Ziff-Davis, Inc. will pull the plug on three publications: Internet Business, Equip and Windows Pro. Due to declining ad sales, the computer publishing company will cut 10 percent of its workforce, it announced Friday, Oct. 9.
"All the staff are out of jobs," says Spokesman Greg Jarboe. "But we are making an effort to find positions elsewhere."
Transferring staff to other jobs is unlikely, however, since Ziff-Davis needs to cut 350 people out of its 3,500-member staff. (Jarboe, 212/503-3640)
Here's your chance to get more coverage with Wired Digital, Inc., as it was acquired by Lycos, Inc. Tuesday Oct. 6.
Wired Digital will now expand its coverage to reach a larger audience, says Spokesman Andrew de Vries.
A good pitch opp is Wired News, a site covering business, technology, culture, and politics of the digital world, as the site is soaring to one million email subscribers and receiving a million hits per month.
Contacts at Wired News will stay the same: Senior News Editor James Glave will take ideas about breaking news or trends in the industry by email at [email protected]; Business Editor Kourosh Karimkhany wants information about CEOs or CFOs (not VPs because his audience is high-level executives). Email him at [email protected].
You'll soon be changing your Rolodex cards for CBS, as 100 to 150 jobs will be cut by the company in the next few weeks, says Dana McClintock, spokesman for the company.
Many of these jobs are producers and technical staff, although no bureau closings are expected. McClintock did not reveal who will be fired or when.
Reach the staff at 212/975-4321.
Not enough "country" in America. Meredith Corporation will fold Country America magazine, a bimonthly, after the release of its November-December issue.
President Christopher Little said the market didn't support the magazine. Launched in 1989, it had a circulation of 900,000.
The closing affects 26 employees in Chicago, Des Moines, and New York. Meredith Spokeswoman Kathi Woods says the company hopes to place each staffer on other Meredith publications in the coming months. (Woods, 515/284-2138; fax: 515/284-3153)
More features create more opportunities at AARP Bulletin. Two new sections - "The Nation," and "The States" - have been added to Bulletin, a publication for members of the American Association of Retired Persons.
"The Nation" will include stories with a national impact that affect older Americans. The October issue includes a story about the Y2K computer glitch. Next month AARP plans to cover the recent Wall Street rollercoaster and patients' rights.
"The States" covers regional and local news that has a wider impact. Examples would include Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law and its national implications.
Contact Editor Elliot Carlson, 601 E St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20049. (Circulation: 20 million; median age: 67.5; median HHI: $47,500; male, 44%; female, 56%; 57% are retired)
New magazine debuts covering "stories behind the stories on the shelf," Editor Jerome Kramer says. Book Magazine, a bimonthly from West Egg Communications, will be a readers magazine, not a writers magazine, he says, and therefore will not give "tips and tactics" about how to write a best seller.
Instead, Book covers the book industry like "Rolling Stone covers the music industry." Author profiles, for instance, will reveal a writer's personal side and explore what inspires their work, not how they wrote their book.
A good spot for placement is the "In The Margins" section covering any new book or books in the works. The magazine also does book reviews.
Only fiction and non-fiction books are covered so don't pitch him items on spiritual, how-to or sci-fi topics.
In the October-November issue look for a feature on Wally Lamb, author of "She's Come Undone" and "This Much I Know Is True," and a Q&A with Pulitzer Prize winner Anna Quindlen.
Send Kramer ideas by email: [email protected], fax: 773/267-5496; snail mail: 4645 N. Rockwell St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60625; or call him at 773-267-4300. (Circulation: 100,000; demographics: HHI of $75,000+, 85%; 35- to 64-year-olds: 81%; men, 47%; women, 53%)