Mediaweek - Magazines and Newspapers

Fashion Titles' Fall Issues Looking Thin

Lucia Moses — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:30:00 EDT

Fashion/beauty magazines closing their September issues this week, and not surprising given the state of the economy, the numbers that are trickling out aren’t too pretty

Updated: Consumers Union Avoids Layoffs

Lucia Moses — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:23:00 EDT

Employees of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, voted July 17 to give up a 3 percent pay raise and certain perks to avoid layoffs.

Bonnie Fuller to Helm Hollywood Life Site

Lucia Moses — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:59:00 EDT

A year and change after stepping down from American Media Inc., controversial ex-tabloid queen Bonnie Fuller has landed a new gig as president and editor in chief of HollywoodLife.com, which she plans to relaunch with a celebrity-friendly tone.

Study: More Than 70% of Adults Read Newspaper Inserts

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:17:00 EDT

Nearly 60 percent of adults say that they use newspapers to help plan shopping or purchasing decisions, according to early data from a new survey.

WSJ Mag Gets New Publisher, Expands Sales Force

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:12:00 EDT

WSJ., the first glossy magazine from The Wall Street Journal, has announced the appointment of Sophie Raptis as publisher.

Cox Sells Off Three Papers

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:15:00 EDT

Cox Enterprises has sold three of its papers in Texas and Colorado for an undisclosed sum.

Updated: Forbes.com CEO Spanfeller Stepping Down

Lucia Moses — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:34:00 EDT

In another spasm in the business media world, Jim Spanfeller, the architect of Forbes Media’s widely regarded digital strategy, is stepping down as president and CEO of Forbes.com.

Gannett Co. Posts Q2 Profit

Mark Fitzgerald — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:21:00 EDT

Gannett Co. beat expectations by reporting a second-quarter profit Wednesday of $70.5 million, or 30 cents a share, from a second-quarter 2008 loss of $2.29 billion, or $10.03 a share, that included a huge impairment charge.

McGraw-Hill Considering All 'Options' for BusinessWeek

Lucia Moses — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:15:00 EDT

Following speculation that it was seeking a buyer for BusinessWeek, The McGraw-Hill Cos. announced it was “exploring strategic options” for the struggling magazine.

New York Takes Grub Street National

Mike Shields — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:33:00 EDT

New York magazine is taking its popular restaurant-themed blog franchise Grub Street and going national.

Architectural Digest to Launch ShopAD

Lucia Moses — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:54:00 EDT

From mall events to ads that let consumers shop from the page, magazines continue to look for ways to stimulate commerce. Architectural Digest is jumping on the trend with ShopAD, a home furnishings catalogue on ArchitecturalDigest.com where visitors can browse interior design products and save them to a folder.

PIB: Mag Ad Revenue Falls 21% in First Half

Lucia Moses — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:01:00 EDT

Rate-card reported ad revenue declined o $9 billion on a 27.9 percent decline in pages in the first half, reflecting declines across the 12 categories that make up more than 85 percent of total magazine ad spending

People TV Looks for Web Viewers to Linger Longer

Lucia Moses — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:09:00 EDT

When it comes to Web videos, the conventional wisdom has been that shorter is better. In other words, viewers don’t have the patience to watch long clips.

Minneapolis Paper Unveils Kindle Edition

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:25:00 EDT

The Star-Tribune of Minneapolis has unveiled a new edition of the paper that can be read on the Kindle E-reader.

Jack Kliger Named Acting CEO of TV Guide

Lucia Moses — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:50:00 EDT

Publishing vet Jack Kliger is returning to the industry as acting CEO of troubled TV Guide, filling the role vacated in May by Scott Crystal, who accused the magazine’s private-equity bosses of raiding the title and hastening its downfall.

Tribune Co. Revenue, Profits Fall in Chapter 11

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:36:00 EDT

In its first five months under bankruptcy protection, Tribune Co. has seen its revenue fall by nearly a quarter and its profit margins cut by more than half compared to last year.

Layoffs Loom at Consumers Union

Lucia Moses — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:07:00 EDT

The publisher of subscriber-supported Consumer Reports magazine is threatening to lay off 21 people—its first economic layoff—unless it can find $1.8 million in cost savings

Time Inc.'s Maghound All Bark, No Bite?

Lucia Moses — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:05:00 EDT

When Time Inc. launched Maghound, its Web-based magazine subscription service, it was hailed as a promising innovation for the industry that would attract new magazine buyers with a Netflix-like approach.

Report: Mag Closings Outpaced Launches in First Half of Year

Lucia Moses — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:19:00 EDT

Magazine closings outpaced launches in the first half of the year as publishers were squeezed by the ad recession. A total of 279 folded while 187 made their debut, according to Mediafinder.com, an online database of U.S. and Canadian titles.

Condé Nast, P&G Strike Ad Deal

Lucia Moses — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:41:00 EDT

In a hellish advertising year for Condé Nast, the publishing company is about to get a shot in the arm from Procter & Gamble.

Tribune Co. to Sell Nat'l Ads for Dallas Paper

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:05:00 EDT

The Tribune Co. has struck a deal with A.H. Belo to sell national print and online ads for The Dallas Morning News.

Fox Sports en Español Mag Folds

Lucia Moses — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:45:00 EDT

Spanish-language network Fox Sports en Español is suspending publication of its eponymous magazine, the network said in a statement.

Boston Globe Launches Digital Edition

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:28:00 EDT

The Boston Globe Wednesday announced the launch of "GlobeReader," a new digital edition.

Updated: Gannett Co. Set for Massive Layoffs

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:33:00 EDT

The Gannett Co. confirmed today that it will reduce its workforce within the next several days.

Updated: Vibe Magazine Folds

Daryl Lang — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:49:00 EDT

Vibe, a staple of music journalism since 1993 and one of the most influential publications aimed at African-American readers, has folded.

Susan Casey Named Editor of O, the Oprah Magazine

Lucia Moses — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:09:00 EDT

Hearst Magazines is replacing Susan Reed as editor of O, the Oprah Magazine, less than a year after naming her to the position. Susan Casey, a longtime Time Inc. editor, was named to succeed Reed. She starts July 20.

USA Today to Offer Jackson Commemorative Editions

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:32:00 EDT

Proving that Michael Jackson–mania has not quite died down, USA Today announced Monday that it is offering two "commemorative products recognizing the life and death of Michael Jackson."

OK! Looks to Cash In on Michael Jackson Death Cover

Lucia Moses — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:39:00 EDT

OK! Weekly is bracing for some flak over its pick for this week’s cover. While other publications went with feel-good images to commemorate Michael Jackson, OK! chose a grim photo of the dying star being whisked to the hospital June 25.

Bonnier Installs Chris Allen in Top Sales Post

Lucia Moses — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:04:00 EDT

Bonnier Corp., one of the few magazine companies that’s been expanding lately, has nabbebd ex-Cooking Light senior vp, publisher Chris Allen for a top sales job.

Hachette Parks Auto Titles in In-House Ad Net

Lucia Moses — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:05:00 EDT

Having spun off five of its enthusiast magazines and slimmed down its management ranks, Hachette Filipacchi Media is turning its attention to its car books, hard hit by the U.S. auto industry meltdown.