639 Title Inflation and the Big Cheese

Some companies inflate titles instead of paychecks. If they can't or won't give a salary increase, they assign a new title to the old job. Publishers predictably pile on plump pro-bono promotions. Look at the list of "editors" for Wired Magazine.

Editor in Chief
Executive editor
Managing editor
Deputy editor
Assistant managing editor
Senior editors (7)
Products editor
Senior associate editor
Assistant editors (2)
Copy editors
Research editor
Assistant research editors (3)
Editorial assistant
Assistant to the Editor in Chief
Editorial interns (4)
Editorial projects director
Editor at large
Contributing editors (31)
Photo editor
Deputy photo editor
Founding editor
Editorial Director

The marketing side of the business is almost as bad as the editorial side.

Advertising director
West Coast advertising director
Travel and Spirits director
LA director
Detroit director
Southeast director
Executive director, Marketing Services
Creative services director
Promotion director
Sales development director
Strategic marketing director
Marketing research director
Marketing design director
Associate marketing design director
Advertising services director

Once you move to the Publisher listing (Conde Nast Publication, Advance Magazine Group), everyone (21 people) on the masthead is either a President or Vice President except for the Chairman. The Chairman stands alone. Like the cheese. Big cheese.