United Kingdom Magzines

Bye bye back page

The Globe today reports this tidbit, in the midst of a James Adams article about the relaunch gala coming up for Maclean's: the back page column, a staple of the magazine for years, is moving inside as part of the radical new design to be unveiled at the Garth Drabinsky (who dat?) extravaganza on November 15. Paul Wells may have hinted at something to this effect in his blog the other day: Le

Club Sub?

Unknown 16:11

Here's a new wrinkle: a "rewards" system for readers who bring new subscribers. The well-known self-help book Chicken Soup for the Soul in July spawned a new 6-time, 150,000 circ. magazine called...Chicken Soup for the Soul. This according to an item in MediaPost.The publishers, Modern Media LLC, has launched a "rewards program" that gives "shopping points" that can be redeemed from a "

Cosy for the holidays

Unknown 19:01

The Media In Canada headline is certainly provocative: Microsoft gets between the sheets with Chatelaine. The article describes how a "branded section"called the Holiday Helpbook is being co-produced by the Rogers title and the online Microsoft Home magazine, included in the magazine's December issue and promoted on Chatelaine's website. Here's how the publication will look.

Where the boys aren't

Unknown 16:36

A column in the November 7 issue of Business Week explores what is apparently a major or developing trend; the erosion of men's interest in print magazines. Research at Time Inc. indicates that women's interest holds up (6 of the top 10 A list magazines recently picked by Advertising Age are women's service titles) but men's involvement with magazines is eroding. Partly it is attributed to men's

Only kidding; as you were

Unknown 14:47

An earlier post reported that Britain's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was seriously considering breaking the monopoly of magazine distribution. Now, it appears from an article in the Guardian, vigorous lobbying by the magazine industry has convinced the agency to reverse course, or at least soften the impact. (For those who think it is at least unseemly for media companies to campaign against open

Lightbulbs and magazines

Unknown 19:47

These have likely reached some of you via the Internet. But fun for those who may have missed them: Q: How many freelancers does it take to screw in a light bulb?A: No one's sure. The ones who can screw them in, we can't afford, and the ones we CAN afford can't screw in a light bulb. Q: How many production editors does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: Only one, but that's going to cost us

No comfort as Statscan confirms cuts

Unknown 18:44

Statistics Canada, in a survey published today about spending in all relevant departments federally, provincially and municipally, confirmed what the magazine industry already knows about -- major spending cuts -- even as overall spending on culture increased slightly.Federal funding for book and periodical publishers declined 11.6% to $162.1 million between 2002-o3 and 2003-o4. This was

Nice, you won't have to change the monogram

The official rebranding of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) to the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) comes next May, but the association is rolling it out already and urging its members to use the new name wherever and whenever.This still doesn't make PWAC a trade union with all that entails, but interestingly it has signed a letter of agreement with the the

Comment about charity status

Unknown 14:45

A surprising number of people read the Globe and Mail, and James Adams's piece on Saturday concerning charitable tax status for magazines. If you were not among them, here is the text (please pardon the abnormally long post): We want your tax dollars: 'Idea magazines' claim they stand little chance against the niche-market glossy. Is charity status the only hope for a good Canadian

Oldies but goodies

Unknown 18:49

An interesting article in the New York Times about the broadening sales clout of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). It's a lesson in cross-marketing and brand development that ought to be taken seriously particularly by agency people who dismiss anyone over 45 as "wrinklies", not worth paying attention to.Long known for its magazine, which has a huge circulation (AARP has an

New kids on the Maclean's block

Unknown 17:32

Lest you think that Maclean's is to be put out by a skeleton crew after more than a dozen senior people were shown the door, Editor-in-Chief Ken Whyte has made a flurry of announcements about people he has hired: Nicholas Köhler as Associate Editor effective November moving over from the National Post where he has lately been a crime reporterCathy Gulli as Assistant Editor effective October

Is Chatelaine crossing the line?

Unknown 18:23

Media in Canada reports that Baxter's Soups has a campaign running in subsequent issues of Chatelaine, complete with perforated stitch-in recipe cards opposite the full-page ads. So far, no big deal. But the interesting phrase that jumped out of the report (bold-face emphasis added) is the following, quoting Ed Weiss, media director at The Brainstorm Group, the Toronto-based agency behind the

New frontiers in magazine promotion

Unknown 17:28

Zoo magazine has run afoul of the British Advertising Standards Authority for its promotional contest to win breast augmentation for some lucky reader's girlfriend. Read more about it here in The Guardian. Zoo, published by Emap, is one of the many "lad" books flourishing in Britain.

The CapeBretoner gives up the struggle

Unknown 14:45

Blair Oake, the publisher of The CapeBretoner magazine, has announced that the magazine will cease publication effective with a final, December 2005 issue. It's a great loss. The magazine has struggled for 13 years to maintain itself as a publication for people who are Cape Bretoners, or wish they were.Advertising was always a problem, particularly given that more than half the audience was

What's up with Canada Post and People magazine?

Unknown 16:35

The Oct. 17th issue of People magazine on page 155 had an ad for Canada Post's "Ship-in-a-click" service, an ad we haven't seen in most Canadian magazines. True, People delivers a large Canadian circulation. But doesn't it rankle that the postal monopoly supports Time Inc. rather than titles that invest in Canadian content? On the other hand, it provides leverage and an excuse for Canadian

A copy is a copy is a copy...or is it?

Unknown 17:59

For those of us who have accepted as holy writ that paid, subscriber copies are the gold standard for this business, there are now some fairly heavy duty voices that aim to knock us out of our complacency.Take for instance this startling article by consultant Rebecca McPheters in the October 10 Media Industry Newsletter (subscription required). It argues that advertisers (and, by extension,

Promises of just-in-time readership measure

Unknown 17:43

McPheters and Company, a consultancy in the U.S. has announced the development of a new readership service called readership.com. It is said to give advertisers and agencies up-to-the minute measurement of the circulation and readership of the top 200 titles (by circ) in the States.We shall see if such a system is a) more widely applicable, b) picked up by advertisers and agencies (so far only

Canadian Family gets new publisher, editor

Unknown 17:03

This from Media in Canada: Canadian Family adds two The St. Joseph Media family is growing. The media company has named Carina D'Brass Cassidy as publisher and Lisa Murphy as editor-in-chief of its consumer pub, Canadian Family. D'Brass Cassidy was most recently VP of sales and marketing at Avid Media, overseeing sales, sponsorship, and other brand extension projects for titles

Waiting room yuks

Unknown 14:58

Stitches, the humour magazine aimed at doctors, owned and published by trade publisher CLB Media, announced some time ago that it would launch a spinoff, Stitches for Patients. That was due to roll out this summer, but now expected in January.Stitches itself is funny the way Reader's Digest is funny (in a"Life's Like That" and "Humour in Uniform" way) something that's not always to everyone's

Time wasters of the new century

Unknown 14:55

Get back to work!This, quoted from an item in Advertising Age:U.S. workers in 2005 will waste the equivalent of 551,000 years* reading blogs. About 35 million workers -- one in four people in the labor force -- visit blogs and on average spend 3.5 hours, or 9%, of the work week engaged with them. (*emphasis added)Of course Canadians are so much more sensible.

Dishing from the newsrooms

Unknown 18:54

A new blog that may bear watching: Dirt. Find it here. The anonymous contributor(s) promise lotsa gossip-mongering, but without the $120 a year tha e-Frank costs. That remains to be seen. Curiously, while the contributors stay behind the curtain, they forbid anonymous comments about their items. (Ed.: Shurely not!)

Premium content given a pass at the Globe

Unknown 15:28

Of possible use to publishers who are wrestling with the "free vs. paid" connundrum about their own website content, consider the experience of the Globe and Mail. Last year it launched its Inside Edition, whereby a lot of web content (columnists, financial stuff) was segregated behind a pay wall. Even subscribers to the print product had to pay. And what was the result? According to a recently

The blue glow lingers longer

Unknown 14:49

If you ever wondered why people have less time to read magazines, it's because of a staggering long-term trend in watching television. Seems a commonplace observation, but we were struck by the following table, courtesy of the Center for Media Research, which shows U.S. household and individual television watching trends since 1950. The average household has the TV on more than 8 hours a day and

They're at the post

Unknown 17:35

Canada Post is offering visitors to its website the opportunity to subscribe to magazines. Not just Canadian magazines mind you. When you go to their site, it links you to individual magazine subscription sites, including dozens of members of Magazines Canada. However, click on the Home and Garden category and the very first magazine that pops up is Architectural Digest, from Conde Nast. Still, a

Oh, THAT Saturday night

Unknown 17:09

There, on the CNN website was the news, just minutes after the announcement was made by St. Joseph Media: Saturday night is dead. Wow, this must be a bigger story that we thought!Turns out the item, with eerie coincidence, is about the wasteland that Saturday night television has become in the United States.

Maclean's goes digital

Unknown 16:07

Maclean's has launched a fully digital edition, which you can apparently try free, from Zinio. It seems to be the only Canadian magazine to have taken the plunge into this online system, which has hitherto been heavily weighted with skin books, car books, hobby books, technology and outdoor. To see the Maclean's offering, go here.

Saturday Night -- was this its ninth life?

Unknown 15:33

St. Joseph Media just killed Saturday Night magazine (October issue at right). Faced with the daunting task of weaning it off its controlled distribution through the dwindling National Post (the contract is coming to an end, anyway) and the extraordinarily expensive and difficult prospect of taking it paid, the company decided to discontinue it. This, despite the valiant efforts of Gary Ross and

The good, the bad and the ogle-y

Unknown 05:24

Matt Haber weighs in on the American Society of Magazine Editors' Top 4o magazine covers of all time in the New York Observer and, for good measure, reveals that there was a selection of the 40 worst covers, too. Nice part is that there are links to the offenders. (Remember, these are all American covers; it is never acknowledged that any other country, Canada, U.K, Australia, the European

Loyalty is in the eye of the terminator

Unknown 03:04

Did Maclean's, which has recently had a major purge of more than a dozen long-serving employees, see the irony in their October 19 cover story about loyalty in the workplace? Apparently not.

The Treasury Board made me do it

Unknown 23:03

Today, a packed roomful of concerned individuals, mostly involved in circulation, gathered at the Courtyard Marriott in Toronto to hear about the impact from the Department of Canadian Heritage's decision to cut Publication Assistance Program (PAP) support November 1.While doubtless there will be a fuller report in Masthead and elsewhere, here are some notes jotted down at the time:Michael J. Fox

But what to you REALLY think, George?

Unknown 22:46

George Lois, the man who launched some of the most memorable and (to use an over-used, but apt word, iconic) Esquire covers of the 1960s, ripped into the industry yesterday with a speech deploring the "boring, adoring, butt-kissing magazine covers" of today. Here is the link to the report in Advertising Age (where you can also download the text of Lois's speech.)Above is one of Lois's best-known

Design can't be left to designers

Unknown 22:38

"This is what judging magazines comes down to. Put any sampling of the great and the good together, feed them proper coffee and posh biscuits and they will soon favour the magazine with the most expensive advertising in it."So says David Hepworth in an amusing piece about magazine design and judging, published October 10 in the Guardian. Hepworth who, in addition to being an author (The Secret

Single copy system to get a workover

Unknown 18:40

Andre Prefontaine of Transcontinental is heading up a Magazines Canada task force about single copy sales in this country, according to a report in today's Mastheadonline. Prefontaine says that the situation needs study in depth, which is probably true, but makes it sound like this has never been done. In fact, an excellent and in-depth report was done in 2003 for Canadian Heritage by Abacus

Product placement: view from the dark side

Unknown 18:24

The Canadian Advertising Research Foundation (CARF) is having a breakfast and morning seminar at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto on October 26 on the topic "Product Placement: Is it Worth All the Hype?" For editors and publishers who want to know what advertisers and agency people are thinking (as who doesn't?) this might make an interesting opportunity, though you won't have any change from $

The apocryphal guidelines

Unknown 18:00

Real Media Riffs from Media Post (you can subscribe, free, here) reports that there were several clauses that did not make the cut when the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) drafted their just-released advertising guidelines:FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO - OCTOBER 18, 2005--The American Society of Magazine Editors has released revised guidelines for editors and publishers of consumer magazines.

Redrawing the "church and state" line

Unknown 18:28

The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME), basking in the warmth of the American Magazine Conference in the Puerto Rico sun, have unveiled a revised set of guidelines about advertising. It is something of a 10 Commandments, boiled down from a much longer document that used to be used.Like the old guidelines, however, the new ones call for anything that resembles editorial copy to be

People tops the Ad Age polls

Unknown 16:49

People magazine has been named Magazine of the Year by industry bible Advertising Age. Since no magazines from anywhere other than the United States were considered, it is really the American Magazine of the Year.The Top 5 were as follows: People "For first anticipating, then foreshadowing and these days still flourishing amid a celebrity sector that's beginning to looke downright imperial in

Will there be aftershocks from Kraft move?

Unknown 13:30

Many Canadian magazines, particularly in the women's service category, rely heavily on packaged goods advertising. So there are bound to be tremors caused by reports that Kraft Foods Inc. is restructuring its North American operations and having the company's Canadian business answer directly to its Illinois, U.S. headquarters. The move may have significant implications for pages and dollars.

The game's back, where's the magazine?

Unknown 19:35

Leafs Nation, the magazine of the Maple Leafs hockey team fan club, was custom published until it was suspended when the season was suspended last year. Now that the teams are on the ice, is St. Joseph Media going to bring the magazine back? It was a pet project of Greg MacNeil, who has been gone from St. Joe's for a few months now. Perhaps enthusiasm for the project left the building with him.

Moving pages

Unknown 06:36

Siemens Corp. announced at a European trade fair this week that it is only two years away from marketing paper-thin TV screens that could be stitched into high end magazines. Probably only affordable at first for high impact ads in upscale publications, the materials now cost about C$70 a square metre, but that is bound to come down. It would allow moving pictures and flash animations on the page

Hurry up and wait

Unknown 17:41

Mastheadonline reports that Federal Finance Minister John McCallum is "still considering" an appeal by The Walrus of its turn-down for charitable status. Publisher Ken Alexander is keeping mum but says he's hoping for something next week. Reading between the lines of McCallum's spokesman, it would seem the government wouldn't actually change the antiquated, impenetrable charity law, but would

"It's stylish and hip"

Unknown 16:50

The era of the branded feature (as what used to be called advertorial has come to be called) is blossoming, judging by an article in Media in Canada about a deal featured in the current issue of 2 magazine. (You'll remember that 2 was one of the magazines started a couple of years ago with a $75,000 cash injection by the Ontario Media Development Corporation.)2 is for young, hip, urban couples.

Quote unquote

Unknown 22:48

Somewhat off topic, but delicious nonetheless, a profile by Rachel Donadio in the New York Times Book Review of October 9 about Joan Didion (sparked by her new book The Year of Magical Thinking) refers to Didion writing essays for the Saturday Evening Post in the late '60s: "It was a great place to work," she said, since it was about to go bankrupt and "you could do anything."

A collector's item, perhaps?

Unknown 15:10

The unhappy denouement of the startup magazine Zi is reported in today's Mastheadonline. It seems the front end costs were so high that the publisher has decided before the first issue comes out that there is not going to be a second. Proof once again that a business plan is the best investment a new publisher can make -- a proper and conservative analysis would have avoided such a nasty, and

Hope springs eternal

Unknown 14:10

There are a number of magazine categories in which, despite many false starts, there is a perennial belief that the problem is simply not finding the right formula. Canada is a hard place to start certain kinds of titles. Sports is one. Men's fashion is another. As Samuel Johnson said of second marriages, it is a triumph of hope over experience. The impending launch of Sir, as a spinoff from

Well, maybe just one more termination...

Unknown 04:42

It can't be entirely a coincidence that, a few days after Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Ken Whyte assured the Maclean's staff that there would be no more terminations, Deputy Art Director Gary Hall was shown the door. Staffers who remain at the magazine will doubtlessly draw their own conclusions about the value of any future assurances that their Publisher makes.It also can't be entirely a

Coming to final arguments

Unknown 17:06

The case of Robertson versus Thomson, the 10-year marathon legal fight fronted by Heather Robertson against the Globe and Mail concerning digital rights to freelance work, comes before the Supreme Court on December 6.Robertson has sent a letter of information and thanks (for their ongoing support) to the Periodical Writers of Canada (PWAC) inviting Ottawa-area writers to attend as spectators.

It hurts more when it's true

Unknown 13:52

Jon Stewart's recent demolition of a panel of magazine industry stuffed shirts in New York was probably deserved. It was reported by Simon Houpt on Monday in the Globe and Mail (regrettably, subscription required).If you have enjoyed the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, like me your recurring question is why anyone would agree to sit down with him or his team given what invariably happens. Didn't it

Shameless plug III

Unknown 13:35

If you are overcome with the desire to start a magazine, start here or click on the link at the right. This is a reminder about a new course called So You Want to Start a Magazine? It's two days at Ryerson University in Toronto heavy on practical tips, tricks and tools to get that new magazine idea started right. Next session is Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12 from 9 to 5 each day.

Are you smart and competitive enough?

Unknown 19:31

Another new quarterly lifestyle mag rides out of the west (Calgary) called Zi, due to be launched later this month. It's the creation of a woman from Calgary called Zinat H. Damji. The publisher says she is a Tanzanian-born entrepreneur who was "the first female in Canada to found a non-depository trust company". The magazine's web page is here. The magazine says it is designed to appeal to

Sell my stuff or I'll kill this magazine

Unknown 15:55

At the egghead end of the magazine and advertising business, it is the done thing to talk in every conversation about "accountability", ROI (return on investment) and ROO (return on objective).Most magazine people are too busy putting out good publications and searching out new readership, but there is an intensifying pressure from agencyland for the medium to prove its claims of effectiveness

A miscellany

Unknown 14:01

Things you can learn from reading of the classified ads: Somebody is planning a new, apparently controlled circ, guidebook for theatre-going in Toronto called Evening Out. It says it is going to be distributed in 370 locations across the Greater Toronto area.Vogel Publishing of Edmonton, which has been struggling to diversify away from its successful but doomed Satellite Guide and similar books

Dressy centenary moves uptown

Unknown 19:21

Maclean's magazine's 100th anniversary gala, postponed until November 15, is also changing venue. It was to be at the Windsor Arms Hotel. Now it is to be at the Toronto Centre for the Arts in its Main Stage Theatre at 5040 Yonge Street (what some will remember as the North York Centre for the Performing Arts). The black tie event (!) is a sit-down dinner and "curtain" at 7 p.m. What the curtain

Better than money?

Unknown 19:12

The Department of Canadian Heritage is planning to give more than money to successful applicants for its various support programs for magazines. Under development is a "benchmarking" exercise whereby each applicant will receive tables and graphs that allows comparison with other magazines, other types of magazines. These will be fairly specific analyses of various components of cost and revenue,

St. Joes' team building

Unknown 18:36

St. Joseph Corporation wasn't fooling when it said it was intent on becoming a major player. To do so, it needs the best management and it looks like it is well on its way to achieving this.Two pivotal managers have been appointed at St. Joseph Media, both hired away from Rogers Media Publishing. Andrew Crane has been consulting for the past few months with the Style Group at St. Joe's, after

The race is not always to the swift

Unknown 15:28

A story out of the U.S. today from the Center for Media Reseach shows so-called "blue state" voters were more likely to have high speed internet access got us to thinking. First, the highlights: Eight states had broadband penetration over 35% - all voted for John Kerry in 2004 Eleven states had broadband penetration at or below 20% - all voted for George Bush in 2004 Cumulative

Good news, maybe, we'll see

Unknown 14:54

The implications of today's article in the Globe and Mail about charitable status are far-reaching. The story itself is about the possibility that Revenue Minister John McCallum may loosen or change the regulations to allow foundation status for The Walrus, whose entire financing model hinges on being able to transfer money from one charity to its own (the famous $5 million). That's very good

Eponymous, but anonymous

Unknown 22:14

Interesting that the newish blog from the Periodical Writers Association of Canada (see it here) intends to publish a monthly celebration of member achievements. September's is heavy on kudos for publishing books, being on radio and television, winning awards, teaching courses and so on. But there is very little about achievements in actually writing for magazines. Are magazines not giving

Ted's less than excellent adventure

Unknown 15:18

If anyone was wondering what Ted Byfield, founder of the late Alberta Report, has been doing lately, the news is what he's not doing anymore. According to an item in the Western Standard's so-called Shotgun Blog his Christian History Project, to publish a series of books on the history of Christianity, is being wound up. The last straw, apparently (note the Biblical reference) was when someone

Only room for one in this garden

Unknown 19:06

That sound you heard was a shotgun going off. Gardening Life moves under the sole ownership of St. Joseph Media, effective September 30. It ends an 8-year partnership between St. Joseph (and, before that, Toronto Life Publishing Limited) and House & Home Media (publishers of the hugely successful Canadian House & Home).Gardening Life's unusual partnership came about during a shakeout after a

To the barricades

Unknown 16:55

The industry rumbles into action about PAP as Magazines Canada and the Circulation Management Association (CMC) hold a joint session on October 19 at 9 a.m. at the Toronto Marriott; there, Michael Fox of Rogers, Magazines Canada's postal guru, will brief the crowd on the sordid details of the major increases and impacts facing magazines effective November 1. The cost of $49.95 doubtless includes

Timely circ data: who'd a thunk it?

Unknown 14:59

One of the largest auditing firms, BPA Worldwide, has announced its intention to move to release of at least the "top line" circulation of magazines for each issue, rather than in six-monthly reports as has been done since...forever. According to a report in Media Daily News, advertisers and agencies have long complained that data takes so long to be processed that it is next to useless in

Ten Years of Ricepaper

Unknown 05:06

Ricepaper magazine is celebrating 10 years of publishing, an evolution from a hand-stapled newsletter into a slick and authoritative magazine of Asian Canadian culture. Many magazines with similar roots have flagged and failed over the past decade, but Ricepaper has grown to become one of the leading sources of information about established and emerging Asian Canadian artists, publishing such

Sneak peek at the Beav

Unknown 19:21

We said earlier that The Beaver (never noted for its covers) was going to have a whole new look effective with its 85th anniversary issue, out October 3. Here's a sneak peek of what new Art Director Michel Groleau has wrought:

So we think we've got problems?

Unknown 17:09

In Britain, newspapers and magazines are distributed together to retailers and newsagents, mostly by three large wholesalers. Some 90% of British magazines are sold by single copies or by "standing order" with the corner newsagent.Now, because this distribution system in some way is considered to contravene European Union regulations, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in Britain is considering

Credit where it's due

Unknown 16:17

The magazine industry is quick to complain that newspapers either slothfully or wilfully misreport the issues that affect us. So credit should be given where it is due: today's column by Kate Taylor in the Globe and Mail is as succinct and pointed an explanation about the PAP controversay as you could hope for. (Alas, the Globe charges for online access to its columnists. Search out a hard copy.

More news from the Rogers campus

Unknown 18:45

The redoubtable and excellent Paul Wells, who has a lease on the back page of Maclean's, has taken to defending the changes at his employer and points out in other conversations that more people were poached from the National Post by the previous incumbent, Anthony Wilson-Smith, than the present incumbent, Ken Whyte. He also confirms that Scott Feschuk is going to write a weekly column, and that

The newsstand

Unknown 14:35

I honestly don't know what to say.See Masthead Online today, lead story (the longest I recall them ever publishing online). [Subscription required]Let's just throw it open for discussion. What's everyone think about this?

E-surveys cramped: not enough E-addresses

Unknown 13:31

Many trade publishers, at least in the U.S., have e-mail addresses for fewer than half of their readers, according to an article in Media Business. Many have valid e-mail addresses for only 20 or 30 per cent of their records. This can cause some concerns about validity of results in what is now a headlong trend towards online or e-mail reader surveys. The savings that are possible by online

Murdoch Davis now wears Beaver hat

Unknown 11:00

Perhaps it was summer, perhaps we were not paying attention, perhaps it was Ontario-centricity, but somehow we missed reporting that one of Canada's oldest magazines, The Beaver, has a new Editor.Murdoch Davis, dumped in April as Publisher of the Winnipeg Free Press, is in the chair for the redesign and relaunch of the venerable Winnipeg-based history magazine. (Its redesign is due to be

Fact-checking, some other views

Unknown 20:39

Back in June, the blog carried an item about fact-checking. Recently, it made the rounds of a newsgroup of freelancers in Toronto and at least one of them posted a comment (three months late, as he said) that's worth reading because it argues against fact-checking. Click here or on the head above to read the item and the belated comment.In addition, another correspondent of the newsgroup, a

Looks aren't everything

Unknown 18:04

In June 2002, Maclean's underwent a complete and substantial redesign, under the auspices of then-AD Donna Braggins. Now, it is being redesigned again by the new AD Christine Dewairy. And since the new look is wanted for its 100th anniversary, it explains why the huge black-tie party was pushed back to November. Apparently (despite having 100 years lead time) the anniversary issue was in danger

It ain't what you pay but the way that you read it

Unknown 13:51

How much readers pay for a subscription is a less important indicator of value to an advertiser than how engaged they are with the content (edit and advertising). This said during a high-powered panel in New York, reported by Media Daily News. Rebecca McPheters, president of McPheters and Company, said her company's research showed price did not in fact predict the quality of the reader. Much

Another county heard from

Unknown 20:29

A relatively new blog has been started by the Periodical Writers Association of Canada. It can be reached here. Of interest was the take of some of the freelancers about the sturm und drang in the industry about the cuts in PAP (see earlier items). One writer says: I'm sympathetic with those who ask: why should writers support publishers in their quest for subsidies, when they never bother to let

Tut tut

Unknown 16:45

Lewis Lazare, a columnist at The Chicago Sun-Times described the New Yorker decision last month to publish an entire issue sponsored by one national retail chain, Target, as “the most jaw-dropping collapse of the so-called sacred wall between editorial and advertising in modern magazine history.” The August 22 issue had 18 pages of Target ads He and other critics aren't impressed by the rather

Everybody into the boat

Unknown 16:28

The chattering classes have always dismissed Maclean's as yesterday's magazine, quite unreasonably. It has a large and largely loyal readership. But what the chatterers haven't thought of is Maclean's as a lifeboat, which is what it seems to be for journalists fleeing the floundering (or is that foundering?) National Post.Latest word is that Scott Feschuk, ex Postie, ex PMO speechwriter, is to

PAP flap

Unknown 22:27

In the recent kerphuffle over Publications Assistance Program's funding levels, Heritage's director general of publishing policy and programs Gordon Platt has suggested on Masthead Online [subscription required] that the industry should have known funding percentage decreases were coming in the current fiscal year ... i.e. (as I interpret his comments) that due to the lack of an increase in

Osprey swoops down and swallows Town

Unknown 18:58

With all the kerfuffle about income trusts, very little of it has seemed to touch magazine publishing so far. But quietly, over the summer, a few quite good magazines were absorbed into the Osprey Media Income Trust, with its purchase of Town Media. Town's longtime President and Publisher, Wayne Narcisco, brought with him into the management fold the following titles: Hamilton Magazine, Biz,

Who's left to put out the magazine?

Unknown 05:17

The continuing Maclean's watch: 17-year veteran Senior Editor Barbara Wickens got her walking papers on Monday. We're losing count of the experienced, senior people who've been shown the door.

Smartmoves (TM) and privacy

Unknown 15:43

Today (Monday, September 12) is the deadline for responses to Canada Post's invitation to Canadian publishers to collaborate in launching a "consumer" magazine tentatively called Smartmoves. It would apparently be a controlled circulation title, sent to everyone who files a change of address with the post office. At the moment, the content can only be speculated upon -- likely to be a highly "

Make that leave permanent

Unknown 11:00

Another casualty at Maclean's. Writer Sharon Doyle Driedger, on leave for the past year to work on a book about the Irish in Canada, was due back at work today. That is, until Publisher Ken Whyte personally called her at home over the weekend and told her not to bother coming in. (The book was sparked by an article she did for the magazine about her Irish neighbourhood in Montreal.) Depending on

But are they read?

Unknown 17:17

It has been reported that Mediamark Research International (MRI) will conduct a series of studies on readership comparing digital magazines with print magazines. It is being done in conjunction with Zinio Systems, a big purveyor of on-screen versions of some major magazines. This is in the U.S. of course, but measured audience and readership methodology is one of those things that must be settled

The pinch in The Walrus wallet

Unknown 14:56

Today's Mastheadonline records rumblings among freelancers about slow/late payments from The Walrus. To his credit, Ken Alexander, the Publisher, give a guarantee that everyone will get paid, eventually. But Mastheadonline notes that, as it always has, the long-term health of The Walrus hinges upon getting charitable status from Canada Revenue Agency.The charitable status is necessary so that

Wasn't there 100 years to get ready?

Unknown 19:34

And, speaking of Maclean's, a cryptic e-mail has been winging about, pushing back the black-tie, by-invitation-only celebration at the Windsor Arms of the magazine's 100th anniversary. It was to be September 30. Now it's November 15. No reason was given. What to make of that?

Buy my magazine, puhleeze!

Unknown 19:22

Early in August we reported a rumour about Maclean's magazine deep-discounting its subs. Then, it was only a rumour. Today, as a freestanding insert in the Globe and Mail, it is a fact:The handsome, 12-page digest-sized FSI makes an offer of 4 issues free, plus 24 issues for $29.95 and 24 bonus issues for no extra cost. The total, including taxes, is $32.05 in Ontario, $34.44 elsewhere.The

Magazine postage bills take it on the chin

Unknown 18:17

Magazines Canada is reeling from a massive slap in the face from the Department of Canadian Heritage. DCH has quietly announced, without consultation and with less than 60 days notice, a huge cut in the Publications Assistance Program contribution to individual magazines. This came right after Magazines Canada had been able to take some comfort from a restoration of some funding to the program

New sales boss at St. Joe's Urban Group

Unknown 16:54

Tracy Miller has been promoted to Director of Sales at the Urban Group of St. Joseph Media. She replaces Associate Publisher Kim Peacock who is leaving to become Publisher, Western Magazines for Transcontinental Media, responsible for Vancouver and Western Living. This is one of the first moves announced by Sharon McAuley, who just started as Vice-President and Group Publisher of the division

Way out west

Unknown 13:00

Another in our sporadic series about Canadian magazines we love. This time, Prairies North.When a magazine is published so far off the beaten track as is Prairies North, it had better be good. And it is. Norquay, Saskatchewan is a village with one restaurant and one magazine about three good hours drive east of Regina. The magazine is published out of an airy, sunny, renovated house in the town,

That fabled wall between church and state

Unknown 11:00

Apparently Don Obe, retired head of the magazine program at Ryerson, is writing a piece for Masthead's back page on the crumbling wall between editorial and advertising, exemplified by the Maclean's deal with Cadillac last spring to "brand" an excerpt from Peter C. Newman's book. (I'm looking forward to Don's usually trenchant prose.)Now, we have a suggestion that -- at least in part -- Kim

One after another after another...

Unknown 20:30

More word on the wholesale changes being made to staff at Maclean's. Senior Editor Rob Sheppard is the latest to be let go. Recruited from the Globe and Mail, Sheppard has been at Canada's national newsmagazine for 8 years and was considered among its most seasoned reporters and craftsmen.Apparently disheartenedby the steady erosion and demoralization of the staff, former Assistant Managing

Stirred, not shaken

Unknown 11:00

Search as we might, we cannot find a Canadian magazine that has its own cocktail. Which seems a shame. It came to us upon learning that Tin House, a hip new literary publication in the U.S. had a custom-made martini designed for it by the Four Seasons in New York (where it can be ordered). Now let's not argue about whether a martini can be anything except gin, vermouth and a garnish. The secret

She was outta there!

Unknown 14:10

Kim Pittaway jumped from the editorship of Chatelaine, apparently, because she felt she was being pushed by Publisher Kerry Mitchell. This from today's Michael Posner article in the Globe and Mail. No notice or severance pay was involved -- she just quit and cleaned out her desk.Her departure was the culmination of a series of exchanges, some written (I'd love to read that e-mail) and some

PAP reprieve

Unknown 17:26

Minister of Canadian Heritage Liza Frulla today announced her department will put off a $4 million reduction in the Publications Assistance Program until 2006 in order "to enable Canadian publishers to complete reconfiguring their business plans in anticipation of the previously announced reductions."The Publications Assistance Program subsidizes the mailing costs of Canadian magazines. So the

Phew, that was quick!

Unknown 06:54

Here, from Antonia Zerbisias's excellent blog at the Toronto Star, is a story we wish we'd reported first: August 30, 2005 Not Miss Chatelaine That weeping and wailing you're hearing in the downtown area is the sound of Chatelaine magazine staffers mourning the sudden ''resignation'' of editor-in-chief Kim Pittaway. Pittaway, a longtime writer and columnist with the women's monthly,

Herding Cats

Unknown 16:14 Canadian Freelance Union , freelancers , PWAC

Word (from mastheadonline.com) that the Communications Workers plan to organize on behalf of freelancers. Good luck to them. Not that there have been many examples of successfully corralling such a ragtag bunch of independents.It should be recalled that the the Periodical Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) was intended to do just that, from dictating pay scales to providing a contract template

Web shadow looms large for newsweeklies

Unknown 15:56

An interesting question is raised in a recent USA Today report on the declining circ of newsweeklies such as Time, Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report (no mention of Maclean's, of course). In it, Samir Husni (who claims and is granted the title "Mr. Magazine" for reasons that continually evade me) is quoted arguing that the pursuit of website development carries with it the seeds of

Another one bites the dust...

Unknown 17:49

Brian Bergman, a 16-year veteran of Maclean's, is gone from the magazine's Calgary bureau.

Outlook index

Unknown 17:40

A hopeful student asked the other day what I thought were the prospects for someone coming into the magazine business. She wasn't asking if she'd get rich, only if she had a reasonable shot at making a career and a living. I realized that I didn't have a very good handle on the attitudes of people working in the business so perhaps we should start trying to nail down an outlook or expectations

Post-less delivery

Unknown 15:53

Interesting that the Guardian Weekly, whose Canadian edition is printed in Montreal and fulfilled under contract by Time Canada, should be informing its Ontario customers that -- where possible -- it will be abandoning Canada Post for its delivery and using a private service. It does not say what that is, but it is likely the same contractors who deliver the Globe and Mail. Consideration of

Bully for us

Unknown 16:26

In all the newspaper blather and commentary about the North American Free Trade Agreement and how awful those mean Americans are to us and how we ought to stand up for ourselves and punch that bully right back, magazine people with even a moderately long memory may wish to remind the nation what happens when you even think of sticking up for yourself.The so-called Canada-U.S. Agreement on

Stretching the shoestring -- The New Quarterly

Unknown 14:00

As another in our irregular series about little magazines we love, we present The New Quarterly.Started more than 20 years ago with $3,000 ($1,000 donated by each of Edna Staebler, Farley Mowat and Harold Horwood), The New Quarterly has had the usual ups and downs of a small literary magazine. But it has always enjoyed the loyalty and help of its friends, particularly the original Editor, Peter

New Art Director for Maclean's

Unknown 17:35

This just in: the new art director of Maclean's is Christine Dewairy, being brought over from the National Post where she was art director and fashion editor for Post Fashion. She steps into the job lately held by Donna Braggins, let go recently by Editor and Publisher Ken Whyte. Whyte told his staff: "Christine has an excellent eye and good judgment and I'm sure she will be a great fit with our

Reading the tea leaves...

Unknown 16:45

A friend recently pointed out an interesting sentence in the press release by St. Joe's Chairman Tony Gagliano, announcing Donna Clark's hire. Boldface added:St. Joseph Media recently moved into state-of-the-art offices in the Queen Richmond Centre. From there, it is focusing on enhancing existing brands and launching and/or acquiring new ones; creating dynamic online brands; and funding

St. Joe's hires the A team

Unknown 06:37

St. Joseph Media has hired Donna Clark to be its President. She starts September 12. Clark, it will be easily remembered,was with Rogers Media where she was responsible for the women's services division including Chatelaine, Flare, and Today's Parent and associated websites.She and Paul Jones were both shown the door at Rogers earlier this year, despite being two of the most senior and

The product placement rot sets in seriously

Unknown 18:29

An article in AdAge reports that Black Book, a quirky, but seriously contending U.S. lifestyle mag, recently crossed -- nay leapt -- across the church/state line with an editorial item about a band that had featured in a Hummer commercial, with the edit featuring the Hummer in the display. (To read the whole story, click on the heading of this item.)“There was and is absolutely no quid pro quo,”

Fibs from FIPP

Unknown 17:24

Noticed in a recent browse, looking for something else, that Canadian Heritage swallows the World Magazine Trends data from the Federation of the Interational Periodical Press hook, line and sinker. It publishes a table under the heading "Fascinating Facts" that shows Canadian magazine adspend share at 6.8% compared with U.S. share of 11.8%. All of which is based on FIPPs database which somehow

U.S. Biz mags to make statement on placement

Unknown 17:11

An article in Folio: reports that the American Society of Business Publishing Editors (ASBPE) is drafting a new guideline on product placement in editorial. We shouldn't hold out much hope for a ringing declaration, since past ASBPE efforts at guidelines have been notably mealy-mouthed. But it is an indication about how seriously the softening of the church and state line has become that they are

Fast company

Unknown 19:34

Media Post has published the results of an international study about broadband use by country. This is a subject that many magazines are -- or should -- be interested in, since broadband users tend to be the largest users of magazine websites.The story is interesting because, for once, Canada is leagues (54%!) ahead of the United States. BroadbandSubscriber Penetration Korea 24.9%

Playing the game

Unknown 18:43

I guess it's just doing what everyone else does, but doesn't it seem a bit cheesy for Magazines Canada to try and kite the vote on a spurious Globe and Mail online poll? The poll question asks if the respondents were advertisers, which medium would they use to be most effective. Not only are such online polls just plain stupid, they are made more stupid by such write-in campaigns, although I

Yeah, we heard that too

Unknown 15:52

Mastheadonline today published news of the lawsuit by Saltscapes magazine against the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission, (habitues of this blog had this July 27). New to us, however, was that the suit has galvanized several magazines to band together with Saltscapes as the Nova Scotia Magazine Association.

Is old news better than no news?

Unknown 15:43

A reliance on syndicated material from the U.S. and Britain is commonplace in newspapers, but occasionally it leads them to publish breathless features that a) are old news and b) give no local angle at all. Case in point is today's Globe and Mail business section feature from the New York Times syndicate about the "value added" gimmicks that magazines are using to lure advertisers. The huge

Customers at any price?

Unknown 14:01

Has anyone out there received a direct mail offer for Maclean's that effectively means it is being sold to some subscribers for 57 cents a copy? If so, it is the lowest rate ever having been charged for the magazine. Its usual and published rate is 56 issues (52 + 4 free) for $55.08 or 98 cents an issue. In the past it has offered the magazine for as low as 78 cents an issue as an incentive for

His money is where his mouth is: a class act

Unknown 14:00

Paul Jones is a class act, and his thank you note in the current issue of Masthead is proof. He took out an ad to thank his friends and supporters in the industry for the honour of receiving the Outstanding Achievement award at the recent National Magazine Awards in Toronto. It is worth noting whom he thanked (including wife Rona Maynard, his son, and longtime Maclean Hunter and Rogers colleague

Some of us are outa here...maybe

Unknown 21:17

The Western Standard, a handsome, idiosyncratic and feisty publication tried to make news this week by publishing its own poll that says that 36% of westerners consider separatism an option. Of course that means that 64% think it's not. But it still makes for entertaining and stimulating reading, particularly the magazine's weblog called, somewhat ominously, The Shotgun. The Standard's publisher

First project: proofreading

Unknown 17:14

The just-released guidelines for the Ontario Media Development Corporation's Magazine Fund (previously Volume Two, son of Volume One) contain an error. The deadline at the top of the information form says September 30. The deadline for applications at the end of the information form says September 9. The application form itself says September 30.

Pressure for placement

Unknown 02:25

High end advertisers are starting to push for product placement on magazine spreads and covers south of the border. According to an article in AdAge, Lexus is openly asking for exposure for its pricey automobiles. It's not clear yet whether this is a straight payment option or whether the advertiser is making it a condition of signing a contract; perhaps a little of each.Deborah Wahl Meyer, Lexus

Suppose they couldn't call it Star Weekly, eh?

Unknown 21:20

Another weekly magazine? This week the Toronto Star announced that it was going to launch the Weekly Scoop, a star-struck newsstand celebrity title (gawd knows, we don't have enough of those) starting October 3.The Star's track record at producing publications other than the daily has not been stellar; eye is a perennial also ran (though it allows Torstar to keep its dignity and somehow still

Integrated advertising -- is THAT what you call it?

Unknown 16:11

Media in Canada, a website run by Strategy magazine, published the following item in recent days: 2 Magazine takes ad integration to new level by Paula Costello Due to popular demand, Toronto-based book 2: The Magazine for Couples is expanding its integrated advertising opportunities. The pub, which celebrates its first anniversary with its summer issue due on newsstands this week,

Fighting the good fight

Unknown 15:15

Up against a government monopoly, Saltscapes magazine, published out of Dartmouth, is suing the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission for stealing its idea for a new food, drink and lifestyle magazine. Jim and Linda Gourlay, the co-publishers, set out the facts in the "publishers pencil" column in the magazine's July/August issue (the one with the handsome Atlantic puffin on the cover).Saltscapes

How the mighty have fallen -- TV Guide retrenches

Unknown 17:27

According to the Associated Press, TV Guide in the U.S. is effectively getting out of the listings business, cutting its guaranteed circulation by two-thirds and relaunching in a larger format with an emphasis on lifestyle and entertainment. The new format will launch October 17, with just 25% listings (currently it is 75%).There is no indication what impact this will have on the Canadian edition

Meteoric rise

Unknown 18:47

Announced today that Sharon McAuley will join St. Joseph Media as V.P. Group Publisher of Toronto Life and Saturday Night, at the end of August. Few in the Canadian magazine industry can have had such a steep career curve. Not so long ago she was publishing the tiny affairs of Quill & Quire. Now she is charged with the -- some would say unenviable -- task of revitalizing Saturday Night magazine,

Stamp of disapproval

Unknown 14:01

The recent flurry of releases from Magazines Canada (formerly the CMPA) concerning postal rates and the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) is taking a new, tougher attitude and a more public stance towards the issues. Previously, CMPA releases were long, technical and somewhat mealy-mouthed and most grumbling took place behind closed doors. Now a spade is being called a goddam shovel, although

Texting and the young and single

Unknown 15:20

In most of the discussion about the relationship between magazines and various kinds of new media and technology, texting hasn't figured very much. Magazines seem much more concerned about "monetizing" their websites and making them effective sub-generators, but they may be missing a bet.Instant messaging is still the preferred means of communication for youth, but recent research demonstrates

In-house sub fulfillment software for tiny magazines

Unknown 17:39

DB Scott is on vacation and I told him I'd try to think of something exciting to say in his absence, but I've only now found something exciting to say:For any small-maggers who aren't already familiar with the CLMP database template for subscription fulfillment, AND for any other small-maggers who knew of its existence, I've just heard that a new version has just been released.As before, it's a

Selling product placement

Unknown 11:00

Editors on the a recent panel in New York about product placement in magazines bristled at the very notion. "I don't believe if you blur the line between editorial and advertising it makes either one better. It just makes them blurry," said Martha Nelson, Managing Editor of People. But MindShare Senior Partner-Group Media Director Debbie Solomon, moderator of the panel, cited consumer research

Not everybody believes in fact-checking

Unknown 11:00

An old friend (chronologically and actually) took a strip off recently about fact checking. From the perspective of this experienced writer, poet, essayist, and frequent travel writer, the function of a fact-checker at a magazine is redundant or counter-productive. He also thinks it's insulting. He is not alone.It's not always clear why some people see fact checkers as problems rather than

Zinio: Digital editions ... boring? thrilling?

Unknown 01:24

OK, folks, whaddaya think? Pretend, just for a moment, that you're a consumer [grin].How many of us would really want to read full-scale magazines entirely online? Am I just a neo-luddite -- are digital magazines the wave of the future? Check this out:http://img.zinio.com/corporate/preview_now.htmlI can certainly understand subscribing to brief newsletters on subjects of interest to people's

Remaking Maclean's in his own image

Unknown 16:45

The Ken Whyte stamp is being well and truly put on Maclean's with the severance of virtually his entire senior editorial management: longtime Executive Editors Michael Benedict and Bob Levin and Art Director Donna Braggins. The terminations were effective close of business on Tuesday.Levin, characterized by former Editor Anthony (Tony Two Names) Wilson-Smith as someone who is "exacting,

Now THAT'S missing a deadline!

Unknown 11:05

Cartographica is one among the many specialist journals published by the University of Toronto Press. And included in a notification about a new editorial team taking over (with thanks to the previous editor) is the following notice:Although there have been a number of efforts to bring the journal's publishing schedule up to date, this is very difficult in the face of such a severe delay, and

No more paper?

Unknown 11:00

A small storm seems to have blown up towards the academic edge of the Canadian magazine publishing industry as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is said to be on the verge of adopting a policy to restrict its financial support to only those journals which publish electronically. Many small, specialized journals depend upon SSHRC grants for their very existence.Last year,

Core values

Unknown 11:00

How's the Canadian magazine business doing? On the surface, it looks good, with revenue and profits up in the most recent Statistics Canada data (2003-04). But we've been drilling down a bit to make some comparisons over time and it's a lot more sobering than initial impressions.Using Statscan's own data, albeit with more titles captured in the recent research than early in the '90s, it is

Winning ways

Unknown 11:00

The choice of maisonneuve as winner of the President's Medal at the National Magazine Awards on Friday night was very well received, although there was an awkward pause as the Publisher/Editor Derek Webster had to be fetched from outside the room. (A continuing problem for the awards is that up to 1/3 of the crowd bail before the presentation is complete.)There was, as usual, some grumbling among

More books, but profit? That's another thing

Unknown 17:42

Over the past five years, according to the new 2003-04 Statscan data, there have been about 357 net new magazines of all kinds. 72% are under 50,000 circulation per issue 28% are less than 20,000 11% less than 5,000 2003-04 <5,000 5,000 – 19,999 20,000 – 49,999 50,000 – 99,999 100k+ All Profit 589 465

More mags, fewer profits, more part-timers

Unknown 02:38

Here are some early highlights from an analysis of the just-published 2003-2004 data from Statistics Canada about the Canadian Periodical industry. (Comparisons are with the 1998-99 data and are for consumer magazines only.) The total number of reporting magazines went up from 860 to 1,085 (+26%) Advertising sales went up 30% Single copy sales went up 32% Subscription sales declined by $

You can't get that up there

Unknown 05:10

Folio: The Magazine for Magazine Management, has been through some rough times recently, batted from pillar to post by Primedia, who then sold it to Red 7 Media LLC. Now, suddenly, this expensive trade book is being offered free to the first x thousand who respond, according to an e-mail sent to subscribers. In other words, converting from paid to request. One catch: if you're from Canada, this

Online subscription sales

Unknown 11:08

So has anyone else out there noticed what's going on with http://www.amazon.com in the USA? It doesn't seem to be happening in Canada, but it IS happening to Canadian magazines:In the menu on the left-hand side of the amazon.com page, follow the link to "Magazine Subscriptions". In the search box at the top of the page, enter the name of your magazine and click "Go".Interestingly, they're

Currents under the surface

Unknown 15:58

The usual frenzy is about as Magazines Week is upon us. Mags U at the Old Mill in Toronto is the place where magazine people work on their upper thighs traipsing upstairs and down in search of the room for their seminars. The trade show is where everyone practices eye-avoidance, as near-desperate vendors and exhibitors try to snag passersby who are only passing through in a search for a cup of

A new style magazine for politics

Unknown 23:25

An interesting items in the Guardian Media site is this from Stephen Armstrong, about a relatively new British magazine (started August 2004) that gets at politics through a very stylish back door. Any young Canadian editors looking for an interesting model? Lurking at the back of a Clerkenwell workshop is the office of London's latest style mag Diplo. Just like its hipster rivals Good For

The cheapest of shots

Unknown 17:02

David Zimmer's back page comments about the National Magazine Awards in Masthead's June issue is as mean-spirited a piece as has come along in some time. It think it is meant to be witty. But it is ill-informed and shockingly rude towards one individual who does not deserve it.There are lots of ways that Zimmer could have attacked the MagAwards, but it is the cheapest of cheap shots to attack

We'll believe it when we see it

Unknown 20:31

Statscan has had to delay, again, for the third time, its release of Canadian periodical publishing data. Date now is June 8.

Worth quoting

Unknown 04:50

"People don't watch TV. They don't listen to radio. And they don't read magazines. What do they do? They make personal choices. I don't think you sit there and think, 'I have an hour to kill, I think I'll spend it with print.'" -- Dave DeSocio, media strategist, OMD.

LIFE takes a dive

Unknown 21:44

Now I'm not one to pine for the good old days; a lot of today's magazines are leagues ahead of yesterday's titles. But I except LIFE magazine, which always set a standard for excellence that is really unmatched today. Until its demise a few years ago, it presented lavish, involving photographic spreads in a way that cannot be replicated by TV. But die it did. Only to be ripped from the ground and

The longer view

Unknown 14:49

The recently published Top 50 list by revenue for 2004, compiled by Masthead magazine from various sources, indicates that the industry is doing well, with 4% overall growth. There are some standout performances such as Canadian Geographic, up 22% in revenue over last year, Inside Entertainment (19%), Today's Parent (18%), Outdoor Canada (16%) and Canadian House and Home (12%).We looked at the

Circle this date, we mean it

Unknown 14:33

There is a trendy development in wedding invitations -- the pre-invitation postcard, asking the recipient to reserve the date with a formal invitation to follow. Pre-invitation invitations may be thought of as giving "insider" status; you are so important, and so busy, that the inviters wanted to make sure that you'll have room in your daybook.The same trend has now apparently flopped over into

It's an honour just to be nominated...

Unknown 14:33

Looking forward to the forthcoming discussion the Masthead about why prize money has shrunk in the National Magazine Awards. Well, duh. It's because the NMAF has a devil of a time getting industry heavyweights to support the event.On morning of June 8, a distinguished panel at Mags U will try to get a grip on what it takes to win a National Magazine Award. Not to prejudge the outcome, but we'd

First birthday for spunky left coast magazine

Unknown 17:39

It started out with a funereal cover showing a drawer in a morgue (see above), but things must be looking up for the Vancouver Review after surviving a year in a tough market (regional, cultural publications) as evinced by its sunny current cover.(Check out the the magazine's website by

Little mags we like

Unknown 20:04

Occasionally, we like to promote magazines and independent magazine publishers that, while well known locally, or regionally, don't travel well (or at least their reputation doesn't).DvL Publishing of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, is a remarkable success story. Grown over 30 years, it now publishes five titles: Rural Delivery (the flagship); Atlantic Forestry; Horse & Pony; Atlantic Beef; and Pets

Trend watch

Unknown 15:51

Five shopping magazines, five shelter magazines, four fashion magazines, 16 magazines targeting women, 12 aimed at males, eight targeting the affluent market; these were among the 75 new magazines launched in the last quarter in the United States, according to the Magazine Publishers of America. Many of the titles were line extensions of existing magazines. Here's what some of the larger

Strike two

Unknown 15:38

The Teamsters's strike at ProLogix is beginning to bite. Overheard near a small grocery store newsstand in Cambridge: "The magazines haven't come in, we won't see them 'til Friday, if then. They're on strike, you know." Oh, dear.Since most magazines can't change their publication schedules and since 75% of a magazine's sales come in the first two weeks after its issue's on-sale date, this is not

National Magazine Awards nominations

Unknown 17:47

Click on the headline to go direct to the National Magazine Awards Foundation website and see the 2005 nominees. The winners will be announced June 10 in Toronto.Nice to see that the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement will be given to Paul Jones, until recently the Publisher of Maclean's, Executive Vice-President of the News and Business Group at Rogers and one of the stalwarts of the