The Archives: January 2003

New fashion magazines set to strut their stuff

January 29, 2003 – Timed to coincide with fashion industry events in New York, several fashion magazines are about to debut.

Style & Design is a semiannual title being published by Time. It will be mailed to well-heeled subscribers. The Daily, described as a news and gossip tabloid, is being published by fashion industry promoters and Women’s Wear Daily is offering an inside look at the fashion world in a magazine called Inside New York.

Fashion-minded writers should watch for these magazine debuts.

Don’t pack up Living Room yet

January 22, 2003 – Although some media watchers had recently pronounced Living Room magazine dead after one issue, the magazine says not so fast.

Meredith Publishing Corp. says it is still evaluating the results of its premier test issue. The magazine has no permanent editorial or ad staff while the publisher is mulling the publication’s future.

As one of several titles in the so-called “shelter magazine” niche such as Real Simple, Budget Living and Chic Simple, the magazine could be a title to watch if it sticks around.

Complex Magazine goes bimonthly

January 22, 2003 – Complex Magazine, a custom publishing title that focuses on men between 18 and 34 years old, it upping its frequency to bimonthly.

The magazine is published by Complex Media and is described as a magazine and buyers’ guide in one. It offers editorial content on everything from clothes, cars, sports, movies, and sex.

Ad revenue is up 26 percent from 2002 for the magazine, a jump that should make writers take notice. As a custom published title, the magazine is targeted more directly to consumers through selected outlets and promotions. Complex Media is a subsidiary of Ecko Unlimited, an international clothing company.

GMR got game

January 20, 2003 – If you had any doubt the video game magazine niche was hot, consider GMR Magazine’s high-scoring debut.

The magazine has sold more than 37,000 subscriptions in its first week of production, making it one of Ziff Davis’ Media Game Group’s most successful launches.

The magazine covers games played on the PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC and Game Boy Advance platforms.

Interested writers should keep their eyes on this successful start-up.

Becoming Family still coming into being

January 20, 2003 – After launching in October 2000, Becoming Family had to suspend publication in July.

Now the magazine has found a new owner, the not-for-profit Family Ventures Foundation, and hopes to resume publishing late next year.

In the meantime, interested writers should proceed with caution while the magazine struggles to regain its footing.

Skin Diver goes under

January 15, 2003 – After more than 50 years, Skin Diver is closing shop.

Declining ad revenue and subscription income, brought on in part from competition with online sources, spelled the end for the magazine.

November 2002 was the magazine’s last issue.

Another shelter magazine in the works?

January 14, 2003 – Kate Betts, former editor of Harper’s Bazaar, is working with Time Inc. on a secret project that some say is a prototype for a new home design and décor magazine called Shelter.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, if the magazine materializes, it’s not expected to affect her relationship with The New York Times, where she writes frequently for the Sunday Styles section.

Writers with an eye for fashion should watch for the magazine’s debut.

March seeks to offer young readers something different: smarts

January 14, 2003 – The under-30 set has been poorly served by the magazine world, says Adam Van Loon.

Van Loon is publisher and editor-in-chief of March, a new magazine he says fills a void on newsstands by offering young readers a smart, literary magazine. The magazine published its first issue this month and will begin publishing bimonthly this spring.

In an interview in Media Life, Van Loon says March will feature "edgier, quirkier subject matter and more eye-catching design" than that found in more established literary magazines such as The New Yorker and Harper’s.

Members of Generation Y, readers in their twenties, have more eclectic tastes than older readers that take in high- and low-brow subjects, he says.

Whether this new magazine is a success remains to be seen but interested writers should watch for it.

Female Entrepreneur to storm ‘old boy’ network

January 8, 2002 – Entrepreneur and Inc are geared toward men, says Kelly Swenson, founder of Female Entrepreneur, a new women-centric small business magazine. Now women will have magazine of their own, she says.

According to the media trade’s Media Week, the first issue of the new magazine will debut later this month and will include articles on workplace discrimination and a primer on illegal job interview questions. Other subjects in the first issue will include motivational speaking, Internet etiquette and the pros and cons of listing one's web site on Google.

While the magazine is written for women, not all articles will have a female only focus.

Interested writers should watch for the magazine’s debut.

Flash in the pan?

January 6, 2002 – Gruner & Jahr USA is testing the water with Flash, a sassy woman’s magazine aimed at the 20-something market.

Test issues of the magazine have been mailed out. The publication claims to offer “stars, style, shopping and sex.”

Dennis Publishing U.S. is planning a movie magazine that will focus on young male readers. A test issue of the yet-to-be-named magazine is set to debut in May. (January 29)

Seventeen has made a number of new editorial hires. Susannah Cahn is fashion director. Jennifer Braunschweiger is features editor and Holly Crawford is beauty editor. (January 29)

Electronic Business has named Adrian Mello as editor-in-chief. (January 27)

Renovation Style has named LuAnn Bradsen editor-in-chief. (January 27)

Lifetime has named Cathy Cavender deputy editor of the soon-to-launch magazine. (January 27)

Better Homes and Gardens has named Linda Hallam editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications’ Decorating and Design Group. (January 22)

Ebony has hired Nikitta Foston and Marsha Gilbert as associate editors. (January 22)

International Living Editor Roisin Finlay has left. Laura Sheridan takes her place. (January 22)

Gear has named Tina McLarty as associate fashion editor and Robert Rabenstein fashion editor at large. Former Deputy Editor Luke Barr is now executive editor and Jonathan Klein is now special projects editor. (January 22)

Living Room is folding after one issue. After Bonnie Fuller left the fledgling magazine to revamp Us Weekly, the magazine ran out of steam. A new magazine may be forming headed by former Harper’s Bazaar Editor Kate Betts. (January 20)

Better Homes and Gardens has made several changes to its editorial staff. Garden and Outdoor Editor Mark Kane is leaving. Joining are Oma Blaise Ford, senior deputy editor, and Elvin McDonald, deputy garden editor. (January 20)

Child has named Pamela Vu to replace Emily Fromm as associate editor. (January 20)

America West Airlines Magazine has promoted Beth Cullum to managing editor from associate editor. (January 20)

Working Mother has named Susan Lapinski as executive editor and Jolie Solomon as deputy editor. (January 20)

ELLE Assistant Editor, features, Sara Reistad-Long, is now a freelance writer. (January 15)

Bon Appétit Associate Editor Anthony Head has left. Nina Elder, associate editor, and Janet McCracken, associate food editor, join. (January 15)

Newsweek Associate Editor Tessa Namuth has left. (January 15)

Bride’s Decorating Editor Melissa Cutler has left. (January 15)

Business Week Associate Editor Julia Lichtblau has left. (January 15)

SKI Magazine has named Kendall Hamilton as editor to replace upwardly mobile Andy Bigford. Bigford is now vice president, general manager of Mountain Sports Media’s Warren Miller Entertainment. (January 14)

Curve is moving. Its new address is 1550 Bryant St., Suite 510, San Francisco, CA 94103. (January 14)

Child has hired Rory Halperin as assistant editor. (January 14)

Bloomberg Personal Finance will publish its last issue in February. (January 14)

Science Editorial Director Ellis Rubinstein has left to become CEO of the New York Academy of Science. (January 14)

Cosmopolitan has named Michelle Maguire fashion director. (January 14)

Canadian Gardening Assistant Editor Deanna Dority is now associate editor. (January 14)

Business 2.0 Editor-at-Large James Lardner has left the magazine. (January 14)

Real Simple has hired Adam Bluestein as associate editor. (January 8)

Playboy has hired Steven Russell and Robert Loves as deputy editor and editor-at-large. (January 8)

Stuff acting West Coast Editor Stephen Rebello has left. Laurie Kantor Finn has returned from leave and continues as West Coast editor. (January 8)

People has hired Jess Cagle as senior editor. (January 8)

US Weekly continues to make staff changes. Craig Tomashoff, former People associate West Coast bureau chief, becomes television critic. Longtime TV Guide contributor April P. Bernard joins as senior editor for television reviews and features. Fitness and health staff editor Caroline Scheafer comes from Self, where she was psychology editor. New “Faces & Places” staff editor Albert Lee had been at Media Bistro. Jaimee Zanzinger, who will work on “Faces & Places” and entertainment stories, had been associate editor at Glamour. Former InStyle research reporter Jacqueline Gallo joins as a staff editor writing features and front-of-book stories. (January 6)

Southwest Art has named Kristin Buchner editor. (January 6)

Ladies’ Home Journal Assistant Editor Francesca DiMeglio has left. (January 6)

Everyday Food, Martha Stewart’s digest size food magazine, goes on sale this week. (January 6)

Worth has hired Nina Willdorf as assistant lifestyle editor. (January 6)

Teen People has named Tia Williams as beauty director. (January 6)

Stuff has hired Mike Olsen as entertainment editor. (January 6)

Long Island Press is the new name for New Island Ear. The biweekly publication will expand to cover news, business and investigative pieces as well as lifestyle and the arts. (January 6)

Jane has named Lori Yacovone managing editor. (January 6)

Light Reading has purchased Boardwatch Magazine. With the change, the magazine will become an online only publication. (January 6)

Portals has hired Sarah Witt as editor-in-chief. The magazine was launched in October 2002 by Line 56 Media and focuses on corporate executives responsible for adopting, implementing and maintaining portal business solutions. (January 1)