George rebirth planned
New Frontier is aiming for a 250,000 circulation
After two years of planning and a series of fits and starts, Helen O'Donnell, daughter of former JFK chief of staff Kenneth O'Donnell, announced Thursday that she will launch the New Frontier's Web site later this month to coincide with the GOP convention. The November issue of the monthly mag, described as an edgy mix of politics, lifestyle and entertainment, won't appear until the end of October.
O'Donnell says she plans to run the launch of the mag like a tight-fisted political campaign.
The New Frontier is aiming for a 250,000 circulation at its launch and will try to keep overhead down by maintaining only five or so full-time employees. Most of the writing will be contracted out on a freelance basis. Mag also plans to pair up with Congressional Quarterly, a respected inside-the-Beltway pub, for some of its more newsy coverage of Capitol Hill.
Several anonymous financiers from the entertainment industry have put up $15 million for the publishing project.
O'Donnell insists the publication will be nonpartisan despite her deep Democratic roots and will not attempt to exactly replicate the look and feel of the original George.
