'Parade' Editor/Exec. VP Steps Down

By: Jennifer Saba Parade Executive Vice President and Editor Lee Kravitz is stepping down, effective Oct. 12.

"I'm looking forward to thinking about doing new things," Kravitz told E&P this morning. He added that he is leaving on his own accord, partly to spend time with his children, a 7-year old and 10-year-old twins. "I think it's the right time to look at the next chapter."

Janice Kaplan, Parade's executive editor, will serve as acting editor.

After serving as editorial director at Scholastic, Kravitz joined Parade in 1995 to launch React, a magazine and companion Web site that targeted teens. It was distributed in 225 newspapers and had an editorial following but eventually folded after struggling to find an advertising base. In 2000, Kravitz was appointed editor of Parade.

"The magazine is in great shape," he said. "Editor in chief is a wonderful position, but one needs to find the balance for the other things and this is just a good time to do it."

Kravitz, 54, said his decision to leave had nothing to do with the current beating newspapers are undergoing with declining circulation and advertising revenue: "Parade has really thrived in this climate because on Sundays people still want to open their newspapers and get a quality product that people are familiar with. I'm very mission-minded, and I think the mission of reaching people through Parade and newspapers is still alive and strong."