Life magazine is making its long-awaited return to print on Nov. 23, exactly 90 years after its landmark 1936 debut, with a $45 quarterly publication that will forgo traditional print advertising as part of a broader push into digital content, video and live experiences.
The inaugural 248-page issue, titled “Where Are We Now?,” will be available at select bookstores and newsstands nationwide, according to a fact sheet provided by the company. Life will also launch a free digital platform featuring original stories, photography, documentaries and video, part of an effort to build a modern media brand beyond the printed page.
The relaunch comes as traditional magazine publishers grapple with declining print circulation and advertising revenue, making Life’s return a notable bet on premium print journalism.
The new Life will publish quarterly in an oversized 11-by-16-inch format. Rather than carry traditional print ads, the magazine plans to pursue select brand partnerships across its platforms. It will also offer subscriptions and a founding membership program that includes four annual issues, an exclusive profile book, curated items and priority access to events.
Bedford Media, which also owns i-D, is backing the relaunch. The company says Life’s editorial team will retain full editorial independence and creative control. Subscription and membership pricing have not yet been announced.
“Print is the start,” the editors wrote in a letter released Wednesday, explaining that each issue would serve as the foundation for additional digital content, special-edition publications, collectibles and events designed to bring members together.
As TheWrap reported in March 2024, Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner’s Bedford Media struck an agreement with Dotdash Meredith to revive Life in print and digital form. Bedford assumed responsibility for the magazine’s editorial operations and business strategy, while Dotdash Meredith retained ownership of its extensive photography and content archives. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Life’s revival has taken longer than initially anticipated. The publication was originally expected to return in early 2025. In August, Puck reported that former New York Times Magazine editor Hugo Lindgren was working on the relaunch alongside creative director Richard Turley. Both are listed on the new magazine’s masthead.
The comeback also comes during an eventful stretch for Kushner, the founder of Thrive Capital, who in August reached a deal with former Disney CEO Bob Iger to acquire a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Lakers at a record $12.5 billion valuation.
Originally relaunched as a photojournalism magazine by Time founder Henry Luce in 1936, Life became one of America’s most influential publications, known for its photography documenting major historical events and everyday life. Its weekly run ended in 1972, and the title later returned in several formats, most recently as a weekly newspaper supplement that ceased publication in 2007.
Wednesday’s editorial letter positioned the revival as an alternative to the constant stream of information competing for audiences’ attention online.
“The faster we scroll, the less we see,” the editors wrote, arguing that Life could offer a shared perspective in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
