CMC and Magazines Canada bailing from Magazines University

It was not exactly a thunderclap, but some people will be shocked now that it has been made official. In an e-mail to members on the very eve of Magazines University 2006, the Circulation Management Association of Canada (CMC) executive and board has announced that it will be its last. It is joining the decamping Magazines Canada in a wholly new event beginning in 2007.

There should be some talk in the corridors at the Old Mill this week.

The e-mail, signed by the CMC President, Ron Sellwood and the entire board, confirms what has been known, but not announced widely -- that Magazines University, as it has been known for more than a decade, is going to change drastically. Essentially, CMC was faced with a choice between two proposals: from Masthead magazine to continue partnering with them (and without Magazines Canada); and from Magazines Canada to partner with them in the new event. CMC has chosen the latter.

Magazines University has in recent years been an uneasy alliance, including Masthead, Magazines Canada, Canadian Business Press and CMC (plus a smaller role played by the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors (CSME)). Magazines Canada has made it clear that it was dissatisfied with the structure and the outcomes, feeling that it is expensive, doesn't meet the needs of many of its members and that MC's influence in the event is not proportionate to its contribution. A few years ago, Magazines Canada attempted to leave and was caught in a storm of criticism. It stayed, with an avowed view to negotiating changes in the structure.

But, two years ago, Magazines Canada gave notice to its partners that, one way or another, it would be running its own event in the spring of 2007. Now it will be joined by CMC, leaving the Canadian Business Press and North Island Publishing (Masthead and Design Edge) to decide what do do next.

Here is the text of the June 5 CMC message to its members:

To the CMC Membership:

Two years ago Magazines Canada gave the industry notice that 2005 and 2006 were the last years they would be participating in Magazines University at The Old Mill. The CMC Board was aware of this decision. So were the other partners of Magazines University.

Recently, the CMC Board made a unanimous decision that we would like to share with the membership at this time. In effect, the CMC will be working with Magazines Canada on a new publishing event starting in 2007.

In January of 2006, the CMC Board was presented with a proposal from Masthead Magazine that would have seen CMC continue with Magazines University, but without the participation of Magazines Canada. Later, we received a separate proposal from Magazines Canada.

After careful consideration (and much working through of specific details to get an acceptable agreement) the CMC Board decided the Magazines Canada proposal made the most sense for our organization going forward.

I'm sure there will be further questions and concerns which we will be more than happy to entertain in the days and weeks ahead. However, we thought it best to share this information with everyone as we head into Magazines University 2006.

Thank you.
Ron Sellwood
CMC President
CMC Board: Camile Diodati, Alex Cooper, Libby Nixon, Ian McKelvie, Tuppy Blair, Reena Rai, Heather Maxwell, Adina Zaiontz, Kim Rattray, Mike Marcos, Tom Johnston, Erin Rogers-Lay

Administrator Brian Gillett