The Glossy Lip! by Mastheads.org

Time Inc. Media Group Prez Leaving on March 5th [Feb. 28]

Time Inc. Media Group president Robin Domeniconi will leave her post on Monday, Mar. 5th in order to get back to her passion for brand-building.

From today's WWD's Memopad:

"Another high-level executive is leaving the halls of Time Inc. Robin Domeniconi, who was promoted to Time Inc. Media Group president in December 2005 after a successful run as president and publisher of Real Simple, will leave her post March 5. Her exit comes only a month after Nora McAniff, whom chief executive Ann Moore promoted to co-chief operating officer at the same time Domeniconi was elevated, left her post for personal reasons. Neither departure is related to the layoffs at Time Inc., which will affect 289 positions. Domeniconi said she wanted to go back to building brands, which was not something a corporate job allowed. Her next move, she said, was to be determined. "We shall assume that my next job will be with a brand that I have a passion for. That's not necessarily in the publishing world," she said, though she did say she was in talks with Time Inc. and Time Warner, as well as other non-publishing companies.

Replacing Domeniconi will be Wayne Powers, president of Time Inc. Media Networks Inc. and Targeted Media. [Stephanie D. Smith]"

Staff Change at Ebony [Feb. 28]

Aldore Collier has left his role as west coast editor for Johnson Publishing where he contributed to Ebony & Jet.

View all editorial & business contacts at Ebony >>

View all editorial & business contacts at Jet >>

We've Added Preen Magazine to the Directory [Feb. 28]

New masthead alert! Preen joins the directory, that new fashion-y mag with a distinct teen spirit feel. The editors describe their pub:

"Preen is a new fashion, arts, lifestyle bi-monthly magazine for the young independent woman that has a curatorial eye for the world around her. Find the fantastic in your everyday life ... "

Wanna contact the Huntington Beach girls behind this new title? Click here to view the masthead >>

P.S. We're posting a more thorough review and Q&A with these editors on Monday.

Vogue's ALT Blamed for Oscar Disaster [Feb. 28]

Poor Andre... everyone is talking about the hideousness of JHud's gold python bolero that she (apparently) didn't want to wear. We can't blame Andre for being Andre. Why does everyone think they can tell American Idol rejects what to do!

Well, at least Hud learned a very valuable lesson early in her career. Don't let editors boss you around, girl.

From ContactMusic:

"...Andre Leon Talley guided the new star through the awards season, helping style her for her major appearances after the success of DREAMGIRLS. Hudson wore a brown OSCAR DE LA RENTA gown for the Academy Awards ceremony and added a metallic gold bolero jacket to walk the red carpet. But the star was slammed for her appearance and admitted on US morning show TODAY that she would have selected a different outfit. A source tells PageSix.com, "Jennifer was kind of sponsored by Talley and Vogue. Andre insisted she wear that hideous Oscar De La Renta dress with the awful, awful gold python bolero. "Jennifer really didn't want to, and so (celebrity stylist) JESSICA PASTER got her a beautiful gold ROBERTO CAVALLI (gown) custom-made. But when Andre found out, he went ballistic. "Moments before she left for the show, there was a power struggle and Jennifer ended up putting his outfit on." Although she didn't score on the red carpet, Hudson did take home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

New Republic's Editor in Chief Sells His Share of the Magazine [Feb. 28]

More New Republic dish from the NY Times:

Martin Peretz, who has been a part owner of The New Republic for more than three decades, has given up his share of the magazine, selling his interest to CanWest Global Communications, which now assumes full control. Mr. Peretz is to remain as editor in chief.

CanWest, which bought a 30 percent interest in the magazine last year, announced yesterday that a subsidiary, CanWest Media Works International, had acquired a 100 percent interest in The New Republic. Terms were not announced.

New Republic editors and CanWest executives said last week that the company had bought out Roger Hertog and Michael Steinhardt, two financial backers, but Mr. Peretz still owned about a quarter interest. Not until yesterday did the company announce that it had assumed full control and that Mr. Peretz was no longer a financial partner.

“Things weren’t clear and they became clear,” Mr. Peretz said yesterday. “I’m 68 years old, almost, and I’ve been doing this for 33 years.”

He added: “I think it’s very good for the magazine.”

The investment will help the magazine, he said, because small publications like his “are finding it hard to meet the demands of the marketplace.”

CanWest has said that it will cut back publication of the magazine from weekly to every two weeks while doubling the number of pages. A redesigned version is to be released March 19 and the Web site will be overhauled as well.

Tom Strike, president of CanWest MediaWorks International, said in a statement yesterday: “In today’s media environment, we need to place a priority on delivering quality content to readers when, where and how they want it. The New Republic is well positioned to do just that.”

150 Magazine Digital Initiatives in 2006 - [Feb. 28]

From a Press Release from the MPA:

MPA Identifies More than 150 Magazine Digital Initiatives in 2006

One hundred and fifty-five Magazine Digital Initiatives were announced in 2006, according to research conducted by Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) and released today at MPA’s third “Magazines 24/7” Digital Conference.

Among the new initiatives identified in 2006 were many innovations that capitalized on community building, video, and user-generated content.  Three MPA members—Hearst, Meredith Corp. and Time Inc.—have announced the creation of in-house production companies dedicated to the creation of video and web applications for their magazine. In 2006, MPA members introduced online social networks, enabled user-generated content, and introduced more blogs, mobile applications, podcasts, and video content for websites and cell phones, reaching and serving their readers across all emerging digital channels. 

“For content creators and content brand managers working for magazines, these are exhilarating times,” said MPA President Nina Link in her opening remarks at the “Magazines 24/7” conference held at the CUNY Graduate Center.  “We’re witnessing an unprecedented burst of creative energy.”

MPA members who announced digital initiatives in 2006 include:

BusinessWeek: Exclusive online content, mobile edition for PDAs and cell phones, online business school rankings, multiplatform distribution of rich media and video content.

Condé Nast: Online film festival, user-generated content on websites, interactive dating blogs, online video series, online radio station, bridal sites with virtual fitting rooms, PDA-enabled editions with mobile sites, and text shopping/buying from cell phones.

Dennis Publishing: Developed an ecommerce section, RSS feeds, mobile-issues, co-branded AOL radio station.

Forbes:  branded travel website, online video network upgrades, branded email accounts, RSS feeds, mobile content.

Guns & Ammo: Video library, online community.

Hachette Filipacchi: Launched magazine brands on free mobile sites, exclusive online content, daily blogs, virtual test drives of cars.

Hearst: Formed a digital applications and technology lab for its magazine brands, online contests, public awareness campaigns on MySpace, video content, podcasting, mobile content.

Martha Stewart Living: Branded online photo products, improved search functions, increased original content, and created a social community web network.

Meredith: Formed video creation unit for magazine brands.

National Geographic Magazine:  Posting short time-lapse film of four-hour heart replacement procedure that was a cover story package.

New York Magazine: Daily online Fashion Week coverage.

Newsweek: Online business degree program, launched a political blog, mobile editions.

Rodale: Online music, online video, mobile-enabled exercise tracking tools, new online editorial team.

The Knot: Acquired weddingchannel.com.

The New Yorker: Collected 80 years of the magazine on a branded limited edition hard drive.

Time Inc. Online guru guides, acquired social networks, downloadable sports tickers, sports tracking applications, special swimsuit issue website, mobile content series, several new blogs, upgraded social networking functions on its websites.

Time Out New York:  Launched a broadband video channel. 

TV Guide: Interactive program guides online, online network with over 65 entertainment blogs, mobile “On-Demand” version of TV Guide channel, new search engine for online video, branded Internet browsers for cell phones.

Information about Magazine Digital Initiatives is posted on the Magazine Digital Initiatives section of the MPA website.  The section offers a comprehensive and detailed list of new products and platforms for consumer magazines. The list is updated weekly and features detailed information with links to press releases and articles where available.

MPA consistently tracks these digital developments to benefit advertisers, publishers and readers. The Magazine Digital Initiatives section provides a concise, unfolding chronology of the exciting new evolution of print magazine brands online and beyond. Advertisers often seek the latest information about digital initiatives in order to place advertising across the growing online platforms of magazine brands. Publishers look for news on the developing trends in online expansion and new digital products created by magazines. Consumers search the Magazine Digital Initiatives section to see what new Web 2.0 products, video content, online networks, podcasts, and websites are being offered by their favorite magazines.

MPA’s Magazine Digital Initiatives is compiled by the association’s Information Services Department, which collects information from a variety of sources and press releases including Advertising Age; Adweek; Business Wire Inc.; eMediawire.com; I-Newswire.com; MIN, the Media Industry Newsletter; MediaPost Communications; Mediaweek; The New York Times; PR Web; Women’s Wear Daily.

CanWest buys New Republic [Feb. 28]

According to Reuters:

TORONTO (Reuters) - CanWest Global Communications Corp., Canada's biggest media company, has bought complete ownership of The New Republic, the 93-year-old U.S. political magazine, it said on Tuesday.

CanWest, which owns a chain of Canadian daily newspapers and has radio and television operations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, did not disclose the purchase price. It already owned 30 percent of the magazine after buying the stake last year.

Winnipeg, Manitoba-based CanWest said The New Republic and its Web site are "currently undergoing a major overhaul," including changes to how often it publishes, bigger issues and a redesign.

It said that Greg MacNeil is acting as interim publisher while Marty Peretz will continue as the magazine's editor-in-chief.

Outdoor Photographer: Added to the Mastheads Directory [Feb. 27]

We've added Outdoor Photographer to the masthead directory!

Click here for all editorial & business contacts at the pub >>

Nylon: Staff Changes on the Masthead [Feb. 27]

Mariah LeBlanc climbes on board as marketing & communications manager. Chris Bletzer's title is changed from corporate advertising manager to senior advertising manager.

Click here for all editorial & business contacts at Nylon >>

Teen Mag Publishers Eye Web Expansion [Feb. 27]

Tony Case of MediaWeek fleshes out some hot topics on teen mags and their move to the web.

"... these have not been carefree times for the teen market, though. Last year, two titles, Time Inc.’s Teen People and Hachette Filipacchi Media’s Elle Girl, were killed off (but live on online). The remaining three, including Condé Nast’s wildly successful spinoff Teen Vogue, are duking it out for a finite number of health/beauty and fashion ads, even though Teen Vogue does continue to mine gold from luxury accounts."

Read the full article from MediaWeek here >>