Life magazine, known for its influential photojournalism throughout the 20th century, is preparing for a significant return with a new print edition set to be released on November 23. The publication, originally founded in 1936 by Henry Luce, rose to prominence with early coverage of landmark events such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, World War II, the civil rights movement, and the Apollo 11 moon landing. Its iconic images and storytelling helped shape American visual culture, featuring work from renowned photographers like Robert Capa and Gordon Parks.
Life's circulation peaked in the 1960s, reaching over eight million around the country, but the rise of television contributed to its decline and subsequent cessation of weekly issues in 1972. The magazine reopened as a monthly in 1978 but again stopped regular publication in 2000. Since then, Life has appeared sporadically through special editions and brief newspaper supplements. Its photographic archive, consisting of more than 10 million images, remains under the ownership of People Inc., which holds part of the former Time Inc. portfolio and continues to issue occasional specials.
The relaunch is spearheaded by Petra Kloss, who licensed the brand's rights from Dotdash Meredith, part of People Inc., earlier this year. Kloss assembled a creative team to reimagine Life for the contemporary media landscape while maintaining its historical essence. Richard Turley, the creative director with past editorial experience at MTV and Bloomberg Businessweek, emphasized that the new edition draws on the magazine’s broad exploration of human experience without attempting to replicate the original format exactly.
The editorial team includes notable names such as Hugo Lindgren, former editor of The New York Times Magazine; Eve Lyons, a former Times photo editor who now directs photography for the project; and Caryn Ganz, a previous pop music editor at The New York Times. Their inaugural issue, titled “Where Are We Now?,” engages more than 120 contributors to present a multifaceted portrait of contemporary America, featuring voices ranging from scientists and artists to coal miners and entrepreneurs.
The 250-page large-format edition will retail for $45 and intentionally avoids traditional print advertising, instead securing sponsorship from companies like Rivian and Figma. Lyons noted the effort to counteract the overwhelming volume of images circulating today by encouraging readers to slow down and engage more deeply with visual storytelling.
Kloss stated she is primarily focused on establishing a sustainable business model to support Life’s legacy and future, acknowledging the challenges of profitability in print media. She underscored that the goal is steady progress rather than rushing to quick financial returns, with an eye toward long-term viability.
The forthcoming issue pays homage to Luce’s original vision for Life, centered on the joy and surprise of seeing the world anew—a mission the new editorial team aims to uphold as the magazine seeks to reestablish its place in American media.