Rogers Publishing acquired Canadian Health and Lifestyle magazine

Rogers Publishing has acquired Canadian Health and Lifestyle magazine and its companion website Healthand Lifestyle.ca. The super-digest quarterly consumer magazine, which was launched in 2004 and has a controlled distribution of 400,000 mainly through Rexall pharmacies, doctors offices and hospitals.

The five-person staff -- save for publisher Joe Viecili -- will now report to Angela Jones as publisher; she was most recently been associate publisher at Chatelaine and Châtelaine.

According to PMB, the magazines' 2 million readers are largely female (64%) and between the ages of 24 and 54.

Lorraine Hoefler, executive publisher at Rogers Publishing said in a release, “We know health is a strong and growing category that Canadian readers care about and on which advertisers are focused.”

Freelancer reaches settlement with Rogers over posting of peanut allergy story

Freelance writers can stick up for themselves, if they have the patience. According to a post on Story Board, Patricia Pearson has reached a settlement with Rogers Publishing. It took two years and with the support and help of the Canadian Media Guild and the Canadian Writers Group (which jointly publish Story Board).

Pearson wrote a controversial story called "It's Just Nuts" for the December issue of Chatelaine in 2009 that questioned whether the public was overreacting to peanut allergies. This provoked a torrent of criticism (notably from the editor of Allergic Living, Gwen Smith and also from Canadian Family editor-in-chief Jennifer Reynolds.)

Some commenters on an item we carried on Canadian Magazines suggested that the controversy and story choice was a factor in the dismissal of Chatelaine editor Maryam Sanati.

However, the dispute with parent company Rogers was over the use of the story on third party websites without permission and the failure to remove the story from Chatelaine's site once the contracted period had passed.

The process didn’t move quickly, but with the help of the CMG’s lawyer, Sean FitzPatrick of Cavalluzzo Hayes Shilton McIntyre and Cornish, Pearson reached a settlement with Rogers and she’s pleased with the outcome, as was Canadian Writers Group and Rogers. It marks an end to a long and frustrating story, but it’s one that proves writers can, and should, fight for what’s rightfully theirs.

Steve Maich named publisher and editor-in-chief of Rogers's new Sportsnet magazine

Steve Maich, the editor-in-chief of Canadian Business magazine and, as group publisher, of CB, PROFIT and MoneySense magazines, has been appointed publisher and editor-in-chief of Sportsnet magazine, which is due to launch in September. 

The national biweekly sports title with a projected circulation of 100,000 is the most ambitious startup at Rogers in many years, but is founded on the belief in the the synergies possible with Rogers's Sportsnet television, radio, digital and print properties.

The release announcing the appointment said that Maich will have responsibility for all operational and strategic business elements of producing the publication.Rogers Publishing executive vice-president Ken Whyte said:

"Steve is a terrific journalist and is very talented at assembling teams that deliver compelling content. He is a natural choice for leading the team that will bring Sportsnet to life in this fourth medium.  Steve has a deep knowledge of the brand, great enthusiasm for the subject matter, and a wonderful understanding of the Canadian spirit in sport."

Maich apparently relishes the challenge, after seven years as a writer, editor and publisher, including the complete redesign and relaunch of Canadian Business. He was executive editor of Maclean's before that.

"As a life-long sports fan, I've felt for a long time that Canada needed its own sports magazine, focused on the stories and icons that we are passionate about," he said.  "To be entrusted with the opportunity to help create the magazine I always wanted to read, with the resources, backing and expertise of a media company like Rogers, is a dream job. I'm honoured to be chosen for it."

There was no word on who will replace Maich at CB and the other finance and business titles.   
Related posts:

• Annual subs to new Sportsnet magazine from Rogers may sell for $1.50 an issue
• Rogers's planned Sportsnet magazine may be part of larger plans
• Rogers Media to launch 100,000 circ biweekly Sportsnet magazine in the fall
• Rogers consumer publishing names Steve Maich as group publisher of business magazines

Maclean's reprimanded by Quebec press council for "corrupt" cover story

Maclean's magazine has been reprimanded by the Quebec press council for declaring it was "the most corrupt province in Canada" in the cover story of its October 4, 2010 issue.

The council released the results of its March 18 decision Tuesday, criticizing the magazine for "lack of journalistic rigour" and for its inflammatory headline. The decision said that Maclean's journalist Martin Patriquin and columnist Andrew Coyne did not offer proof, but merely their perceptions.

"We are forced to conclude that they (the comments) reveal prejudice and are all the more condemnable under the circumstances as they carry prejudices against all Quebecers," the council wrote.

Following the appearance of the article Rogers Publishing -- but not Ken Whyte, the publisher and editor of Maclean's --  issued a tepid apology. Later, Maclean's and the Quebec winter carnival settled out of court over the use of the image of Bonhomme Carnival as an illustration of the controversial story.

Rogers syndication practices called into question by Canadian Writers Group

Derek Finkle who runs the Canadian Writers Group, an agency that represents some of Canada's most successful magazine freelancers, has called into question how one large magazine publisher, Rogers is syndicating articles to third party websites. Essentially it is that magazine articles are being posted on third party websites such as Yahoo and MSN by Rogers despite signed contracts with writers and without the writers (or their agent) being aware of it. This practice is apparently widespread, although frontline editors are sometimes also surprised by it.

On Friday, Finkle reported on the Toronto Freelance Writers and Editors listserv some of the details of conversations he has had with Rogers as a result of representing his CWG clients and perhaps the best course is simply to reprint what he said (we did a screen grab of one of the pages in question (above). 

I recently discovered an article that a writer with the Canadian Writers Group had published in Chatelaine three or four months ago had been syndicated on Yahoo's "Lifestyle" site. I was a bit surprised by this as we had not ticked the box on the Rogers contract that gave the company the right to publish the work "on the Web sites of third parties" (we never tick that box).

I then searched for another Chatelaine story by another of our writers, and it, too, popped up on the Yahoo site. What was even more surprising was that Chatelaine had only been permitted to publish this particular story on its web site for 45 days according to our agreement. It had been removed from Chatelaine's site for many months, so I was curious how it came to be resurrected on Yahoo.

When I spoke to the handling editor for both stories, she was also surprised - no one had ever told her that Chatelaine was syndicating content with Yahoo.

Finally, I was put in touch with the online editor responsible for syndication at Chatelaine. She told me that "legal" had come in and told her and her online colleagues they could syndicate whatever stories they liked. When I pointed out to her that the contracts related to these stories didn't permit such usage, she had the Editor of Syndicated Content, Robyn Shanks, pull them from Yahoo.

Around the same time, I queried the person with whom the agency has been having discussions related to the new Rogers contract, and he mentioned somewhat sheepishly that this usage might be covered under the "promotions" clause in the contract. So I asked Robyn Shanks, the editor of syndicated content, what the point of syndicating Rogers content on Yahoo was. She told me that it was meant to drive traffic back to web sites owned by Rogers and presumably, therefore, increase ad revenue. Not exactly promotional use as most people would define it.

I then discovered more stories by our writers from other Rogers publications on Yahoo. Here is an example of a story that first appeared in Flare and is now on Yahoo (it may not be there much longer):

http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/family-relationships/articles/dating/rogers-flare/why-men-and-women-cheat-2010-07-26

Shanks told me that she is responsible for syndicating content from eight Rogers publications with both Yahoo and MSN: Flare, Chatelaine, Today's Parent, Lulu, Moneysense, Canadian Business, Maclean's, and Canadian Parent.

Related posts:

• Rogers Publishing rolls out new freelance contract that requires rights "across all forms of media"

Sanati out as editor of Chatelaine as part of latest Rogers management cuts

The most high-profile layoff in the latest round of Rogers cuts is the dismissal of Chatelaine editor Maryam Sanati, a highly respected journalist who was promoted from deputy editor in February 2008 after piloting the magazine through some difficult times in an acting capacity after the sudden departure of editor Sara Angel. Sanati presided over the relaunch and redesign of the magazine in time for its 80th anniversary in April '08. Her role at Chatelaine is being assumed by DianeDianne de Fenoyl who recently was named editorial director moving from being a managing editor at Maclean's.

As will be seen from the comments filed to the previous posting, many of the changes on the Rogers magazine side involve middle managers in trade publishing. In addition, the website for older Canadians, everbetter.ca (ironically a finalist in the recent online publishing awards) is being discontinued.It was launched just in April this year by Rogers to compete directly with Zoomer Media's magazine and website in serving the 50+ market segment.

Today's Parent publisher retiring; latest in a major management shakeup at Rogers

Ildiko Marshall, the longtime publisher of Today's Parent magazine (right) is retiring at the end of the year, according to a story in Masthead. It is but the latest in a five-month flurry of management changes that seem to be significantly flattening and consolidating the operational management of the consumer publishing operation under Ken Whyte and Kerry Mitchell.

It seems likely that Chatelaine publisher Mitchell will be assuming Marshall's duties heading Today's Parent, along with her publisher's role at Flare, Glow and Cosmetics.

Whyte now has some responsibilities with Chatelaine as well as being publisher and editor of Maclean's and publisher of Canadian Business, Profit and MoneySense.

Casualties of the shakeup included Orietta Minatel, the publisher of Flare and Deb Rosser, the publisher of Canadian Business and Profit as well as Kelly Latimer, the publisher of Glow.

Related posts:

• Kelly Latimer, publisher of Glow, dismissed by Rogers
• Marc Blondeau leaves Rogers  
•  Maclean's AD Dewairy takes over Canadian Business, MoneySense and Profit
• Six Canadian Business staffers and EIC of MoneySense magazine fired
• Chidley is special projects czar for Maclean's and Canadian Business
• Rogers shakeup: Whyte and Mitchell now each multi-title uber-publishers
  

Kelly Latimer, publisher of Glow, dismissed by Rogers

A mere 4 months after Kerry Mitchell assumed the new position of executive publisher at Glow magazine (and Cosmetics and Pure), Kelly Latimer, vice-president,* publisher of Glow, has been dismissed.

Mitchell, a vice-president and the publisher of Chatelaine was named vice-president in June assumed the publisher's job at Flare (replacing Orieta Minatel) as well as becoming executive publisher of trade and custom titles Cosmetics, Cosmétiques, Glow and Pure magazines. Glow is published in collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart and, while it is sold on newsstand, much of its circulation is directed to holders of Shoppers' Optimum affinity card.

Latimer had been with Glow predecessor Images as associate publisher. 
*Latimer is listed on a Glow website as vice-president,publisher, but we are informed by a Rogers spokesperson that she was not a vice-president.

Marc Blondeau leaves Rogers

Perhaps the commuting finally got to him. Marc Blondeau, the senior vice-president, consumer publishing and président, Les Éditons Rogers – Québec, will be leaving the company on October 16th, according to a story from Mastheadonline. He has been with the company for nine years and for most of that time has been splitting his time between the Toronto campus and the Montreal offices.

The story said Blondeau has met with his management teams and staffs in both places in the past 24 hours to talk about his decision to leave. Suneel Khanna, senior director of communications for Rogers Consumer Publishing would not say if Blondeau's position will be replaced or if a successor has been named.

In an internal memo obtained by Masthead, Brian Segal, president and CEO stated that Blondeau's passion, competence, sense of humour and his abilities as a remarkable manager and colleague will be missed. "I want to thank him personally for his leadership, numerous accomplishments and many successes during his nine years with the company," said Segal in the memo. "It is under his tenure that were regrouped all of our consumer magazine brands in Canada within a new division that has permitted us to strengthen and grow our position and to launch new successful brands such as LouLou and Hello!"