Sports Illustrated’s Terry McDonell’s Quiet Rise to Power Grid Domination
There is a new top man in the Magazine Editors category of the Power Grid – Terry McDonell, Managing Editor of Sports Illustrated, who just edges out his Time Inc. compadre Rick Stengel editor of Time Magazine. So what’s going on in the wide world of sports weeklies that is pushing McDonell to the top of the heap? SPOILER ALERT – it has nothing to do with Erin Andrews!
To say that Terry McDonell is a veteran of magazine publishing would be an understatement (see Wikipedia- Terry McDonell). From Outside, to Men’s Journal, to even US Weekly – he’s done it all. So it should come as no surprise that he’s regarded so highly. But isn’t he in charge of a weekly magazine that’s getting killed by websites both corporate and…well, less corporate? Number one on the Power Grid? Really?
To understand the reasons why McDonell has the “most power”, one must first look at the methodology of the Power Grid. By taking into consideration a wide variety of metrics – from old school (print circ) to new (google buzz), there are a couple of reasons why one is ranked in such a manner. Sports Illustrated’s circulation is indeed strong, and so too is its Google Buzz (so too apparently for Mr. McDonell). But none of this is so exceptional as to merit is new found alpha-dog status. So what is it?
In the parlance of a McKinsey consultant, the key to SI’s relevance is their “wholisitic” approach to branding and content. In other words, their website is doing very well in terms of unique visitors, and when added in to the total, McDonell’s complete power profile is unparalleled.
So congrats to “Big Sky”- enjoy your status as the most influential Magazine Editor in all the land.
Other big movements on the Magazine Editor category:
- Time’s Rick Stengel is just behind McDonell for the very same reasons listed above. Time Inc.’s digital strategy appears to be paying off in the Power Grid department.
- Newsweek’s Jon Meacham’s lock on the top spot appears to be over (in large part because the re-design publicity has abated a as well).
- News of Janice Min’s departure from US Weekly appears to have moved her up in the top five (sure to be the top of her new resume!)
- Rolling Stone’s Will Dana cracks the top ten for the first time (thank you Matt Taibi).
Any insight on the reasons behind this movement? Agree or Disagree with the rankings overall? Please share your thoughts — maybe you can be quoted in our next Power Grid update.
