Unlimited magazine suspended in print, continues online only

[This post has been updated.]Unlimited magazine, launched in mid-2007, is being suspended as a print publication effective with its May/June 2009 issue and is to be available online only, it was announced today by Venture Publishing of Edmonton. The business and lifestyle magazine was pitched to younger entrepreneurs and professionals.

Kent Bruyneel, who had barely got his feet under the editor's desk (coming from the literary Grain in Saskatoon) is being let go. Art director Malcolm Brown is being retained on contract as a design consultant at least through April. Craille Maguire Gillies will be editor of the ongoing unlimitedmagazine.com.

Publisher Ruth Kelly said:

“We remain confident in the vision for Unlimited magazine and proud of its execution. Unfortunately with the current economic reality, Unlimited has not had time to find its feet with print advertisers. In contrast the website continues to grow in visitorship and revenue generation. Consequently, we are going to focus on growing and enhancing Unlimited at unlimitedmagazine.com at this time, and will plan to re-launch the print version within 12 to 24 months when the market stabilizes."

[Update: Publisher Kelly says that all of the advertisers who were committed to the print magazine have agreed to transfer their commitments to the online magazine; "That's incentive for us to explore some very innovative approaches to the website."]

Ironically, Unlimited was named best new magazine at last year's Western Magazine Awards. It was launched in August 2007 and had a circulation of 20,000 copies 6 times a year, a combination of paid and controlled. There is a posting about the decision on the Unlimited blog.