Peter Howarth, editor of Esquire, was among the British journalists in Manhattan, along with Michael Hodges, executive editor of Maxim, Anthony McGrath from Loaded Fashion, Liz Walker, executive fashion and beauty editor of Marie Claire, Arabella Greenhill, fashion editor of Marie Claire, Elizabeth Cocozza, fashion and style director of Woman’s Journal, and Fabien Baron, editor of Arena Homme Plus. All are understood to be safe.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Duncan Edwards, deputy managing director of the National Magazine Company, said: "We have got a lot of staff in New York, in excess of 15. We contacted them immediately and as far as we know, everyone is OK.

"As far as I know, the Hearst offices have not been affected. Obviously, everyone is very concerned as they all have contacts, colleagues and partners out there."

Ashley Heath, creative director of Arena Homme Plus and The Face, said: "We have got around a dozen staff in New York, including one who was on board a flight and got diverted to Canada. We understand, fingers crossed, that they are all right." Staff at John Brown Publishing’s offices in New York were also understood to be safe, including production manager Debbie Bicknell, who only started her job on Monday.

By Ruth Addicott

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network