FOLIO: Personalities -- The Blog People Page

The recent string of foldings in the niche music magazine arena (Harp, No Depression, Mass Appeal et al) begs the question: How much space exists in the marketplace for these titles? The answer, as it is in any magazine category, is not clear cut and needs to be examined on a case-by-case basis.

Niche titles that have passionate and loyal readerships can absolutely thrive if they are able to leverage their strengths (i.e. targeted, influential readers, specific edi More...

What ever happened to the idea that a good captain always goes down with his ship? Or in this case, his magazine? The doom and gloom surrounding the magazine/print business is scaring very talented publishing professionals away from the industry altogether. They are, in droves, flocking to anything that has the word “digital” attached to it—it’s truly starting to feel like 1999’s dot-com migration, at least some level, all over again.

What about standing and fighting? I wonder if that thought has occurred at all, or if these individuals have become so disenchanted with the print business that they have just thrown up their hands. More...

Recently, I had the task of finding a new top editor for The Fader magazine and Web site. Being a very targeted and specific editorial property, it is never an easy job to find an editor that meets all of our so-called "requirements," which are many and include (but are not limited to) writing/editing skills, vast knowledge and experience covering underground and emerging music of all genres, ability to work in a collaborative editorial environment and a multi-dimensional background not strictly limited to writing and editing. The la More...

Recently, I had to hire a position I've never hired before—project manager—someone with skills to do just about anything. This includes anything from clearing music, to sourcing raincoats in Africa, from finding underground rock venues in Baltimore to overseeing and managing the creation of a custom micro-site.

The print industry has been turned on its head and, as most of us know, publishers/magazines now have to deliver way more than the good old-fashioned ad page schedule and accompanying cookie-cutter value-added program—that just won't cut it any longer.

Over the past few years the entire game has changed and the only w More...