FishbowlNY has learned that Parade‘s editor-in-chief, Janice Kaplan has left the magazine.

Although a good-bye memo to staff seemed to suggest that Kaplan is leaving the weekly magazine on good terms, we have heard that she was asked to leave. The change at the top of the masthead comes after Parade‘s owner Condé Nast appointed a new CEO, Jack Haire, back in April. Since then, the magazine has lost its president, Randy Siegel, who left to run local digital strategy for parent company Advance Publications last month and got a new publisher, Brett Wilson this fall.

Kaplan, an author and former deputy editor at TV Guide magazine, joined Parade four years ago as executive editor and took over the role of editor-in-chief two years ago.

In her letter to her staff, Kaplan praised Parade‘s growth in the years since she’s been in charge, highlighting its celebrity coverage, increase medical coverage, and high profile guest writers. She also talked about the magazine’s expansion into other platforms, including TV and the Web. “Leaving now, I extend my warm thanks to everyone who contributed to our many triumphs,” she said, adding: “I’m disappointed not to have the opportunity to continue this great run. But I wish all of you — and Parade — continued success.”

Read all of Kaplan’s note, after the jump

We have reached out to Parade for comment but have not yet heard back. We’ll keep you posted as the story develops.

Previously: Parade Names New Publisher

Read more

Randy Siegel, the president of Parade magazine publisher Parade Publications, has been named president of local digital strategy for Advance Publications, the parent company of Parade and Condé Nast.

In his new role, Siegel will be working with the company’s local digital division, Advance Internet, and Advance’s newspapers, including The Star-Ledger in New Jersey and The Staten Island Advance.

Siegel has worked for Parade since 2001, joining the company from The Washington Post Co. He has also written for newspapers around the country and is publishing a children’s book this fall.

Full release after the jump

Read more

Parade magazine has brought Kristen Fairback on as vice president, integrated sales. In this newly created position, Fairback will be spearheading Parade‘s print and digital sales efforts, Publisher Randy Siegel said.

Fairback formerly worked as associate publisher at Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, and worked as Eastern advertising director at Life magazine before that.

Full release after the jump

Read more

With Life now soon-to-be dead, how are the other weekend newsmagazines taking the news?

Dave Barber, senior vice president of newspaper relations at USA Weekend, told E&P that “[Life's] issues had been looking good. It’s disappointing to see someone go out.”

Randy Siegel, president and publisher of Parade, took a diplomatic approach as well, but also got in a parting shot: “It’s sad whenever a publication closes and the folks at Life did some nice things … It’s just hard to be a number three player in any category in media.”

EARLIER