Dan Wakeford

Dan Wakeford (born March 3, 1975) was the editor-in-chief of People Magazine and editorial director of Entertainment Weekly (2019-2022). He is an English-born journalist, writer, producer, director, and TV personality.

Wakeford, born in England, graduated from Leicester University in 1996 with a B.A. in American Studies. He started his career in journalism working at News UK and then onto become News Editor of Heat magazine. In 2002, he moved to America where he worked at In Touch Weekly and Life & Style Weekly eventually becoming the Editor-in-chief of both titles. His stories and opinions are often quoted in other news magazines.

In 2015, Wakeford became a deputy editor at People magazine. In 2019, he was promoted to editor in chief. During his tenure at People he pushed the brand into podcasts, video and new social platforms and grew the digital footprint to 76 million unique visitors and the whole brand footprint to 88 million consumers a month. He instituted the brand’s first-ever issue on LGBTQ+ Pride.

Wakeford created and executive produced the crime documentary series People Magazine Investigates on ID and Discovery+ and two prime time four-hour documentaries on the royals for ABC: The Story Of Diana and The Story Of The Royals. He is also a producer and director for People (The TV Show!) (2020), People Magazine Investigates: Crimes of Fashion (2018) and The Road Home for Christmas (2019).

Dan regularly appeared on camera for People Magazine Investigates and many other television shows including Dateline, the Today Show, GMA, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Drew Barrymore Show, and CNN.

Under his stewardship, People Magazine won the 2021 Folio Eddie and Ozzie Award for the best Consumer, Lifestyle magazine issue, the 2021 GLAADD Award for Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage, and Adweek's 2020 Hot List, celebrating the best in TV, Publishing, Digital and Brands, and the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services 2020 Erasing The Stigma Award for the mental health initiative Let’s Talk About It.