Michael A. Clinton is an American writer, photographer and former magazine publishing executive. He was publisher of GQ magazine from 1988 to 1994 and subsequently senior vice president and executive vice president of publisher Condé Nast until 1997. He joined Hearst Magazines as senior vice president and chief marketing officer and soon after added the publishing director title at Hearst. From 2010, he was the president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines and also served on the board of directors of The Hearst Corporation. After retiring in 2020, he remains as senior media advisor to the CEO of Hearst. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Pace University's Lubin School of Business, Clinton began his career as a reporter for DNR, a men's wear trade journal. He has composed 8 books of photography and 2 collections of essays.
In 1978, Clinton began his career as a reporter for DNR, a men's wear trade journal published by Fairchild Publications. He later moved over to the business side of publishing. In the mid 1980s, he joined Condé Nast, which publishes GQ magazine. He was ad director at GQ until late 1988, when he became publisher of the magazine. He led GQ magazine until late 1994, when he became senior vice president at Condé Nast, and later executive vice president. Clinton left Condé Nast, in August 1997, to join the competitor Hearst Magazines, in October 1997, as senior vice president and chief marketing officer. The following year, he became group publisher of five magazines, including Esquire and House Beautiful. In 2001, he was appointed as publishing director at Hearst and, in June 2010, was named president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines. During his tenure, he helped start several magazine labels, including O, The Oprah Magazine, Food Network Magazine, HGTV Magazine and The Pioneer Woman Magazine. He also helped acquire Hachette Filipacchi Media, publisher of Elle, as well as Rodale, publisher of Men's Health and Runner's World. In July 2019, Clinton retired as president, marketing and publishing director of Hearst. He continues to serve as a senior media advisor to the Hearst CEO and president Steve Swartz. In addition, Clinton has written for publications including Afar, The New York Times, and Town & Country.
Photography and books
In 2004, he published Wanderlust: A Personal Journey, a book of essays and photographs he took while traveling in more than 100 countries. He then published a series of three books, Global Snaps, Global Faces, and Global Remains, along with American Portraits, which focuses on 100 American subjects from as many countries. Clinton is a trustee of the International Center of Photography in New York. He has also exhibited his work in galleries, including a 2013 solo exhibition, Wanderlust, at the Tulla Booth Gallery in Sag Harbor, New York. His 2013 book, Globetrotter Diaries: Tales, Tips and Tactics for Traveling the 7 Continents, includes a collection of essays with advice to travelers compiled from his own experience and contributions from his colleagues, magazine editors and publishers Pamela Fiori, Nancy Novogood, and Kate White. In 2015, Clinton released his seventh book, Closer: Seeing the World in Details, containing detailed close-up stills from about 30 countries he has visited. In 2016, Clinton's The Hamptons includes photographs and descriptions of scenes on The Hamptons, from Shinnecock Hills to Montauk. His 2018 book, Santa Fe, documents the eponymous city in New Mexico. In Tales From the Trails: Runners' Stories That Inspire and Transform, Clinton features several stories of how running has benefited people's lives.
