Staff vows to continue women’s magazine
Another Birmingham magazine faces a setback today. Skirt, a Morris Communications national publication based in Augusta, Ga., launched in Birmingham in April 2008.
Its closest competitor, Lipstick, folded in February. Its publisher, Media General, cut jobs at NBC 13 in March. During that same round, Media General folded Skirt in Tampa. (It continues as an online-only venture.)
Today, NBC 13 vice president and general manager Gene Kirkconnell sent this e-mail:
Over the past year the creativity and hard work of our Skirt Staffers here has produced a Magazine of the highest editorial standards.
Unfortunately, a very challenging economy has prompted the division to cease publication. July 2009 will be the final edition of SKIRT Birmingham.
We wish Anna, Cory and Terry all the best.
Editor Cory Bordonaro announced via Skirt’s Twitter feed just after noon today:
You heard it here first. Media General is hanging up skirt! We’re moving on, however. This skirt has a lot of wear left.
It’s unclear whether the women’s lifestyle magazine will continue publishing both print and Web versions, or if at all. The Terminal references a tweet from Skirt general manager Anna Alford Nelson that says “skirt! Bham is moving forward just without Media General.“
The Birmingham Business Journal reports that Media General plans on transferring its license to publish Skirt to a yet-to-be-determined market.
But Heather Nagel-Doughtie, digital director for Skirt, says Morris now has the Birmingham license and says on the site, “We love Birmingham and are very committed to finding a solution to keep the skirt! voice alive in this great city.” Compare this to her more decisive plan of action when the Tampa print edition was dropped:
Next month, you will begin to see significant changes to the local Tampa Bay site including a new redesign. We plan to enlist the help and support of local women and writers.
Bordonaro has invited those interested to e-mail her at corybo[at]gmail.com.
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