EXCLUSIVE: Birmingham News drops 10.8 percent in weekday print circulation

Posted on October 26, 2009 by | 3 comments

birmingham news building

Newspaper down 8.4 percent on Sundays

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but newspapers are losing print readers by the tens of thousands. In this morning’s report from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, publications across the country reported double-digit declines.

The report measures circulation from daily newspapers, comparing April through September 2009 with the same period in 2008.

Media of Birmingham has learned that the Birmingham News dropped 10.8 percent in weekday circulation, from about 131,095 copies to 116,937 copies. This was slightly worse than the national average of 10.6 percent lost.

On Sundays, the News dropped 8.4 percent, from about 163,803 copies to 150,044 copies. The national average was 7.4 percent.

The News’ publisher Victor Hanson III retires in just over a month; layoffs could come as soon as February.

Meanwhile, the Mobile Press-Register defied the odds, gaining 0.75 percent in overall circulation in the same period from 2008 to 2009. The boost, from about 92,158 to 92,849, placed the newspaper in the Top 10 circulation gainers.

More good news comes from the online side.

When combining print and online readership from the past 7 and 30 days respectively, the Birmingham News and the Mobile Press-Register landed in the Top 25 gainers. The News showed a 4.48 percent jump, and the Press-Register increased 6.13 percent, compared to the same period in 2008.

Advance Publications owns both newspapers.

Our special thanks to Jennifer Saba at Editor and Publisher. Read her blog Fitz & Jen or follow her on Twitter at @jennifersaba.

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October event: Mellow Out October

Posted on October 8, 2009 by | 2 comments

Mellow Mushroom

  • October event: Mellow Out October
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20
  • 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Mellow Mushroom, 1200 20th St. S., Southside [map]
  • $3 (which entitles you to “$3 off coupon” at the door)

Ready to Mellow out?

It’s the Media of Birmingham October networking mixer at Mellow Mushroom, in Five Points South. Grab a beer or other beverage, and jump into a conversation. It’s 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Drink specials:

  • $2.50 Pints
  • $4 Jaeger
  • $4 Gran Marnier

Invite your friends and colleagues in media (print, broadcast, online, etc.), public relations, advertising and marketing.

Note: You must RSVP for this event. Admission is a paltry $3. Registered guests will receive a “$3 off coupon” at the door upon sign-in.

Please RSVP by Friday, Oct. 16, 5 p.m.

Reserve your spot

Special thanks to our sponsors, Mellow Mushroom and W Social Marketing.

Note: Ticket revenue goes to Mellow Mushroom, not Media of Birmingham.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

W Social Marketing

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

Want to sponsor a MOB event? It’s easy.

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Joe O’Donnell to launch B-Metro magazine

Posted on October 7, 2009 by | 2 comments

b-metro magazine logoDoes Birmingham need another city lifestyle magazine? In addition to Birmingham Magazine, Portico, Thicket (which covers all of Alabama) and the recently launched online-only Pavo Magazine comes B-Metro.

Joe O’Donnell, who left Birmingham Magazine in July, plans to launch B-Metro in November with two colleagues who departed at the same time. (The Web site is live, but not yet finished.)

In an interview with the Birmingham News, he discusses his plans for the new publication:

“We’ll be publishing great writers and photographers, columnists, bloggers and everyday people who have something to say, information to share and insights into the richness and excitement of life in this seven-county region.”

MOBster André Natta will be one of the columnists in the new publication.

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Read more Birmingham media updates.

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The new look of Cooking Light and Southern Living

Posted on October 6, 2009 by | 6 comments

Two Birmingham-based Southern Progress magazines, Cooking Light and Southern Living, have rolled out major redesigns in the past month.

Cooking Light

cooking light september 2009 coverOur exclusive news on the changing editors at Cooking Light pulled in some strong comments about the magazine’s redesign, unveiled in September.

Cooking Light asked one blogger to review the new look, and give away a copy as well. Tina of Mommy’s Kitchen wrote, “Adding pictures to each recipe was a awesome idea on their part.” (The magazine asked for another blogger’s opinion.)

Emily at Cooking Inside the Lines also liked the redesign: “As a devout reader of Cooking Light magazine my message to the editorial staff is … I completely approve!”

But Emily Brackett at Visible Logic disagrees, saying the magazine “has taken a turn for the worse.”

Southern Living

southern living october 2009 coverThe Washington Post wrote about October’s makeover of Southern Living: “The redesigned October issue, which has pumpkin-shaped cakes on the cover and hits newsstands Sept. 29, is not a radical change.”

Editor in chief Eleanor Griffin tells Mr. Magazine, “I want to give them (readers) something pleasurable, I want to give them a memory, I want to give them an experience.”

Reaction on the magazine’s forum seems mixed so far.

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Have you seen the redesigns? What do you think? Tell us in the comments.

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Read more Birmingham media updates.

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More changes at the top for the Birmingham News

Posted on October 4, 2009 by | 3 comments

Publisher retires, but what’s next?

Back in August, we reported that Advance Publications gave oversight responsibilities for the Birmingham News to new president Ricky Mathews. It appears that may have precipitated the latest major shakeup at the News, with publisher Victor Hanson III retiring Dec. 1. No word yet as to who will be tapped to replace him.

Hanson, the fourth family member to serve as publisher, will retire at age 53 after 8 years at the top position. He’s not the only Advance publisher leaving: Fred A. Stickel of the Oregonian in Portland retired in September at age 87 after 35 years. (Hat tip Inside Out McwFlint.)

One definite ripple effect from Mathews’ hire is a lawsuit by former (Mobile) Press-Register publisher Howard Bronson against Advance:

Bronson said Newhouse officials in July 2009 reneged on a longstanding job security pledge for the paper’s employees and in August told him that he had two weeks to leave.

A message left with Mark Newhouse was not immediately returned.

Lagniappe, Mobile’s alternative newspaper, has more details on Bronson’s lawsuit.

Media of Birmingham broke the story about Advance’s ending of the no-layoffs policy, often called the Newhouse Pledge. A former Press-Register reporter offers his take on the pledge’s demise.

Who will take over the News, Alabama’s largest newspaper? And will the News and Press-Register begin layoffs in February when the pledge expires?

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EXCLUSIVE: Cooking Light’s editor steps down

Posted on September 11, 2009 by | 24 comments

Mary Kay Culpepper leaves; Scott Mowbray appointed as replacement

Mary Kay CulpepperScott MowbrayMedia of Birmingham has learned that editor Mary Kay Culpepper is leaving Cooking Light magazine on Oct. 1. Time Inc. executive vice president Sylvia Auton has named Health.com editor Scott Mowbray to replace her at the Southern Progress title.

Cooking Light, started in 1987, debuted a redesign this month created by Mowbray’s design team. The title is ranked No. 51 among U.S. magazines, and No. 7 among Time Inc. mags. Its ad revenue dropped 16 percent from the first half of 2008 to the first half of this year.

Culpepper has led the magazine since 2001 and has been at Southern Progress since 1986. Mowbray has previously served as editor of Popular Science magazine and managing editor of Time Inc. Custom Publishing.

Update: Culpepper says she will pursue a graduate degree in creativity studies at SUNY Buffalo starting in the spring.

Among editors at Birmingham-based Southern Progress, Southern Living’s Eleanor Griffin and Coastal Living’s Lindsay Bierman have been in place less than a year, and Health’s Ellen Kunes has been in place less than 3 years.

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September event: If You Were in Their Shoes

Posted on September 4, 2009 by | 3 comments

  • September event: If You Were in Their Shoes
  • Tuesday, Sept. 15
  • 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  • O Kafés, 2901 Second Ave S., Pepper Place, Lakeview [map]
  • Free

What’s wrong with your industry? And more importantly, if you were the boss, how would you fix it?

Now it’s up to you.

We’ll have four-person table discussions on how you would fix problems in your industry, whether it’s marketing, print journalism, TV news or anything else. Share, learn and take away some ideas for your boss.

[You can pick the topics and format in this quick survey!]

It’s the Media of Birmingham September networking mixer at O Kafés, at Pepper Place in Lakeview. Grab a beer or wine, and jump into a conversation.

  • 5:30-6: – Networking
  • 6-7:30: Table discussions

Invite your friends and colleagues in media (print, broadcast, online, etc.), public relations, advertising and marketing.

Note: You must RSVP for this event. Admission is free.

Please RSVP by Friday, Sept. 11, 5 p.m.

Reserve your spot

Special thanks to our sponsors, O Kafés and W Social Marketing.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

O Kafés, Birmingham, Alabama W Social Marketing

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

Want to sponsor a MOB event? It’s easy.

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Preview – September event

Posted on September 3, 2009 by | 1 comment

Our Sept. 15 MOB event will be “If You Were in Their Shoes.” We’ll have four-person table discussions on how you would fix problems in your industry, whether it’s marketing, print journalism, TV news or anything else.

To help us get ready, please take a short survey and let us know how to make the event worth your time.

We’ll post more details shortly. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

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What are attendees saying about MOB events?

Posted on September 3, 2009 by | Leave a comment

We usually survey attendees to find out what they like (and dislike) about our events.

Here are a few recent comments explaining why they (and you) drop by our monthly events.

• “I reconnected with old friends and made new ones. I also left with a few job leads.”

• “I’m usually very shy, but everyone at MOB made me feel at ease right away. I felt comfortable and welcome, and I had a great time!”

• “It put me in contact with people in my field and in adjacent fields.”

• “Casual, low-key way to meet new people in the industry.”

• “It is a great way to network and also see friends in a relaxed atmosphere.”

• “I met some new people.”

• “This was a fun event and it gave me a chance to network with professionals in my field.”

• “I enjoyed the opportunity to mingle with a few new faces in such a nice, open atmosphere.”

• “I met people I did not know as well as connected with ones I have not seen in a while.”

• “It was lovely to meet people in such a wonderful environment!”

Don’t miss out: Check out our next event and be sure to sign up for our mailing list.

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More hidden job listings revealed

Posted on August 31, 2009 by | Leave a comment

A tipster let us know that Jefferson State Community College’s Web site has up-to-date job listings for media positions. Check out the job board for this newly added resource.

• • •

Need a job? Check our job board.
Have a job to fill? Contact The MOB for your free listing.

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