Editor resigns from lifestyle magazine

Magazine editor Candia McKormack, who was signed off with work-related stress earlier this year, has resigned after 23 years at Newsquest-owned Cotswold Life.

She has been editor for the last five years, originally joining the publication as a designer before going on to becoming assistant editor and then deputy editor.

Candia (pictured) said she had “no alternative” but to leave after Newsquest refused her plea for additional editorial help to enable her to make a phased return to work. She told media website Hold The Front Page: “After being signed off with work-related stress by my GP in May this year, I’ve been in negotiations with Newsquest about getting additional support to help me return to the position.

“We’ve reached something of an impasse, though, with the company saying they’re not able to invest a single extra penny in editorial resources.”

Posting on her LinkedIn account she wrote: "It's been an incredible experience, and I really have felt privileged to be custodian of such a well-loved magazine, but the times they are a-changing... Generative AI is being introduced into publishing as a way to help ease the increasing pressures being put on writers and editors; cuts are being made across the board; deadlines brought forward; league tables ever looming; and it's generally becoming a far less joyful experience all round.

"And so, I've made the difficult decision - for my health and happiness (and my family’s sanity) – to step down

“I shall still be keeping my hand in writing and designing whenever possible and, of course, penning songs and gigging with my band Inkubus Sukkubus with my husband Tony (36 years on, and we’re in the process of recording our 28th studio album, much to the embarrassment of our children). “

Newsquest declined to comment.