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Tuesday, March 9, 1999 Media Cynic | Forum | Advertising | Classifieds | Jobs Garden.com Launches Print Magazine Garden.com, a retailer of gardening products, information and services, as announced Garden Escape. Showing up on newsstands today, Garden Escape includes seasonally inspired editorial and design. The plants and products mentioned within the magazine's articles will be available for sale via the company's website and its 1-800 number. Primedia handles all the production and distribution of Garden Escape Magazine. "Garden Escape Magazine provides Garden.com with a unique chance to integrate our interactive web site with a graphically rich companion print piece that's portable and available nationally," remarked Cliff Sharples, CEO and president of Garden.com. "We're thrilled to have such a well-respected publishing partner and are extremely proud of the finished product." Content for the magazine was developed by Garden.com's own publishing team of experienced gardening book and magazine editors and writers, including editor-in-chief, Doug Jimerson who spent 20 years at Meredith Corporation shaping such publications as Better Homes and Gardens, Country Gardens and Home Garden. "Garden Escape Magazine is really meant to close the gap between inspiration and practical application in your own backyard," said Doug Jimerson, editor-in-chief of Garden.com and Garden Escape Magazine. Judith M. Curr Named President and Publisher of Pocket Books Judith M. Curr has been appointed President and Publisher of Pocket Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, Inc., effective April 12. The announcement was made today by Jack Romanos, President and Chief Operating Officer of Simon & Schuster, to whom Ms. Curr will report. In her new position, Ms. Curr will be responsible for all the editorial, marketing, and sales functions of Pocket Books. She will also be a member of Simon and Schuster's Executive Committee. Pocket Books and its imprints include MTV Books, Pocket Star, Archway and Minstrel Paperbacks for young readers, Star Trek, Washington Square Press and Sonnet Books. Ms. Curr joins Pocket Books from the Ballantine Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc, where she has been Senior Vice President and Publisher since 1997. In that position, she oversaw the activities of many of its imprints, including Ballantine, Fawcett, Ivy, One World, and House of Collectibles. "Judith Curr is truly one of the bright lights of today's publishing world," said Mr. Romanos. "Over the course of her career, she has shown not only an ability to publish successfully and effectively on a day-to-day and season-to-season basis, but also demonstrated a strategic vision for leading companies to new levels of accomplishment. There is no better person to grow this company through expanded hardcover and trade paperback publishing, as well as building on its mass market strengths." Ms. Curr commented: "The opportunity to lead Pocket Books is irresistible. It is one of the true brand names of the industry, with a great history, a rich tradition, and an ability to anticipate and respond to the marketplace in an instant. I look forward to working with the talented professionals who are already there to find creative and innovative ways to tackle the many challenges of today's publishing world." Ms. Curr arrived in the United States in 1996 as Senior Vice President and Editor in Chief of the Ballantine Publishing Group. She began her publishing career in her native Australia, where she was a member of the original team that founded Transworld Pty in 1981, the Australian subsidiary of Bantam Doubleday Dell, and was initially responsible for publicity and marketing. Promoted to Publisher and Executive Director in 1986, she oversaw publication of an international list of titles, and created a successful local publishing list in Australia, consisting of both international and Australian authors. Korbel Searches for the Ultimate Millennium Toast Korbel Champagne Cellars knows that consumers will have many personal and public occasions to celebrate throughout the year. To get people thinking about what they'll be toasting for the next Millennium, Korbel is seeking entries (where legal) in the "Korbel Champagne Ultimate Millennium Toast Contest." The grand prize: a trip for two to New York's Times Square for the Millennium celebration on December 31, 1999. Contestants need to write an original toast of 50 words or less to be judged on originality, creativity, sentiment and eloquence. The Millennium-sized prize to New York's Times Square includes coach class round-trip airfare for two on Delta Air Lines, double occupancy accommodations at the DoubleTree Guest Suites - New York City for four nights, two invitations to the Times Square 2000 celebration, $1,000 spending money, and a gown and tuxedo from Nicole Miller. Korbel plans to select the winning toast in November, 1999. For a complete set of contest rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The "Korbel Champagne Ultimate Millennium Toast Contest," 200 East Randolph Drive--Suite 6300, Chicago, IL 60601 or call 1 (800) 7 KORBEL. The contest is not valid in California or Texas. Entries must be postmarked no later than October 15, 1999. "As part of America's celebrations for the last 115 years, Korbel has been there during those special occasions when people raise their glasses - whether it's an engagement, anniversary or promotion or celebrating a historic event," said Gary Heck, President and Chairman, Korbel Champagne Cellars. "And we want to hear from people across the nation how they plan to toast this momentous occasion." Global Finance magazine Names New Editor and Publisher In a reorganization of key positions at Global Finance magazine, Joseph D. Giarraputo, president, has named Kathryn L. Hanes editor and Ernest S. McCrary publisher of the business and financial monthly. Until now, Hanes has been the magazine's European editor and McCrary has been executive editor and head of special projects for Global Finance. "These shifts bring new ideas and strengths to our key editorial and marketing positions," says Giarraputo. "We see Kathryn as a future superstar editor. A 27-year-old Australian who has already worked for us in Hongkong and London, she brings a unique international perspective to the magazine. Over the past two years Ernie McCrary has refined our Special Reports coverage and developed business worldwide. In many ways this is the strongest and most diverse edit/marketing team we have had since our launch 12 years ago." Hanes joined Global Finance in 1997 as bureau chief in Hongkong, responsible for Asian news coverage. Last year she was named European bureau chief in London. She began her reporting career ten years ago with the Murdoch group's News Corp. in Sydney. She later served as the founding editor of the first English-language newspaper in Laos, the Vientiane Times, and worked for business publications in Hongkong. For six months in 1992, Hanes was a crew member and reporter on board the Australian tall ship Young Endeavor for its circumnavigation of the world. Global Finance magazine covers key events and trends affecting companies and financial institutions that do business globally. It has more than 300,000 readers among senior corporate executives, bankers, money managers, and government policy makers in 185 countries. Global Finance is part of the Milan-based Class Editori group. IDG Games Media Group Announces GameProWorld Online IDG Games Media Group, publisher of GamePro magazine has announced the planned launch of an interactive entertainment Web portal called GameProWorld.com on May 13, 1999. A recent survey of GamePro and PC Games readers, conducted by MediaMark Research Inc., indicated that multiplatform gamers are accessing the Web in far greater numbers and are spending more time online than ever before. The surveys also showed that while video and PC gaming sites were gamers favorites, they also visit entertainment, sports and music sites in great numbers -- confirming the demand for a comprehensive and integrated interactive entertainment site. "GameProWorld.com will be the first and only site on the Web to deliver this unique information to such a powerful and targeted demographic segment of multiplatform gaming enthusiasts," said Cynthia C. Sandor, Senior Vice President of IDG Games Media Group's Internet Division. "Our dedicated editorial team will support the super-site with the same high quality content that made GamePro magazine the 5th largest male teen magazine in the country." The GameProWorld portal will deliver gaming news, reviews and previews for each of the major gaming platforms, initially via four primary channels: GamePro.com will keep video gamers up-to-speed; PCGamePro.com will provide gaming insight; MacGamePro.com, a new channel, will be dedicated to the growing number of Mac gaming enthusiasts; and NetPro.com will guide consumers to entertainment and lifestyle sites on the Web. In order to focus its resources on these aggressive online initiatives, IDG Games Media Group has sold its PC Games magazine subscriber file to Imagine Media Inc., of Brisbane, Calif. IDG Games Media Group will cease publication of PC Games with the April 1999 issue. The majority of the PC Games staff will continue to be employed by the IDG Games Media Group in the Internet Division. "Our coverage of the PC gaming market will now be on the Web in the form of PCGamePro.com and in print via PC GamePro, a supplement to GamePro magazine," said John F. Rousseau, president and CEO of the IDG Games Media Group, and publisher of GamePro magazine. "The continued consolidation of PC gaming companies, together with increasing competition from alternative media, make the opportunities for us online very clear. GameProWorld.com will provide exactly the kind of interactive advertising vehicles our customers have been looking for." Imagine Media, Inc. Announces Acquisition of PC Games Magazine From IDG Imagine Media has announced the purchase of PC Games Magazine from IDG Games Media Group of San Mateo, Calif. in a move that expands its extensive reach in the computer games magazine market. Most PC Games subscribers will be added to the circulation of PC Gamer. Those PC Games subscribers already receiving PC Gamer will be added to PC Accelerator. "Imagine is the clear market leader in the PC games magazine arena. PC Gamer is the biggest-selling PC games magazine in the world and PC Accelerator is growing at an astonishing rate," commented Jonathan Simpson-Bint, president of Imagine Media's Entertainment Division. "By acquiring the subscribers of PC Games, we're able to further develop the readership of both of these incredible properties. This is another example of how Imagine continues to offer unrivaled reach and value to our advertising partners." Acclaim Enters into Publishing Agreement with Former Members of Diablo Development Team Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. announced that they have signed a publishing deal with San Francisco-based game developer Click Entertainment. Under the agreement, Click will develop a samurai-inspired action role-playing game (RPG) for the PC to be published by Acclaim in Spring 2000. Formed in 1997, Click Entertainment is staffed by industry veterans and is led by Doron Gartner and Ben Haas, both key members of the development team behind Blizzard Entertainment's critically acclaimed game Diablo. One of the best-selling games of 1997 and 1998, Diablo was widely recognized as the role-playing game of the year by the gaming industry. It won numerous accolades, including the "Game of the Year" award from Computer Gaming World and received an "Editor's Choice" award from PC Gamer. "Working with Click advances our growing status as a leading PC games publisher," said Don Jackson, PC Product Manager, Acclaim Entertainment. "The deal demonstrates our commitment to working with the top developers in the industry to create compelling new titles that PC gamers will love." Click's first game with Acclaim will be an action-style RPG title inspired by samurai lore and movies like Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood and Sanjuro. Due in early 2000, the game will put players in the role of seven samurai warriors, each with his own special skill, tasked to defend their land from evil forces. 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 © 1997-2010 by Writers Write, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
