FQ, the magazine for dads at the centre of an ongoing legal dispute with GQ over its name, has changed its editor this week after just one issue.
The dispute, which is currently in the hands of lawyers, centres around the name FQ, which stands for Father’s Quarterly, and GQ, which stands for Gentleman’s Quarterly.
Damion Queva, head of FQ publisher 3D Media, said: “GQ has most certainly registered its concern over the name. FQ is Father’s Quarterly because it’s about fathers and it’s a quarterly magazine – that’s a fact.
Whereas GQ is monthly. FQ is not a magazine aimed at GQ readers. It’s about the family and modern dad.”
It is understood Condé Nast, GQ’s publisher, tried to impose an injunction to stop FQ hitting the newsstands.
“They tried to take out an injunction but my lawyers dealt with them. We have a very good case to win. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it,” Queva added.
GQ declined to comment.
FQ has appointed Glyn Wilmshurst as its new editor. Wilmshurst, a former editor of Boom magazine, takes over from launch editor Claire O’Reilly, who is being retained at FQ as a freelance consultant.
Queva said Wilmshurst had been brought in to give the magazine “a more masculine feel”. He said O’Reilly was suitable for the launch issue because it needed a fresh and new approach and it was important for someone to look objectively at fatherhood.
“Claire didn’t have a family or children and was able to scrutinise the info dads wanted to read about,” he said. “From there, we wanted the magazine to develop and we brought Glyn in to give it a more masculine feel.
“What I have found with parenting magazines is they dredge up the same things time and time again. I don’t want the same thing to happen to FQ.”
Queva said the first issue had sold out in many places and attracted more than 2,000 subscribers. “It has been nothing short of phenomenal. We have had a tremendous amount of letters and e-mails from writers prepared to provide their services for a reduced fee because they believe it’s a magazine that is well overdue,” he said.
The second issue is due out on 20 August with a print run of 80,000 and a cover price of £2.99.
By Ruth Addicott
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