Member News

Member publishers were sent a letter in July about Lake Group Media being appointed the list manager for the combined CRMA Subscriber List. Another letter was also sent requesting an updated tape of paid subscribers by Aug. 15. If you need a copy of either of these letters, call CRMA headquarters. And, just over $24,000 in proceeds was distributed to participating magazines.

CRMA extends deepest condolences to Betty Quadracci and her family, publishers of Milwaukee magazine (www.milwaukeemagazine.com), on the death of her husband. Harry V. Quadracci, 66, was found in Pine Lake near their home on July 29 after being reported missing earlier that day. Police have ruled the death an accidental drowning. He was president and founder of Quad Graphics, a major printer of American magazines. He began the company in 1971 in an abandoned factory in Pewaukee using a $35,000 second mortgage on his house and money raised from associates. Today, Quad Graphics has about $2 billion in annual sales, 14,000 employees and more than 15 plants on three continents. They print titles such as Newsweek, Playboy, National Geographic Traveler and US News & World Report. The Quadraccis were philanthropists, donating to educational, cultural and civic causes. An obituary and more details have been posted on the company's site: www.qg.com.

Chicago Tribune Co. has purchased Chicago magazine from Primedia, Inc. for $35 million in cash, bringing together the Windy City's leading monthly magazine with the Midwest's best-read newspaper. The magazine will operate independently with separate advertising and editorial staffs. Publisher John Carroll and Editor Richard Babcock are remaining. This sale brings Primedia to $220 million in sales of non-core assets of its targeted $250 million planned to reduce its debt. Primedia purchased Chicago magazine (www.chicagomag.com) from Landmark Communications for $9 million in May 1995.

One of the biggest benefits of CRMA membership is networking: The July/August issue of Evansville Living (www.evansvilleliving.com) carried the second annual Best of Evansville. In her column, Publisher Kristin Tucker explained how she got many tips on improving the program (preventing ballot stuffing, etc.) from her peers at CRMA's 26th Annual Conference in San Diego. CRMA Newsletter is going to start featuring examples of how members are benefiting from sharing and learning from one another. Please send examples of how CRMA membership has helped you to: bdortberg@aol.com. (See our new column, What's the Big Idea? in this issue.)

Going to the Publishers' Round Table Sept. 20-22 at Manteo Resort (www.manteo.com) in Kelowna, BC, Canada? The room cut-off to get CRMA's special rate of $169 (Canadian) single/double or $209 (Canadian) one-bedroom suite with king and double sofa is Monday, Aug. 19. Call 250/860-1031 or 800/443-5255. Just finalized, details on this meeting have been faxed and mailed to member publications, as well as posted online: www.citymag.org.

Rhode Island Monthly (www.rimonthly.com) has been awarded the state tourism fulfillment publication contract.

Total magazine advertising revenue for June increased 6.1% compared to June 2001, closing at $1.4 billion, according to Publishers Information Bureau (www.magazine.org/pib). Ad pages for June totaled 18,905, down 1.2% from last year. Year-to-date, advertising revenue closed at $7.7 billion, a decrease of 1.6%, and ad pages were 105,830, down 9.9% from the same period last year.

Joe Chiodo, associate publisher of Sacramento magazine (www.sacmag.com), will be the chair of the advertising track of CRMA's 27th Annual Conference in Philadelphia in May 2003. He is asking members to give him topic and speaker suggestions for advertising sessions and sales training workshops (jchiodo@sacmag.com). John Palumbo will be overall conference chair--contact him at: jpalumbo@rimonthly.com.

Magazine Publishers of America and Mediamark Research, Inc. have formed a partnership to encourage use of electronic media kits and of the MRI+ electronic media kit information system by publishers and planners. The purpose is a faster, more effective delivery system to clients. MRI has experience with putting media kits in a database. For information, call Director Bob Warrens (212/884-9218). MPA and American Society of Magazine Editors will feature industry leaders and newsmakers at the 2002 American Magazine Conference Oct. 20-23 at Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix. Several sponsors are CRMA associate members (i.e., BPA, RR Donnelley & Sons, DeSilva & Phillips, MRI and Quebecor World). For details, visit: www.magazine.org.

Aiko Masazumi, creative director of Westchester (www.westchestermagazine.com), recently gave birth to Robert Kyle Carbone, 7 pounds and 12 ounces.

According to AP reports, a study by the Readership Institute at Northwestern University's Media Management Center revealed that readers want hometown publications they can personally connect with, rather than national titles. The Institute is made up of the American Society of Newspaper Editors www.asne.org and the Newspaper Association of America www.naa.org . Study results encourage local publications to build brand loyalty. This study shows that CRMA member publications are more valuable to their readers than national titles. City and regional magazines are better equipped to deal with local issues.

Grand Rapids magazine (www.grmag.com) will mark its 40th year of publishing in 2003.

According to the Center for Media Research, Baby Boomers who turn 50 (which include 17 million in the next four years) develop a new set of values and self images that affect how they act and spend. They are expected to be a $1 trillion market by 2005. This item came from Publisher Bernie Reeves of Metro magazine (www.metronc.com), Raleigh, NC, who urges CRMA members to focus on this 37% of the market.

Delaware Today (www.delawaretoday.com) received more than 1,000 ballots for its 19th annual Best of Delaware poll.

Emmis Communications (www.emmis.com), parent company to several CRMA member magazines, just retained Ernst & Young LLP as its independent auditor. For the past eight years, Emmis has been with Arthur Andersen, whose Indianapolis practice has been acquired by Ernst & Young.

According to a study by the online market research firm InsightExpress, readers prefer paper publications over cyber versions. Almost 50% of 500 surveyed dislike online banner ads, pop-ups and other distractions. Inconvenience, eye strain and the inability to take the material with them were other deterrents to online publications, according to the firm (www.insightexpress.com).