Dana Leslie Fields

Fields was born into the third generation of New York fashion industry families, growing up in fashion marketing.{{cite web|url=http://www.minonline.com/min/764.html |title=THE SURPRISING LINK BETWEEN "FHM'S" DANA FIELDS AND "MISS FHM" DIANA CHIAFAIR. |publisher=Minonline.com |access-date=2014-02-25}} Her grandfather started out in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, making suits for the immigrant community and later moving to Moppets, one of the largest children’s fashion manufacturers. Her stepfather, Mike Kislak,{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=163531398 |title=BARBARA J. KISLAK Obituary: View BARBARA KISLAK's Obituary by New York Times |publisher=Legacy.com |date=2013-03-09 |access-date=2014-02-25}} was an importer of many French fashion lines, including Cacharel.Sunday Gazette-Mail, Charleston, West Virginia, USA, June 10, 1966 page 42 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/42501300/ During her school years, young Dana worked in the family fashion businesses in Europe, learning other languages especially French. At 18 she enrolled at Duke University,MIN April 12, 2004 {{Cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-115276209.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-03-10 |archive-date=2014-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611082447/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-115276209.html |url-status=dead }} and she was photo editor of the student newspaper, the Duke Chronicle,Duke Chronicle, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA November 29, 1976 and also worked part-time as a stringer for UPI.Raleigh News and Observer, Raleigh, August 10, 1977 After graduating magna cum laude,{{cite web|url=http://www.cottusinfo.com/Profile/-2065726517 |title=Dana Fields |publisher=Cottus Info |access-date=2014-02-25}} she found a job in advertising sales at an in flight magazine company called the East-West Network.

In 1981, Fields was looking to get into fashion ad sales and she had an impromptu lunch with then a Rolling Stones Executive, Dan Chaifair.{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/print-edition/a-food-guide-surviving-suburban-offices/113577/ |title=A food guide for surviving suburban offices | Print Edition - Advertising Age |publisher=Adage.com |date=2006-12-04 |access-date=2014-02-25}} Fields was then hired as an account executive for fashion ad sales; in 1982, she was put in charge of the New England region and sales increased 288%. She was quickly promoted to Vice President. In 1985 Rolling Stone United States circulation reached over one million. By 1990, Rolling Stone owner Jann Wenner and his company, Wenner Media, also acquired full ownership of US Magazine, and in 1991 launched Men's Journal; by then sporting a full portfolio of titles focused on the lucrative 18-34 young adult demographic.{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/wenner-media-inc-history/ |title=History of Wenner Media, Inc. – FundingUniverse |publisher=Fundinguniverse.com |date= |access-date=2014-02-25}} Fields was promoted to Associate Publisher in 1990,{{cite news|author=Randall Rothenberg |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/07/business/the-media-business-advertising-rolling-stone.html |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; Rolling Stone - New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1990-02-07 |access-date=2014-02-25}} and in 1991 was named Group Publisher of all these titles.{{cite web|url=http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/40under40/profiles/1994/dana-l-fields |title=Dana L. Fields - 1994 - 40 Under Forty | Crain's New York Business |publisher=Mycrains.crainsnewyork.com |date=2012-10-12 |access-date=2014-02-25}}

This was a period of spectacular growth for Wenner Media and Fields' star rose within the company{{cite web |url=http://news.egypt.com/arabic/permalink/167163.html |title=Wiki - BUSINESS ( keyword : christie hefner ) |publisher=News.egypt.com |date= |access-date=2014-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305233854/http://news.egypt.com/arabic/permalink/167163.html |archive-date=2014-03-05 |url-status=dead }} and in New York media circles. In her first year as Group Publisher, newsstand sales increased by 110,000 copies. And in 1993, US Magazine advertising pages increased 20%; she brought in Bloomingdales as a client, with a men's fashion show, and music video tie in.{{cite web|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/9311153668/rolling-stone-bloomies-hit-runway |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304181451/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/9311153668/rolling-stone-bloomies-hit-runway |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-03-04 |title=Rolling Stone, Bloomies hit runway - Tags: ROLLING Stone (Periodical) DEPARTMENT stores |publisher=Connection.ebscohost.com |date= |access-date=2014-02-25}} In 1994 she was named to Crains Forty under 40.{{cite web|url=http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/40under40/profiles/1994/dana-l-fields |title=Dana L. Fields - 1994 - 40 Under Forty | Crain's New York Business |publisher=Mycrains.crainsnewyork.com |date=2012-10-12 |access-date=2014-02-26}} Both Rolling Stone and Men's Journal became top performers in the male 18-34 advertising category.{{cite magazine|author=Oliver Jones |url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/fields-of-male-dreams-for-petersen-1117493270/ |title=Fields of male dreams for Petersen |magazine=Variety |date=1999-04-14 |access-date=2014-02-25}}{{cite news|author=Dana Canedy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/16/business/people.html |title=People - New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1997-04-16 |access-date=2014-02-25}}

In 1995, Fields organized a highly innovative collaboration with two of her biggest competitors, Men's Health and Esquire, for a joint promotional campaign for the Hagger Clothing Company, cited by the common client as "taking advertising to another level."{{cite news|author=Stuart Elliott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/06/business/media-business-advertising-esquire-men-s-health-rolling-stone-find-rare-common.html |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Advertising; Esquire, Men's Health and Rolling Stone find rare common ground in a promotion for Haggar. - New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1995-06-06 |access-date=2014-02-25}} In 1997 she brought in the AT&T business to Rolling Stone to sponsor a cover store on college campuses.{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/search/apachesolr_search/%22dana%20fields%22 |title=IQ News: AT&T and Rolling Stone Dial Up College Student Promo |publisher=Adweek.com |access-date=2014-02-25}} She secured business from Tommy Hilfiger.{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/news/photoreview/83375/ |title=PHOTOREVIEW | News - Advertising Age |publisher=Adage.com |date=1995-03-06 |access-date=2014-02-25}} MediaPost, when subsequently wring about Fields, wrote that "her performance at Wenner was outstanding..."{{cite web|url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/7442/fhm-bonding-with-mgm.html?print |title=MediaPost Publications Printer Friendly |publisher=Mediapost.com |date=2002-11-04 |access-date=2014-02-25}}

In 1998 rumors surfaced of a falling out between Fields and Wenner Media General Manager Kent Brownridge. Fields took an extended maternity leave and never returned to the company. Her 17-year tenure at Rolling Stone was over.{{cite web|url=http://business.highbeam.com/137332/article-1G1-21123775/fields-out-wenner-media-burstein-becomes-us-pub |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222203953/https://business.highbeam.com/137332/article-1G1-21123775/fields-out-wenner-media-burstein-becomes-us-pub |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-12-22 |title=Fields Out at Wenner Media; Burstein Becomes Us Pub.(Dana Fields; Larry Burstein new publisher)(Brief Article)|publisher= |date=1998-09-07 |access-date=2014-02-25}}

In 1999, the British media giant EMAP was looking to bring its highly successful young men's title FHM to the United States, to challenge Maxim magazine. Fields was hired to be president of FHM, reporting directly to Chairman Jim Dunning{{cite web |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news1999/aug99/news3803.html |title=Britain's top men's title to launch a U.S. edition |publisher=Medialifemagazine.com:8080 |date= |access-date=2014-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302074416/http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/news1999/aug99/news3803.html |archive-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87385613.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924164804/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87385613.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-24 |title=RE: "FHM'S" ED NEEDHAM BECOMES "ROLLING STONE" MANAGING EDITOR--(1) HIS "FHM" BOSS, DANA FIELDS, KNOWS THE THRILLS AND CHILLS AT WENNER |publisher= |access-date=2014-02-26}}

In her first year at FHM, Fields was able to pick off a substantial number of advertising clients away from other young men's magazines including GQ, ESPN, Spin and Maxim, and FHM monthly circulation grew rapidly to 750,000.{{cite news|last=Tharp |first=Paul |url=https://nypost.com/2000/08/09/fhm-going-monthly-sizzling-growth-cited/ |title=Fhm Going Monthly; Sizzling Growth Cited | New York Post |publisher=Nypost.com |date=2000-08-09 |access-date=2014-02-25}} Advertisers such as Tommy Hillfinger, Jim Beam, Ninetendo, and Toyota became advertisers.Mediaweek, August 7, 2000, page 44 Fields star was rising in New York media, adorning the cover of MediaWeek in February 2000.Mediaweek, February 2000 By 2002, FHM was the fastest growing men's magazine in the United States, with circulation exceeding one million,{{cite web|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/157684/FHM-US-reports-record-advertising-gains/?HAYILC=RELATED |title=FHM US reports record advertising gains - Brand Republic News |publisher=Brandrepublic.com |date=2002-09-10 |access-date=2014-02-25}} and Fields was she named Magazine Publisher of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://business.highbeam.com/5079/article-1G1-192258807/magazine-publisher-year |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309060951/https://business.highbeam.com/5079/article-1G1-192258807/magazine-publisher-year |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-03-09 |title=Magazine publisher of the year. (Marketing And Media Awards)|publisher=|date=2009-01-12 |access-date=2014-02-25}}{{cite news|author=David Carr |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/29/business/british-publishers-attack-us-and-take-young-male-readers.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=British Publishers Attack U.S. And Take Young Male Readers - New York Times |location=Great Britain |work=The New York Times |date= 2002-07-29|access-date=2014-02-25}} Fields was featured on the cover of Media Magazine in the July 2004 issue, captioned "Men's Magazine's Are Smoking Hot", with Fields holding FHM. In 2005, Media Daily News reported a novel advertising campaigns she brought to FHM from the BMW owned Mini (marque),{{cite web|url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/8283/mini-raises-the-bar-for-print.html?print |title=MediaPost Publications Printer Friendly |publisher=Mediapost.com |date=2003-06-16 |access-date=2014-02-25}} and she was nominated for Advertising Sales Person of the Year by Media Industry News.{{cite press release |url=http://www.minonline.com/awards/integrated/seoy05pr.pdf |title=MIN ANNOUNCES FINALISTS IN SALES EXECUTIVE OF YEAR AWARD PROGRAM |date=2005-04-14 |access-date=2014-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053817/http://www.minonline.com/awards/integrated/seoy05pr.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}

In 2006, Brooke Hogan, daughter of wrestling celebrity Hulk Hogan and a recording artist who was charting on the Billboard charts, was selected to be on the cover of FHM. However, before the issue went to print, it was discovered that Hogan had not yet reached her 21st birthday, and Fields proactively pulled all advertising for distilled spirits from the issue, to prevent what otherwise would have been a scandal from using a minor to promote the sales of alcoholic beverages.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/09/business/media/09fhm.html?ex=1318046400&en=10e82338fb5a0ca2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0|title=Under-Age Cover Girl? Farewell, Liquor Ads|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2014-02-26|first=Lia|last=Miller|date=2006-10-09}}

Later that year, FHM chose Diana Chaifair as Miss FHM. It turned out that Chiafair was the daughter of Dan Chiafair, the former Rolling Stone executive who had given Fields her start back in 1981.

With the secular decline in printed media, and with FHM becoming less lucrative, Fields left FHM, and started a media consultancy.{{cite web|url=http://www.magazinedeathpool.com/magazine_death_pool/mens_titles/ |title=Men's Titles |publisher=Magazine Death Pool |date=2007-08-15 |access-date=2014-02-25}}

In 2014, Fields and Joe Mohen partnered to merge Nylon Magazine with FashionIndie, to create a media company for young adult audiences, with an editorial focus on fashion, music, and lifestyle. Fields became EVP and Publisher of the new Nylon.AdWeek http://www.adweek.com/news/press/nylon-magazine-merges-fashionindie-157460 The Nylon takeover in 2014 is a case study of the transition of magazine title with primarily print revenues into one with primarily digital revenues. She remained Publisher of Nylon while it completed its transition to a nearly all-digital platform.{{cite web | website=Racked | last=Chapin | first=Adele | url=https://www.racked.com/2015/10/5/9453657/nylon-magazine-layoffs | title=Nylon Magazine Lays off Staff |date=October 5, 2015 | access-date=October 25, 2021}}

In 1996, Fields married Dan Gearon, who attended United States Military Academy and Columbia University,{{cite web|url=http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/wardbook/wardbios.pdf |title=UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY CLASS OF 1964 |publisher=West-point.org |access-date=2014-02-25}} and, who at the time, was CEO of a Boston-based advertising agency,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/08/style/dana-l-fields-daniel-f-gearon.html |title=Dana L. Fields, Daniel F. Gearon - New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1996-09-08 |access-date=2014-02-25}}{{cite magazine|last=Gianatasio |first=David |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/horner-returns-gearon-hoffman-fold-60228 |title=Horner Returns to Gearon Hoffman Fold |magazine=Adweek |date=2002-12-09 |access-date=2014-02-25}} whose client, the Boston Beer Company, concocted a Steinbier (stone beer) from a German recipe dating back centuries for their reception. Fields serves on the Board of Overseers of the Duke Cancer Institute,{{cite journal |url=http://medspace.mc.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dumca_7006.pdf |title=Duke to Transform Patient Care with New Cancer Building |publisher=Medspace.mc.duke.edu |access-date=2014-02-25 |archive-date=2015-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223030145/https://medspace.mc.duke.edu/sites/default/files/dumca_7006.pdf |url-status=dead }}Duke Cancer Institute Web Site http://www.dukecancerinstitute.org/ and is active in religious philanthropy.{{cite web |url=http://www.shaaraytefilanyc.org/uploadedFiles/shaaraytefilaorg/Give/PERSPECTIVES-Annual%20Review%202011-12.pdf |title=Temple Shaaray Tefila : Perspectives |publisher=Shaaraytefilanyc.org |access-date=2014-02-25 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Fields and Gearon have a son, Matthew, born in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/wardbook/wardbios.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - Color Final Versionnoclassphotos |date= |access-date=2014-02-26}}

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