Hearst Holding Magazine Upfront Meetings

Digital publishing news for September 16, 2013

Ad Age is reporting that Hearst Magazines are holding magazine “upfront” meetings with hundreds of media buyers and ad agencies. Michael Sebastian reports, “The Hearst upfront, scheduled for Oct. 15 at Hearst Tower, is meant to drum up advertiser interest in the stories and packages, in print and in digital media, that editors are planning for 2014. To that end, Hearst has trademarked the term “Big Content,” a play on the trendy marketing term “Big Data.”

Some are calling the upfront a PR stunt while others are praising Hearst for thinking out-of-the box. Hearst will also be taking this opportunity to show new products still in development. It should be interesting to see if the magazine upfront meetings gain industry wide adoption.

New Looks for The New Yorker

The New York Times is reporting that The New Yorker is getting subtle design updates. Christine Haughney reports, “Many of these changes are subtle enough that David Remnick, the magazine’s editor, said that if the magazine fell on the floor and were three feet away, it would still be identifiable to longtime readers. The changes include a cleaner presentation of the table of contents and contributor pages. The most notable change may be on the “Goings On About Town” pages, which start with a more distinctive presentation of the section’s opening image and include less detail on museum and show listings. The revised pages also highlight the work of the magazine’s critics.”

It’s good to see this notoriously slow to change publication making updates, even if they’re minor ones.

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Maxim Sold

Fishbowl NY is reporting that Maxim has been sold to Darden Media Group. Chris O’Shea writes, “The sale includes the magazine and its 15 international editions sold in 34 countries, all Maxim events and digital assets. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.” The Darden Media Group plans to expand the brand into television, radio, and even a music label. Maybe they’re taking a page from Esquire? We’ll see.

Managing Editor at Time Departs

Media Life is reporting that Richard Stengal, managing editor at Time is leaving the company to become the under secretary of state for diplomacy and public affairs at the State Department. “Stengel presided over a period of great change at the magazine, as the internet encroached on the newsweeklies, which were forced to come up with new approaches to avoid seeming dated and tired,” staff reporter writes.

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