Friday News Round-Up for August 31st

Hang on to your pancakes, people.  Thieves in Canada just stole $30 million in maple syrup reserves from Quebec.  No, it’s not really relevant, but as you venture out on your Labor Day weekend, be on the lookout for sticky-fingered felons.  Before you head out for that last sweet taste of summer, check out the news.  All magazine titles with an asterisk* can be found in our Wooden Horse Database.

PRIME, a new high school sports magazine from USA Today Sports, will debut in 11 major markets this fall.  There is no active website as yet…

FLAUNT* magazine ousted executive editor Maxwell Williams, and the editorial position was eliminated from the staff…

FLAUNT* named Matthew Bedard, matthew@flauntmagazine.com and @matthewwbedard, as editorial director, and he now leads the magazine…

GLAMOUR* said goodbye to accessories editor Lauren Vreeland…

GLAMOUR* promoted Brooke Danielson, brooke_danielson@condenast.com and @Brooke_Ely, to associate accessories editor…

RUNNER’S WORLD* no longer has articles editor Debra Witt.  No replacement has been named…

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE* appointed Yinka Adegoke, yadegoke@billboard.com and @YinkaWrites, as the new deputy editor…

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE* appointed John Haskins, jhaskins@nytimes.com and @johask, as managing editor…

THE KNOT lost senior editor Kristin Koch.  No replacement as yet…

INFORMATION WEEK* hired associate editor for healthcare section Michelle McNickle, mmcnickle@techweb.com and @m_mcnickle…

AMERICAN BANKER* named maria Aspan, maria.aspan@sourcemedia.com and @mariaaspan, as the national editor…

TIME OUT NEW YORK KIDS* bid farewell to associate web editor Rachel Brodsky…

Wednesday News Round-Up for August 29th

Need a diversion from politicking and conventions?  You’ve come to the right place!  Nothing around here but magazine media news.  All magazine titles sporting an asterisk* are included in our helpful Wooden Horse Database.

ADVERTISING AGE* will introduce a redesign and repositioning on September 10.  In print since 1930, the weekly publication will focus on analysis rather than breaking news, reduce the trim size to 10 X 13” and end the practice of jumping articles from the magazine’s front to the back.  The new format also includes a renamed editorial and op-ed section, now called ‘Opinion,’ which will be moved from to the back-of-book…

BACKSTAGE will unveil a redesign for the print magazine on Thursday, August 30.  The website also has been redesigned.  Changes for the 52-year-old publication include upgraded glossy paper stock, decreasing the trim size from 11.5 X 15” to 9 X 10.875” and greater integration between the website and magazine…

THE WRITER* will not go on hiatus after the October issue, as previously announced last month.  Instead, the magazine will be purchased by Boston-based Madavor Media from current owner Kalmbach Publishing, and there should be no interruption for the print edition…

BIRDWATCHING* magazine will be acquired by Madavor Media…

BLOOMBERG INSIDER, a special edition glossy magazine showcasing Bloomberg brands and resources, will be in print during the two political conventions.  The new publication features exclusive stories by staffers from BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK*, Bloomberg View, Bloomberg LP, Bloomberg Government and Bloomberg BNA.  More than 10,000 copies will be distributed for free at both conventions.  Visit http://go.bloomberg.com/special-reports/report/bloomberg-insider for more information…

T: THE NEW YORK TIMES STYLE MAGAZINE will say goodbye to Editor-in-Chief Sally Singer at the end of August.  No replacement has been chosen…

US WEEKLY* named Alisandra Puliti, alisandra.puliti@usmagazine.com, as the new deputy news director…

PC GAMER* snagged new associate editor Omri Petitte, omri@pcgamer.com and @omripetitte…

PEOPLE EN ESPANOL welcomed new fashion and beauty editor Daniella Lopez, daniella_lopez@peoplemag.com…

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL named Jan Brenny, jbrenny@cscpub.com, as the publication’s new editor…

A new niche magazine for glass enthusiasts…or something

GLASS CULTURE, a Canadian bimonthly, will launch with a preview issue, included within the September issue of TREATING YOURSELF, a medical marijuana magazine.

The new print magazine, targeting glass enthusiasts, covers the culture of glass collecting and glass as an emerging art form.  Readers will find profiles of glass-related companies, interviews, reviews, feature articles, events and more.  An artistic glass bong appears on the cover of the inaugural issue.

Marco Renda, marco@glassculturemagazine.com, leads the Ontario-based publication, which will be distributed throughout Canada and the US.  Visit the website at http://glassculturemgazine.com.

Creating the illusion of good health: ‘Reverse retouching’ models touches off more controversy

Now that magazines are adding plumpness to models through ‘reverse retouching,’ maybe the industry’s attitudes about weight are changing, right?

Not so fast.

Back in May of this year, when VOGUE* agreed under pressure not to hire underweight models, it seemed there might be a shift afoot.  Many hoped it signaled a new recognition that looking and being healthy, rather than impossibly thin, should be the goal both for models and the young women who emulate them.

So when it came to light recently that many glossies like Vogue, SELF* and NEW YORK MAGAZINE* have been enhancing the curves of their cover girls, some may have wondered if voluptuous, Rubenesque figures were making a comeback.

After all, just look at the appeal of celebs like Beyonce, J-Lo, Kim Kardashian and Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks, none of them waif-like.

But reverse retouching is hardly new, and apparently signals nothing more than another unattainable physical goal: to have the legs, arms and torso of a competitive marathon runner, while sporting the bustline of a nursing mother with twins and the apple cheeks of a young child.

Even Barbie couldn’t match that.

And it’s more than simply adding cleavage, or enhancing someone’s booty to create the perfect hourglass figure.

In an article which appeared in the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper this spring, Leah Hardy, a former editor at COSMOPOLITAN*, revealed common the practice has been, and how things haven’t changed that much.  She detailed the way technology is used to soften the harsh, jutting bones of models’ sternums, collarbones and shoulder blades, laid bare from lack of normal body fat.  Sunken cheeks and eyes are photoshopped to appear bright and healthy.  Dull hair and skin is digitally revitalized.

Of course, she argues, then the magazine-reading public never gets to see that it’s impossible to be both sylphlike and buxom, or more importantly, malnourished and healthy.

Here is a link to the full article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1279766/Former-Cosmo-editor-LEAH-HARDY-airbrushing-skinny-models-look-healthy-big-fat-dangerous-lie.html

Friday News Round-Up for August 24th

One of the hottest feeds on the Twitter machine these days belongs to the Mars rover, Curiosity. As informative as it is engaging, @MarsCuriosity gives voice and personality to the visiting robot.  Check it out the next time you’re tweeting when you should be doing something else.  Grab the latest industry news while you’re here.  All titles with an asterisk* are included in our Wooden Horse Database.

SMITHSONIAN* magazine is unveiling a redesign with the September issue, to be released on August 27.  Under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Michael Caruso this year, the magazine has lured major name-brand writers to contribute and shifted to shorter, more accessible articles.  Now the look has been updated, using heavier glossy stock and new graphic design…

PREVENTION* ousted Editor-in-Chief Diane Salvatore on Thursday of this week.  Although circulation remains high at 2.8 million and newsstand sales are up, ad sales are reported to be disappointing…

NEW YORK MAGAZINE* snagged Rebecca Ramsey, rebecca_ramsey@nymag.com and @RebeccaRams, as the new fashion editor.  Ramsey comes to the magazine from LUCKY*, where she was a fashion market editor…

INSTYLE* co-founder and fashion director, Hal Rubenstein, will step down from his post in October…

O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE* promoted Kristina Lepore, klepore@hearst.com and @kristinalepore, to associate fashion market editor…

O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE* named Robin Beck, rbeck@hearst.com, as fashion market and accessories director…

O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE* hired Britton Taylor, btaylor@hearst.com, as a fashion assistant…

GQ* will welcome back Kevin Sintumuang, kevin_sintumuang@condenast.com and @sintumuang, as the new multimedia editor, overseeing editorial content for GQ.com.  In a previous stint, Sintumuang served at GQ as an associate editor…

GQ* promoted Will Welch, will_welch@condenast.com and @willwelch, to senior editor for style…

GQ* promoted Ted Stafford, ted_stafford@condenast.com, to fashion market director…

PC WORLD* said goodbye to Ginny Mies, associate editor covering audio players and phones…

NYLON* magazine welcomed back Rebecca Willa Davis, Rebecca@nylonmag.com and @RebeccaWD, as online executive editor…

OXYGEN* magazine promoted Helen Vong, hvong@oxygenmag.com and @HelenVong, from nutrition editor to deputy editor of digital content and special issues…

OXYGEN* magazine promoted Kirstyn Brown, kbrown@oxygenmag.com, from assistant editor to nutrition editor…

BUSINESS INSIDER* in July brought on board Jennifer Welsh, jwelch@businessinsider.com and @microbelover, as science editor…

Filling a void? Modern Luxury Media sees an opening for a new Hamptons mag

MODERN LUXURY HAMPTONS, a regional luxe lifestyle magazine, will debut in 2013, joining sister publication MODERN LUXURY MANHATTAN.  With the demise of PLUM HAMPTONS, Modern Luxury saw a market opportunity.

Readers will find the familiar Modern Luxury mix of homes, entertainment, dining, fashion and more, along with plenty of advertisements for luxury goods.

Published bimonthly, the new glossy will go head-to-head with Niche Media’s well-established HAMPTONS magazine, now in print for 30 years.  Modern Luxury Manhattan’s Editor-in-Chief, Cristina Greeven Cuomo, ccuomo@modernluxury.com, also will serve in that role for Modern Luxury Hamptons.  The website, www.modernluxury.com/hamptons, is not yet active…

For those in the second act of life: A new regional glossy

ACT TWO, a new glossy serving Fairfield County in Connecticut, is set to debut in mid-September.  The regional lifestyle magazine will target residents over 50, in “the second half of life.”

Published bimonthly, the publication will feature articles on finance, health & wellness, entertainment, travel and dining, as well as profiles of local people who make an impact on their communities.

Area writers and editors will contribute editorial content, which is meant to be “informative, empowering and entertaining.”  The founder and editor-in-chief is Rosemary Cass, cass@acttwomagazine.com.  View the magazine at http://acttwomagazine.com.

Wednesday News Round-Up for August 22nd

Savor the late days of summer as you listen to the crickets, gorge on stone fruits and berries, and get more sun than you’re supposed to.  Check out our news bits to save time for more pleasant summer pursuits.  Magazine titles with an asterisk* can be found in our Wooden Horse Database.

The MPA, the magazine media industry trade association, named Mary Berner as the organization’s new President and CEO, as of September 17.  She succeeds outgoing CEO Nina Link.  Berner was CEO of Readers Digest Association from 2007 to 2011…

EATING WELL* will raise its rate base from 600,000 to 750,000, beginning with the July/August issue, representing an increase of 115%…

NINTENDO POWER will cease publication after 24 years in print.  Magazine staffers were informed about the move last week, and many will be transitioned to other Future US brand such as MAC LIFE* and GAMES RADAR*.  Nintendo Power’s current circulation is reported to be 475,000…

AMERICAN IRON MAGAZINE* is increasing its frequency in 2013, from 12 issues per year to 13 per year…

O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE* no longer has assistant fashion editor Sara Mitzner, there since 2006…

MARIE CLAIRE* said goodbye to fashion features assistant Emily Layden…

AAA GOING PLACES* welcomed Jason Davis, jedavis@aaasouth.com and @JDavisMedia, as a senior editor…

A new title for young women aims to boost self-esteem and confidence

MIABELLA, a lifestyle and fashion magazine for young women, launched on August 21.

The new bimonthly is designed to “help young women shape and maintain a positive self-image.”  Editorial content focuses on encouraging girls to make healthy and smart choices in their lives.  Features and interviews cover social issues, the environment, fitness, nutrition, fashion and entertainment.  The inaugural issue focuses on back-to-school topics like college admissions and fall fashion tips.

Founder and Editor-in-chief Gina Villani Addison, editor@miabellamag.com, is leading the magazine.  Features editor Laura Smyer can be contacted at laura@miabellamag.com.  Find the website at www.miabellamag.com.

In the first half of 2012, magazines compete for ‘The Weakest Title’

If it was a reality TV show, we might call it ‘The Weakest Title’ or ‘The Amazing Race to the Bottom.’

But unfortunately, it’s not a show; it’s an entire industry.

The most recent report from the Audit Bureau of Circulations paints a bleak picture of the magazine industry as a whole, as newsstand sales continued their steady descent during the first half of 2012.

Overall newsstand sales dropped nearly 10% with 21 of the top 25 magazines seeing losses.  The weakest contenders belong to the celebrity category.  The once-reliable PEOPLE* dropped by more than 18%.  US WEEKLY*, IN TOUCH WEEKLY*, and STAR* also saw double-digit declines.  Weekly news magazines, like NEWSWEEK* and TIME*, slumped further as well, still losing ground in the 24/7 news cycle.

Women’s and fashion titles took a hit as well.  VANITY FAIR* was down by nearly 19%, VOGUE* by more than 16% and COSMOPOLITAN* by over 15%.  The biggest loser in this category was WEIGHT WATCHERS*, which shed more than 27% of its single-copy sales.

There were some bright spots in food and shelter titles.  Sales of industry darling FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE* took off, rising almost 18%.  WOMAN’S DAY* and FAMILY CIRCLE* saw respective gains of 8% and 6%.  ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST* was up by more than 8%, proving we all need to dream a little.

For the first time, the ABC reported separate numbers for digital editions of magazines, which account for less than 2% of all copies sold.  The big winner, by a mile, was GAME INFORMER* with a digital circulation of 1.2 million.  Following at a distant second is MAXIM* with fewer than 300,000 digital copies.