Show notes
In today’s episode of the Disruptors Podcast, Rob interviews professional journalist, columnist, author and editor of GQ magazine, Dylan Jones OBE. Dylan has served as the editor of the global magazine since 1991 and has won the British Society of Magazine Editors “Editor of the Year” award a record ten times.
Rob and Dylan discuss how GQ has had to evolve, innovate and change, to sustain its status as a premium men’s fashion and lifestyle magazine. They discuss the value of a brand, changing delivery channels, the current climate and how the whole industry has been disrupted by technological changes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
How would you describe what you do and who you are?
I'm a professional journalist. I've also done a series of books and I'm quite active with the British fashion council. The great thing about the magazine, however, is that it allows us to split off into politics or literature quite easily, it's very engrossing. The remit of GQ is quite broad and it allows us to fold in various different disciplines. My role at GQ is principally editing, steering the magazine in the right direction both physically and commercially.
Is the role of vision and direction of GQ a role that you enjoy?
Absolutely and it changes over the years because we're not just producing a monthly magazine. In this climate, we're producing a magazine of a standard you don't often see anymore. These days you have to have everything and it's a bit like being back in the newspaper. You're trying to drive the news agenda whilst also report on what's going on in the world. We have a much smaller team than any other national newspaper but we use various pillars to get everything done.
What is the current climate and how has your industry changed?
The climate has changed primarily because of technology because distribution channels have changed enormously and audience consumer habits have changed. When we started people didn't have mobile phones, now people consume content in different ways. That's why we have a print magazine, a digital magazine, social feeds etc.
What does good journalism look like to you?
Journalism that is well commissions, well researched, well written, well edited and well displayed. There is a vehicle for quality journalism because there is a demand for expert and quality material to be produced. Today, everything is quick and everything is disposable. The world is full of fake news and content is endlessly regurgitated, so much so there is no trust anymore. Now, we start to see a resurgence in the appreciation of excellence.
What does Disruptive mean to you?
It’s a very emotive word and it powerful and people are looking for it. I think people are looking for it in every walk of life, every discipline and every profession. It’s probably more important now to be a disruptor now than it ever has before because you can attach real commercial value to it.
BEST MOMENTS
“We're very confident in our abilities to talk to a certain demographic. If you understand your product and you understand your audience then it's all about delivery.”
"You have to know your audience and know your brand"
"We seem to have had a revival with social media. We used to think that social media would reduce our attention spans but actually in the podcast and magazine world's it's the opposite. Some of the best pieces are two/ three-hour long conversation pieces"
“In this world where you can share anything, there’s a premium on quality.”
“As a journalist, you are always looking for things that you don’t know. Because you want the readers not to know them. It’s a constant journey of discovery.”
“Podcasts are incredible, it’s on-demand radio and it’s smart people talking.”
“You can be a writer or you can be an editor, but you can’t be both. I don’t think that’s true.”
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dylan Jones OBE is a professional journalist, columnist and author who has served as editor of the UK version of men's fashion and lifestyle magazine GQ. He studied at Chelsea School Of Art and then St. Martin’s School of Art. His award-winning editing position at GQ is a position he has held since 1999, and has won the British Society of Magazine Editors “Editor of the Year” award a record ten times. In 2013 he was also the recipient of the prestigious Mark Boxer Award.
CONTACT METHOD
@DylanJonesGQ
[Business, mindset, entrepreneur, disruptors]
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ABOUT THE HOST
Rob Moore is an author of 9 business books, 5 UK bestsellers, holds 3 world records for public speaking, entrepreneur, property investor, and property educator. Author of the global bestseller “Life Leverage” Host of UK’s No.1 business podcast “Disruptors”
“If you don't risk anything, you risk everything”
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disruptive, disruptors, entreprenuer, business, social media, marketing, money, growth, scale, scale up, risk, property: http://www.robmoore.com