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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July event: Rogues and twits unite

Posted on July 14, 2009 by | 6 comments

Rogue Tavern

  • July mixer: Rogues and twits unite
  • Tuesday, July 21
  • 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  • Rogue Tavern, 2312 Second Ave. N., downtown [map]
  • Free

Maybe you’re a rogue. Maybe you’re a twit. Maybe you’re just a media professional looking to connect.

Join us downtown at the new Rogue Tavern any time between 5:30 and 7 p.m. Invite your friends and colleagues in media (print, broadcast, online, etc.), public relations, advertising and marketing.

Happy hour specials? Yes.

High-gravity beers? Yes.

Food? If you buy it, sure.

Is there an e-vite? No.

Is there a twtvite? Yes. So if you’re on Twitter, feel free to RSVP on the official Twtvite and let your Twitter friends know.

(But no RSVP required for this event. But if we know you’re coming, you get a shiny pre-printed name badge! Leave a comment to RSVP.)

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

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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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.

Read more Birmingham media updates.

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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.]

• • •

• 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]

• • •

• 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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BABJ workshop: Surviving the New Realities of the News Business

Posted on June 24, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Birmingham Association of Black Journalists

Surviving the New Realities of the News Business

Open to everyone interested in the media business. Portion of proceeds go to BABJ Scholarship Fund. Sponsored by the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists.

With all the turmoil in the media, you need to know to survive?  This special half-day session gives you some answers.

It will take a hard look at what’s happening in the media business and why; offer advice from people who know on how to reinvent yourself; and give you practical tips on how to start your own business if you no longer want to work for a company that may be forced to lay you off.

In addition to getting the real deal from people who have been there, you’ll also get a chance to share best practices with each other.

  • When: Saturday, June 27
  • Where: The Birmingham News, 2201 Fourth Ave. N. [map]
  • Cost: $15, includes continental breakfast and box lunch.
  • Register by today, June 24, or notify Vickii Howell by e-mailing editor[at]birminghamview.com by June 25.
  • For more information, e-mail Willie Chriesman at willie[at]chriesman.com.

Schedule
9–9:30 a.m.: Registration
9:30–10:20: Opening Panel–The State of the Industry

  • Gene Kirkconnell, GM, NBC 13
  • André Natta, Internet entrepreneur
  • Scott Mauldin, Former NBC 13 Reporter
  • George Daniels, Assistant journalism professor, University of Alabama
  • Nichele Hoskins, Heart & Soul Magazine, former senior editor at Southern Progress Corp.

10:30–11:20: Reinventing Yourself for the New World of Media

  • André Natta, Internet entrepreneur
  • Atticus Rominger, Former Fox 6 reporter
  • Marie Sutton, Former Birmingham News reporter

11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.: Going Out on Your Own

  • Edith Ingram, Central Alabama Women’s Business Center
  • Malena Cunningham, former NBC 13 anchor
  • Vickii Howell, former Birmingham News reporter
  • Scott Mauldin, Former NBC 13 Reporter

12:30–1: Lunch/Networking

Event info on the BABJ site.

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