James’s column, ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’ makes its debut in the December issue, on newsstands now.
Best known for shaping the modern men's magazine market with the launch of Loaded in 1994, a magazine that defined a generation, James Brown (pictured) is an exciting new addition to the Reader’s Digest team. The former British GQ editor is the first in a string of new columnists, bringing his expertise in the world of men’s lifestyle and media and entertainment to the table.
James joins the celebrity-heavy team of Stuart Maconie, the DJ and television presenter who has been contributing since December 2009, and the critically acclaimed triple Michelin starred chef, Marco Pierre White. The column ‘Food with Marco Pierre White’ has been running since October 2008.
James Brown commented on his new appointment: "I'm looking forward to writing a column for Reader’s Digest because, quite simply, it's the biggest magazine in the world. The British edition is fantastic due to Gill Hudson’s great efforts as editor, and when I leave it around the house, people who pick it up are really surprised how much they enjoy it - there's a whole new generation of readers who will be drawn into the magazine as it moves forward.
“I really believe that it helps to write for an audience you are part of. In my 20s I wrote for NME and created Loaded, in my thirties I edited GQ and created Jack, and so in my 40s writing for Reader’s Digest and running my own digital publishing venture ‘Sabotage Times’ just seems right. The column is about enjoying yourself, simple as that."
Gill Hudson, editor-in-chief at Reader’s Digest, adds: “Anyone who's surprised to see James Brown joining our list of contributors has obviously not seen Reader's Digest for a while. He's a great, engaging writer, with amazing ideas and brilliant insights, and fits perfectly with how we're transforming the magazine to make it more contemporary, relevant and entertaining than ever. James is one of a raft of exciting and original new contributors who'll be coming on board over the next few months, and is a clear marker of our many ambitious and dynamic plans for the brand.”
Earlier this month, Reader’s Digest launched a £3m marketing drive, embarking on the most extensive programme of consumer sampling the magazine has ever seen. With the ambition to raise the circulation of the magazine from 400,000 to 600,000. The sampling is taking place at key transport hubs, including tube and train stations in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
