Another Editor Out: ‘Essence’ EIC Constance C. R. White Is Leaving the Magazine

February 11th, 2013 - By Tonya Garcia
(Photo by Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup) via AP IMAGES

(Photo by Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup) via AP IMAGES

A few editorial departures were announced at Essence magazine this weekend, including Constance C.R. White, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, who only returned to the magazine in 2011.

White’s journalism background is a rich one — “founding fashion editor at Talk magazine; style reporter for The New York Times; and executive fashion editor at ELLE magazine,” among other positions, reports The Root, quoting the announcement of her appointment to Essence EIC. She was a brand consultant and spokeswoman for eBay before making the move.

White replaced Angela Burt-Murray, who resigned after five years and has since launched a new site, CocoaFab.com. White is credited with adding diversity of skin tone and look to Essence’s pages.

Also leaving Essence are Corynne L. Corbett, the magazine’s beauty editor, and Greg Monfries, the magazine’s creative director. Executive editor Vanessa Bush is stepping in as EIC temporarily. Time Inc, which owns Essence, is cutting 500 jobs. Essence is second in circulation to Ebony for magazines targeting black Americans.

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  • Guest

    Stop putting the same people on the cover. Focus on issues and information pertinent to the Black community. I know you may have readers of other races, but the magazine was started for black people by black people. Other ethnic groups have their own publications!!!! I hate when they have people like Zoe Saldana on the cover or featured in an article. She won’t even call herself black so why is she taking up space in a black magazine!!! Brothers who say negative things about black women like, Wesley Snipes,etc should never be featured in the magazine. It’s a turn off to those of us who are proud to be black!!!

  • EruditeLady

    Actually Iyanla and LL on the cover is a big improvement over, say, three or five years ago. Iyanla had a cover in January 2001 and really, with the popularity of her show, it’s warranted. I can see LL for March given his hosting the Grammy’s (March issue drops in early Feb) and this talk about his abuse, childhood, etc. (He did Oprah’s Next Chapter).

    I do agree that they need to continue to step up their cover game. Jill Scott on the cover last year and then the year before was too much. As was Mary J. Blige. They were part of the same cycle of folks Essence would have on the cover.

    Essence big issue is that the mag is trying to be all things to all people. The truth is that Time Inc. probably should’ve done a better job with Suede back in 2004/2005 to target a younger audience. And it should’ve developed it’s healh and wellness section. And their website — there’s no excuse except for fear and laziness why Essence, Ebony and Jet aren’t the top news and lifestyles sites for African Americans. I guess we have to wait and see what’s next.

  • Patricia

    Somebody needs to step up at Essence. To me, they still continue to put the same people on their magazine cover over and over again. I don’t know if the reasoning for such action is those celebrities sells more of the magazine. Ms. White claims that they were suppose to do better to improve not recycling the same celebrites but they continue to do so. I hope somebody can improve by putting a variety of black women on the cover.