Portraits

Guardian offices, London. The editor of the paper bringing down Rupert Murdoch must now figure out how to be in the newspaper business when there are no newspapers.

Cornelia Street Café, New York. As co-founder of Jack & Jill Politics, a stand-up comedian, frequent talking head on race, and author of four books, including the forthcoming 'How to Be Black', he's the embodiment of the one-man media brand.

Facebook offices on Madison and 43rd Street, New York. Linking Madison Avenue and Silicon Valley, she’s professionalized the way the technology business is selling itself to agencies and brands.

Underwater in pool at private residence in River Vale, N.J. He’s remaking magazine covers with images that deviate from the expected, changing our perceptions not only of design, but of business and its players.

Puma store, Union Square, New York. The duo took an archaic business model—the independent ad agency—and made it new again.

Chef’s table in the wine room at Maialino, New York. Once among the most successful men in the ad business, Puris, at age 72, is reinventing himself in partnership with the 34-year-old Kerner, along the way creating a new agency paradigm.

The High Line, New York. By championing—and often producing—original fare like the 'Onion News Network' and 'Portlandia,' the small-screen mogul has pushed TV comedy in new directions.

Bathhouse Studios, New York. The social media sociologist and author—who recently put a high-tech spin on the ’60s “six degrees of separation” experiment—is changing the ways we think about behavior.

Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Calif. She may have the ultimate existential job—she’s just signed on to run a network. But with shows like 'Glee' and 'Modern Family' to her credit, Salke might make a creaky platform matter.