Condé Nast Shuts Down Self Magazine: A Loss for Women’s Chronic Illness Advocacy

Last week, publishing giant Condé Nast announced the closure of Self, a women’s health magazine that had evolved into a trusted source for practical, stigma-free journalism on chronic health conditions. Unlike the trend of unrealistic longevity and vague “wellness” content, Self stood out for its accessible approach to living with chronic illness.

In a memo published last week, Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch acknowledged Self’s role in shaping health and wellness conversations but cited shifting audience behaviors as the reason for its closure. Lynch stated that health and wellness content would be integrated into other Condé Nast brands, including Allure and Glamour. Self had already transitioned to digital-only in 2017, ending its print publication.

To understand the impact of Self’s closure, I spoke with chronically ill women who had relied on the magazine for years. While Self may not have been a major revenue driver for Condé Nast, its editorial approach was transformative for readers. It moved away from the problematic weight-loss content typical of women’s magazines in the 2000s and 2010s, instead championing a progressive vision of women’s health and wellness.

Self’s Accessible Approach to Chronic Illness

Self’s conversational style made complex health topics more approachable. Jaime Seltzer, scientific director of the nonprofit MEAction (focused on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome), recalled a 2022 article she wrote for Self with then-editor-in-chief Rachel Miller. The piece raised awareness about ME/CFS and Long Covid, helping readers understand their symptoms. Seltzer emphasized the article’s impact: “The more people who know they have a disease, the more they can get the clinical care that they need. A really good article like this is a great way to show a friend or a relative what you’re going through.”

Beth Morton, a migraine care advocate, praised Self for publishing non-stigmatizing articles on migraines by people who lived with the condition. “Self still had an impact,” Morton said, expressing disappointment over the magazine’s closure.

Myisha Malone-King, a chronic illness advocate living with Crohn’s disease, shared how Self made her feel seen during a difficult medical journey. After struggling to receive care for an ovarian cyst, she turned to Self for support. “I felt extremely lonely when I was diagnosed,” Malone-King said. “Self’s folding is a huge blow.”

Uncertain Future for Self’s Digital Archives

Condé Nast has not yet announced what will happen to Self’s digital presence or archives. Company representatives did not respond to inquiries about whether the site would remain online. This uncertainty echoes the fate of other folded media outlets, such as the feminist publication Bitch Media, which also covered chronic illness and disability. While some of Bitch Media’s articles have been republished in The Flytrap, the future of Self’s content remains unclear.

Vivian Delchamps Wolf, a disabled and chronically ill professor of English at Dominican University of California, highlighted Self’s ability to capture the social dimensions of chronic illness in its reporting. Her insights underscore the void left by Self’s closure in a media landscape that often overlooks the realities of living with chronic conditions.