In 1980, Broyles and business partners, including Michael Levy, purchased "New West" magazine from Rupert Murdoch. Broyles served as editor-in-chief of the magazine from 1980–1982, and saw it through its redesign and renaming as "California". By 1982, Broyles's impressive track record in the magazine publishing world had caught the attention of Katharine Graham who recruited him to serve as editor of "Newsweek" magazine, replacing Lester Bernstein. He held that position from 1982 to 1984, when he resigned to pursue other interests.