Category Archives: In the news

Southern Living at Home sold to Wisconsin-based Entertaining at Home

Posted on August 12, 2009 by | 3 comments

southern-living-at-homeSpeaking of Southern Progress’ rapid shrinking, parent company Time Inc. has sold Birmingham-based Southern Living at Home to a Wisconsin firm, Entertaining at Home. Time had put the company up for sale in January.

A spinoff of the magazine, Southern Living at Home sells housewares through Tupperware-style parties. Bill Shaw helped launch the venture in 2001 and also helped create what would eventually become Entertaining at Home.

In a letter to consultants and sales agents, Shaw wrote:

“We will be one company for a while with two divisions separated only by name and product assortment. The simple truth is we need each other, and together we can once again lead an industry with an unrelenting commitment to excellence.”

Source: Birmingham News: “Southern Accents magazine closed by Time Inc., cutting 20 jobs in Birmingham”

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EXCLUSIVE: Birmingham magazine hires Thicket’s editor-in-chief, advertising director

Posted on August 7, 2009 by | 1 comment

After the departure of five staff members at Birmingham magazine in July, including editor Joe O’Donnell and advertising director Cathy Fingerman, Media of Birmingham has learned about two hires from Birmingham-based Thicket magazine.

Julie KeithJulie Keith, Thicket’s editor-in-chief and co-owner, will serve as the new editor for Birmingham magazine. Before, she was executive editor of Birmingham-based Portico magazine and managing editor for the Better Homes and Gardens Crafts Group. Keith was a panelist at Media of Birmingham’s Freelancers Forum in September. Her husband Todd Keith is senior editor at Thicket.

Garrick Stone, Thicket’s advertising director and partner in the magazine, will serve as the new advertising director for Birmingham magazine. Before, he was sales director at Portico and a senior account executive at Birmingham-based Black and White.

Thicket launched in January 2008 as a bimonthly Alabama-focused publication with 10 issues to date. Birmingham magazine‘s current edition began in 1961 and publishes monthly through the Birmingham Business Alliance, which combined the Metropolitan Development Board and the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.

No word yet as to how Thicket plans to move forward.

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Southern Accents shuts down

Posted on August 6, 2009 by | 6 comments

Southern Progress drops second magazine in nine months

Southern Accents coverTime Inc. closed Birmingham-based magazine Southern Accents today, but plans on continuing the site SouthernAccents.com. No word as to what will happen to the employees of the magazine.

Southern Accents is the second Southern Progress magazine to fold in nine months, following Cottage Living’s demise in November. Ad revenue for Southern Accents dropped a whopping 32.1 percent from the first six months of 2008 to the same period of this year.

Update: Southern Accents’ 20 employees are laid off, though editor-in-chief Karen Carroll could stay on with Southern Progress in another capacity. Also, executive vice president Sylvia Auton came from New York to deliver the news to staff in person.

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EXCLUSIVE: Birmingham News could face layoffs by February

Posted on August 5, 2009 by | 5 comments

Owner Advance Pubs ends long-standing no-layoffs policy

Advance Publications’ Newhouse Newspapers will end its policy of no layoffs, announcing the change to staffs today, including the Birmingham News. The pledge ends in six months, meaning the staff at the News (as well as the Press-Register in Mobile and the Huntsville Times) could face layoffs by February.

Media of Birmingham has learned that staffers with at least 5 years at the Birmingham News were offered buyouts, two weeks salary for every year (six month maximum).

In June, the News cut salaries 5 percent to 8 percent, ended furloughs and offered a round of buyouts.

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EXCLUSIVE: Fox 6 has another round of layoffs, drops Saturday 5 p.m. newscast

Posted on July 14, 2009 by | 1 comment

Second round of cuts in 2009 for Raycom-owned station

Fox 6Media of Birmingham has learned that Fox 6 (WBRC) had another round of layoffs on Monday, eliminating several part-time positions and declining renewal on a few contracts, affecting marketing and editorial departments.

Fox 6 laid off 10 employees in February, adding to the dozens of TV jobs cut in Birmingham in 2009.

In addition, Fox 6 has eliminated the 5 p.m. Saturday newscast.

Montgomery-based Raycom Media owns the Birmingham Fox affiliate.

Station management did not respond to e-mailed questions.

Update 7/20: We were going to peg the number at 13 laid off, but we found out today that reporter and weekend morning anchorwoman Tiffany Bittner was let go today, bringing the total to 14 total.

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CBS 42 owner files for bankruptcy

Posted on July 14, 2009 by | 1 comment

Also, WB 21 / My 68 owner also considers filing for bankruptcy

New Vision Television filed for bankruptcy Monday. The company, based in Atlanta and Los Angeles, owns 16 stations nationwide including CBS 42 (WIAT) in Birmingham.

The company, which goes by the name New Vision Television, said in a statement it has an agreement that will eliminate more than $400 million in debt and provide it with capital to continue its operations. The company secured $30 million in new financing, according to the statement.

“Our daily business operations will not miss a beat,” said Jason Elkin, chief executive officer, in the statement.

Jobs and employee benefits will be “intact,” operations will continue as usual “and as soon as the pre-arranged court process has ended, New Vision will emerge as a nimble, well-financed company,” he said.

Update: The CBS 42 Twitter feed called the move “good for us- no layoffs and more good news coming today.” The station hired former NBC 13 anchorman Ken Lass to start Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group faces a heavy debt load ($1.33 billion) and declining ad sales, like most TV owners. It warned in an SEC filing that it may be forced for file for bankruptcy.

Sinclair owns and operates WB 21 (WTTO) and My 68 (WABM) in Birmingham.

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Awards roundup: Birmingham Weekly, Lipstick, WBHM

Posted on July 13, 2009 by | 1 comment

Awards roundup: awards for Birmingham media folks …

• WBHM (90.3 FM) picked up three first place awards in the 2009 Public Radio News Directors Incorporated Awards.

[The full list of PRNDI awards.]

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• Birmingham Weekly’s Kyle Whitmire picked up his second consecutive first-place award in the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ Alternative Newsweekly Awards, his fourth overall.

[Original post | full list of AltWeekly Awards]

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• In the Society of Professional Journalists’ 59th Annual Green Eyeshade Awards, Alabama media outlets took home five first-place awards, and WBHM (90.3 FM) took home its second consecutive divisional win in radio. [The directors of the Green Eyeshade Awards canceled this year’s banquet because “the news media’s economic problems made it difficult to guarantee attendance.”]

Divisional Winner

  • Radio – WBHM (90.3 FM) of Birmingham, for “Considering Faith,” by its news team.
    Links to stories

1st Place

  • “Collection of Editorials” Mac Thrower, Mobile Press-Register
  • “Lauren,” Laurel Mills, Lipstick Magazine, Birmingham
  • “This one time at camp …,” Laurel Mills, Lipstick Magazine, Birmingham
  • “Skimboarding” Bronwyn Coffeen, Mobile Press-Register
  • “Considering Faith,” News Team, WBHM (90.3 FM) [Links to stories]

2nd Place

  • “Rumble, Rumble, Rumble” Challen Stephens, The Huntsville (Ala.) Times
  • “Sky-High” George Talbot, Jeff Amy, Dan Murtaugh, Press-Register, Mobile
  • “Series of Columns” Tim Sanders, The Post, Centre
  • “Theology of the Dispossessed” Mark Potok, Intelligence Report
  • “Beer Law, Wilcox Gas, Fight Song” Tanya Ott, WBHM-FM

3rd Place

  • “Big Bad Wolf Hunt” Brendan Kirby, Press-Register (Mobile)
  • “Desperate Search” News Staff, Press-Register, Mobile
  • “Outside Agitators” David Holthouse, Intelligence Report, Montgomery
  • “Spaceships and Playoff Systems” Scott Wright, The Post, Centre
  • “Capital Murder Trial Coverage” Scott Wright, The Post, Centre
  • “J.D. Crowe Editorial Cartoons” J.D. Crowe, Mobile Press-Register

[hat tip to The Terminal]

[Original post | full list of Green Eyeshade Awards]

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EXCLUSIVE: Magazine ad sales: Southern Progress loses 16.9 percent

Posted on July 13, 2009 by | 4 comments

Southern Progress magazine 2009 ad sales

Magazine ad sales for saw declines for all five Southern Progress titles comparing the first halves of 2008 and 2009, according to figures from the Magazine Publishers of America. The Birmingham-based titles — Coastal Living, Cooking Light, Health, Southern Accents and Southern Living — all saw drops in ad revenue from 8 percent (Health) to 32.1 percent (Southern Accents).

First quarter comparisons weren’t nearly as dire for Cooking Light and Southern Living, but Southern Accents’ ad sales performance has weakened in the second quarter. Southern Progress magazines lost 16.9 percent in ad revenues, earning $209 million so far in 2009.

Meanwhile, another Birmingham-based magazine, Hoffman Media’s Cooking With Paula Deen, had a 3.2 percent increase in ad sales comparing the first halves of 2008 and 2009.

U.S. magazines lost 21 percent in ad sales overall during the first half of 2009.

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EXCLUSIVE: One-third of Birmingham magazine staff exits during Chamber merger

Posted on July 13, 2009 by | 3 comments

Joe O'DonnellThe Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, which publishes Birmingham magazine, has been involved in a merger with the Metropolitan Development Board and Region 2020 to form a streamlined group. The name will be announced Tuesday.

But in the process, Joe O’Donnell, editor of Birmingham magazine for the past 22 years, pictured at left, ended his stay there Thursday. Media of Birmingham has learned that four other Birmingham magazine staff members have also left:

  • Robin Colter Creative director Robin Colter
  • Cathy Fingerman Advertising sales director Cathy Fingerman
  • Jane Higdon Account executive Jane Higdon
  • Mary Ellen Stancil Associate editor Mary Ellen Stancil

O’Donnell, who was offered a post-merger position at the magazine but declined, told the News:

“I’ve had a great staff, freelance writers and photographers over the years. It’s been a great run. I wish the new organization the best. I think the combination of the chamber, Region 2020 and MDB will have a great impact on the area.”

No word as to if these positions will be filled. The departures represent a third of the current staff of 15 to 16 members.

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Media General pulls plug on Skirt Birmingham

Posted on July 2, 2009 by | 1 comment

Staff vows to continue women’s magazine

logoAnother 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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