writenews.com
|
Monday, March 8, 1999 Adweek Names Nation's 'Hottest Magazines' in Annual Report Adweek has announced the magazine Hot List. Topping this list is In Style, the fast-growing celebrity lifestyle book from Time Inc. Fast Company, the business publication for the new economy, wins distinction at the head of a companion list, the top ten magazines with ad page revenue under $30 million. Both lists appear in Adweek's special magazine issue out on Monday (March 8). Both the lists include a fair number of shelter magazines, including Architectural Digest and Conde Nast House & Garden. Noting how the list is as much a reflection of the culture as it is the trends in publishing, Adweek editor-in-chief Sid Holt attributes the popularity of shelter books to the interests of Baby Boomers. He says the appearance of Bon Appetit, Family Fun and Family Life in the mix are also Boomer lifestyle indicators. "Shelter's been hot for a while, given the good economy allowing people to buy and remodel homes," he says. "It's natural that Bon Appetit, which is about home entertainment, would also be popular. The Epicurean books are becoming as much about lifestyle as about recipes. And as far as the family books go, there's a bulge of boomers with kids over five; these magazines give readers, beyond learning about parenting, creative ideas for travel, recreation, crafts and cooking with their kids." The top ten publications are: 1. In Style, 2. Bon Appetit, 3. Architectural Digest, 4. Martha Stewart Living, 5. Family Fun, 6. Vibe, 7. Fortune, 8. Men's Journal, 9. Marie Claire and 10. Fitness. And in the top ten magazines with ad revenues under $30 million: 1. Fast Company (startup of the year for 1996), 2. The Source, 3. Yahoo! Internet Life, 4. Conde Nast House and Garden, 5. This Old House, 6. Sporting News, 7. Family Life, 8. Weight Watchers, 9. Mirabella and 10. P.O.V. An annual tradition at the magazine since 1980, the ranking is made by examining each magazine's advertising and circulation performance, its individual showing within its category, interviews with media buyers and consultants, and Adweek's editorial judgment. Holt says the list this year isn't just a reflection of Boomers approaching middle age. The placing of Vibe and The Source, he says, is evidence of hip-hop culture's growing acceptance and respect in the mainstream (as if the number of Grammy Awards Lauryn Hill won recently weren't enough of a clue). And to all those magazine watchers reporting the "Maxim-ization" of men's magazines since Maxim editor Mark Golin was tapped for the top slot of Details, Holt points out the vast difference between Maxim and the two men's titles on the Hot List -- P.O.V. and Men's Journal. The category, he says, is hardly homogenized. However, the impressive performance of Maxim has inspired Adweek to name Golin editor of the year. A profile of him turns up some unexpected details about the wise-cracking mastermind behind the preeminent "guy" magazine known for its photos of scantily-clad female celebrities and collegiate humor. Among his many interests are medieval history, quantum physics, and the violin, which he played in an alternative rock band called Zen for Primates. Ann Moore of The People Group at Time wins Executive of the Year. Moore oversaw the launch in 1994 of In Style, this year's Hottest Magazine of the Year. In 1998, she was the mastermind behind the incredible success of new spinoffs Teen People and People en Espanol (a Spanish-language version of People) while handling the reins of a billion-dollar enterprise that shows no sign of letting up. Startup of the Year goes to ESPN magazine. "It quickly captured an elusive demographic -- young males," Holt says of the magazine. "It also shook up a stodgy category: Sports Illustrated, the category leader, underwent a partial redesign, and others remade themselves. Another title folded. In a crowded category, with loyal fans, ESPN has broken through and brought new life to the sports titles." Children's Television Workshop and Kidsbooks Inc. to Publish Interactive Cloth Books Children's Television Workshop (CTW) and Kidsbooks Inc. will develop and publish Sesame Street interactive cloth books, announced Nina Link, CTW group president, publishing and new media, and Kevin Murphy, Kidsbooks president. Distributed through trade and mass market stores, catalogs and book clubs, the six to eight-page books will be targeted for babies and toddlers. Each cloth page will feature interactive devices, such as zippers, buttons, and lift-the-flaps, as well as textured fabrics and other kid-friendly materials. The books will be packaged in a soft plastic carrying case. "We are thrilled to be working with the industry leader in interactive cloth books especially as CTW looks to extend its brand into additional markets," said Link. "Families recognize and appreciate Kidsbooks' quality educational and entertaining products. We are proud to partner with them and be able to offer this unique selection to our youngest fans." The first two of the 10-book selection will feature one of Sesame Street's favorite characters, Elmo, and will debut in Fall 1999. Children's Television Workshop is a not-for-profit company using media to educate and entertain children and families worldwide. Founded in 1987, Kidsbooks creates, publishes, and distributes educational fiction and non-fiction books to retailers, schools, direct marketers and special markets. Formats include both hard and softcover, board, cloth, lift-a-flap and pop-up. Paul V. Miller Named Associate Publisher of Internet World Print Publication Penton Media, Inc. has announced that Paul V. Miller has joined the company as Associate Publisher of the company's Internet World print publication. Miller joins Penton from Miller Freeman's Dr. Dobb's Journal (DDJ) where he most recently was Sales Director/West, based in San Mateo, CA. Miller joined DDJ in 1992 as Northern California Account Manager. Between 1988 and 1992, Miller was Senior Account Representative for Business Systems and Forms, San Carlos, CA., a value added reseller of IBM and compatible systems, networks, software and peripherals, where he led the company with the highest sales for 1991. A native of Philadelphia, Miller earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Colorado. He will work from the Internet World offices in Burlingame, CA and will report to Publishing Director Thomas M. Kuczynski. The Wright Group Acquires Mimosa Publications, Australia-Based Education Publishing Company The Wright Group, a publisher of supplemental language arts materials, has acquired Mimosa Publications, an education publishing company based in Melbourne, Australia. Mimosa publishes reading and language arts, mathematics, science and English Language Teaching (ELT) materials for school markets in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Asia. Managing directors John Gilder and Sue Donovan will continue with Mimosa, focusing on product development/publishing and international expansion. The Wright Group, based in Bothell, Wash., is a business unit of Tribune Education Company. "The acquisition of Mimosa enhances international revenue opportunities and adds to our content development capabilities," said James E. Cushing, Jr., president and CEO of The Wright Group. "We expect Mimosa's mathematics products to be especially successful in the U.K. because the materials meet the curriculum guidelines of the Numeracy Project, a government-funded initiative to improve students' math skills." Netscape and SportsLine USA Provide NCAA College Basketball Coverage Netscape Communications Corporation has announced that it will offer comprehensive coverage of the 1999 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament through its relationship with SportsLine USA on the Netscape Netcenter portal site. Netscape will offer March Mayhem content including game coverage, tournament scores, team statistics, rankings, feature stories and related information provided by SportsLine USA to fans of the annual college basketball tournament via the recently-launched Netscape Sports Channel. In addition, Netscape and SportsLine USA will launch the Netscape March Mayhem Bracket Contest on Netscape Netcenter. Beginning Sunday evening, March 7, fans can go to the Netscape March Mayhem Bracket Contest link on the Netscape Sports Channel and pick who they think will win the 1999 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament. The grand prize-winner will receive US $1000, and additional cash prizes will be awarded to the four runners-up. "Netscape offers college basketball fans a chance to get complete NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament coverage from the Netscape Sports Channel," said Jerrell Jimerson, vice president of consumer, business and finance programming for Netscape Netcenter. "Fans can keep up-to-date with the latest NCAA basketball scores, feature stories and information from Netscape Netcenter, the one stop destination for the latest in sports." Click here to return to the homepage of The Write NewsTM Click here to subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter.  www.writenews.com Copyright © 1997-2011 by Writers Write, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
