Peer inside the mind of PEOPLE Magazine's Editor in Chief, Dan Wakeford with this exclusive opportunity for you and a guest to virtually meet with Dan and take your shot asking him anything: what it's like to be in charge of one of the most influential celebrity and human interest digital and print publications, tips on breaking into the industry in an ever-changing landscape, or even what it's like selecting the sexiest and most intriguing people alive!
Dan Wakeford was named Editor in Chief of PEOPLE in March 2019. He joined the brand in 2015 as Deputy Editor, where he was responsible for all human interest, service and royal family content, and led breaking news coverage -- from school shootings to celebrity weddings -- across multiple platforms. Wakeford has a sharp understanding of the zeitgeist and is a master storyteller and brand-builder who specializes in cover creation and multi-platform content. He has split his time between editing the magazine, overseeing 11 of PEOPLE's digital verticals and developing the future of the business with spin-off projects. These include three seasons of the crime TV series PEOPLE Magazine Investigates; two of the spin-off PEOPLE Magazine Investigates: Cults on Investigation Discovery; and two network documentaries on the British royal family for ABC. Wakeford introduced two new editorial franchises in 2019: PEOPLE’s Kindness Issue, which inspires readers to lead with compassion by trying one simple act of kindness a day that may encourage others to also pay it forward, and PEOPLE of the Year, a special double issue celebrating the stars who have made an impact on our culture and who have moved and entertained us. He also launched a year-long initiative on Mental Health to encourage readers to have vital conversations about this sensitive topic.
He immigrated from the United Kingdom in 2002 to develop the genre of celebrity weeklies in America. Prior, he served as a top editor on the team that created Heat, the award-winning London magazine that defined pop culture in the early 2000s in Europe. He was also a celebrity reporter for the two biggest newspapers in the UK -- The Sun and The Mirror. Wakeford earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies at the University of Leicester, as well as a postgraduate journalism diploma. He has written, edited and consulted for lifestyle brands and market-leading digital and print publications including Hello!, Heat, Grazia, Yahoo!, and Time Out. He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his husband, actor Lucas Baker.
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