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Magazine publisher wants editor to live within half an hour of Mayfair Magazine publisher wants editor to live within half an hour of Mayfair
(about 1 hour later)
A magazine publisher in central London seeking a “gregarious, vivacious” journalist to join its “small, friendly team” has added another interesting requirement: applicants must “live within half an hour of Bond Street”.A magazine publisher in central London seeking a “gregarious, vivacious” journalist to join its “small, friendly team” has added another interesting requirement: applicants must “live within half an hour of Bond Street”.
The request appears in a recruitment advert placed by Publishing Business, publisher of titles like Mayfair Times, Sloane Square and Belgravia that are aimed at wealthy Londoners.The request appears in a recruitment advert placed by Publishing Business, publisher of titles like Mayfair Times, Sloane Square and Belgravia that are aimed at wealthy Londoners.
It was included in an ad for “an experienced journalist to work at editor level” who is “happy to write both business and lifestyle copy and is full of creative ideas.”It was included in an ad for “an experienced journalist to work at editor level” who is “happy to write both business and lifestyle copy and is full of creative ideas.”
It prompted Tanya de Grunwald, who runs the Graduate Fog careers website, to question whether any journalist in their 20s could afford to live so close to the centre of Mayfair.It prompted Tanya de Grunwald, who runs the Graduate Fog careers website, to question whether any journalist in their 20s could afford to live so close to the centre of Mayfair.
So she emailed her concern to the managing director of Publishing Business, Adrian Day. She wrote:So she emailed her concern to the managing director of Publishing Business, Adrian Day. She wrote:
“Given the nature of the magazines that you publish, you must surely be aware that living in central London is simply not affordable for many people (including those on a journalist’s salary).“Given the nature of the magazines that you publish, you must surely be aware that living in central London is simply not affordable for many people (including those on a journalist’s salary).
Are you not concerned that this requirement will mean that only those with a private income, wealthy parents or a wealthy partner will be able to apply?Are you not concerned that this requirement will mean that only those with a private income, wealthy parents or a wealthy partner will be able to apply?
Or perhaps you are offering a salary that is so impressive that they would find it easy to afford a central London rent?Or perhaps you are offering a salary that is so impressive that they would find it easy to afford a central London rent?
I would be very grateful if you could clarify how you can justify making an applicant’s geographical residence a requirement for the job.”I would be very grateful if you could clarify how you can justify making an applicant’s geographical residence a requirement for the job.”
Day did not reply to her, but I called him and asked whether his requirement was serious. At first he said it wasn’t, adding: “It would be useful, I guess.”Day did not reply to her, but I called him and asked whether his requirement was serious. At first he said it wasn’t, adding: “It would be useful, I guess.”
After a moment’s thought, he said: “Look, I live in south London and I can get to the offices [just off Regent Street] in not much more than half an hour.”After a moment’s thought, he said: “Look, I live in south London and I can get to the offices [just off Regent Street] in not much more than half an hour.”
He went on to explain that “we all work hard in publishing... we have to put in the hours in the office and then, afterwards, more time that’s less specific.”He went on to explain that “we all work hard in publishing... we have to put in the hours in the office and then, afterwards, more time that’s less specific.”
This was a reference to the statement in the advert saying: “You’ll expect to be meeting people on a daily basis and will welcome the opportunity to attend receptions and events after work.”This was a reference to the statement in the advert saying: “You’ll expect to be meeting people on a daily basis and will welcome the opportunity to attend receptions and events after work.”
And will that be unpaid, I wonder? And does the adjective “vivacious” not suggest that the applicant should be female?And will that be unpaid, I wonder? And does the adjective “vivacious” not suggest that the applicant should be female?
Day had left the office for a meeting when I called back to inquire. At the time of writing he has not replied to an email request for some clarification. Update midday: Day responded to my email asking for clarification of “vivacious” by saying it did not indicate a wish for a woman. “I always thought it meant animated or lively,” he wrote.