Businesswoman and model Carly Koss, along with her husband, billionaire investor Joshua Kushner, are bringing it back to life, more than two decades after the popular photo magazine dating back more than a century ceased regular publication.
Kloss and Kushner’s Bedford Media on Thursday announced a deal to return LIFE magazine to print and digital distribution, as part of an agreement with Dotdash Meredith to relaunch LIFE as a publication with a regular rhythm and vibrant media property. IAC founded Dotdash Meredith after it acquired Meredith for $2.7 billion after Meredith acquired Time Inc. (Former owner of LIFE).
The LIFE deal comes after Bedford Media acquired fashion magazine iD Magazine from struggling Vice Media Group. Kushner is the founder of the venture capital firm Thrive Capital and the younger brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and former White House adviser.
Terms of the deal between Bedford Media and Dotdash Meredith were not disclosed. Bedford will manage the full operations of the new LIFE magazine, including editorial strategy, revenue and media initiatives. Dotdash Meredith will continue to own full rights to LIFE’s photography and content archives dating back to the 1930s, and will also continue to publish its LIFE branded single-subject special interest magazines available on newsstands.
“We see LIFE as an encouraging and unifying voice in a chaotic media landscape,” said Close, CEO of Bedford Media, in a statement. “Although Bedford is a new media company, we draw deep inspiration from LIFE’s distinctive heritage and its ability to connect diverse audiences to humanity’s universal narratives.”
“LIFE’s legacy lies in its ability to blend culture, current events and everyday life – highlighting the triumphs, challenges and unique perspectives that define us,” commented Kushner, who serves as publisher of LIFE Magazine.
LIFE was launched in 1883 and published a popular weekly magazine until former owner Time Inc. closing in 1972. LIFE was revived in 1978 before Tim Inc. discontinued it. Regular publication in 2000.
Bedford Media describes itself as “a media holding company focused on artisanal storytelling, authenticity and shared cultural resonance. By blending iconic brands with new ways of doing business and reaching audiences, the company’s strategy moves away from ubiquity and toward quality and depth.”