Rogers Magazine Service is shutting down today

Rogers Magazine Service, the largest continuous magazine subscription service in Canada, is shutting down today. It is not a surprise; it is an already announced outcome of the decision by Rogers Communications to move many of its consumer magazines away from print to digital, in whole or in part. 

Its shutdown will hurt the circulation efforts of many magazines, of course. But it helped introduce many Canadians to magazines, often with an incentive of Air Miles or Aeroplan points and, once signed up, they could easily keep paying every month or 3 months on their credit card. It was the continuous renewal dream of circulators everywhere.

It began in 1999 when Rogers (Michael Fox played a big role) thought that they could sell both Canadian and American magazines just as well as Time Inc. was starting to do. Many non-Rogers titles took advantage of the cost-effective channel. Customers have been able to access titles online and through bill inserts, among other means. 

Sue Phillips, the well-regarded director of multi-magazine circulation, outlined in a widely circulated memo this week some of the metrics of this unquestioned business success:

• It grew from  an offering of 8 Rogers magazines to a $6.5 million revenue business with over 175 magazines and 220,000 active continuous service subscriptions. 
• Publisher authorizations were obtained from over 50 top publishers in Canada and the U.S. - both English and French. 
• In the past 4 years over 90% of RMS subscriptions were sold online. 
• The RMS website had over 14,000 customer ratings and reviews. 
• Over the years, affiliate marketing programs were built with virtually every financial institution in Canada – CIBC, TD, RBC, BMO, Amex, Scotiabank, Citi - and partnered with many retailers and loyalty programs.
• RMS also provided valuable history and numbers that helped in the launch of the Next Issue Canada (later, and now, Texture) in 2013. More RMS subscribers migrated to Texture than from any other internal source. 
• The closed RMS website will now link to a Texture offer.

HuffPo reports that Rogers is considering closing Canadian Business magazine

The Huffington Post today published a story that suggests Rogers Media is considering closing down Canadian Business, one of the country's oldest magazines. I say "suggests" because it is based on some anonymous sources said to be Rogers insiders. More alarmingly, it also quoted Phil Lind, a Rogers board member whose view seemed to be that the magazine might be a victim of both audience and ad revenue problems, even though it has a circulation of 85,000 and 335,000 unique visitors on digital devices.

Canadian Business is losing subscribers and “there is no money to be had,” Phil Lind, the vice-chairman of the board at Rogers Communications told HuffPost on Monday. 

The company’s venture into Texture, the re-named magazine app first launched as Next Issue, hasn’t been as profitable as expected, he added, and Rogers’ television stations are also struggling.

Recently, Rogers also announced that it would be cutting some 200 jobs in its magazine division.  

Rogers Media to "reimagine" Next Issue subscription service as Texture

Next Issue Canada, the two-year-old Rogers Media all-you-want magazine subscription service, is being rebranded and repositioned as Texture starting Thursday. According to a story in the Globe and Mail, Rogers is following the lead of its U.S. partners, a consortium of publishers including Condé Nast Publications Inc., Hearst Corp., New York-based private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Meredith Corp., News Corp. and  Time Inc. The consortium presents Texture as "a completely reimagined magazine experience."

It moves the service -- which has more than 100,000 subscribers and has enjoyed a bigger relative uptake than in the U.S. --  from its positioning to date as an electronic simulation of a traditional "magazine stand". It puts the emphasis more on digital content and the way readers make use of it -- much different than from being a "flip book" or pdf online version of the traditional Rogers publications as well as more than 100 U.S. titles.

“It was a great opportunity for us basically to go out and say, whatever preconceived notions you might have about magazines, about digital magazines, about this product itself, we continue to evolve and we continue to innovate,” Steve Maich, senior vice-president of publishing for Rogers, said in an interview last week at his Toronto office. “So give it a second look.”

Read more »

Six editorial layoffs at Chatelaine because of "a shift in business strategy"

Six people at Chatelaine magazine were laid off yesterday by Rogers Publishing, including three in editorial and three in the art department. Notably, one of those laid off was Sydney Loney, the health director and editor-in-chief of Canadian Health and Lifestyle magazine.

The layoffs follow the June appointment of Lianne George as editor-in-chief, replacing Karine Ewart. 

A spokesperson for Rogers said Chatelaine made the changes in its editorial and creative departments to reflect a shift in the brand’s evolving business strategy, but that the jobs will be filled "at a later date". 

(Rogers bought Canadian Health & Lifestyle in April 2012 and relaunched it under the editorship of Beth Thompson in 2013. Thompson left about a year later to be replaced by Loney.)

Related posts:

• Lianne George replaces Karine Ewart as EIC of Chatelaine
• Several key senior editors let go at Rogers Publishing
• Rogers Publishing relaunches Canadian Health & Lifestyle

Several key senior editors let go at Rogers Publishing

[This post has been updated] Several senior editors at Rogers Publishing have been laid off as part of what is dubbed Rogers 3.0, its plan to position the company for growth. In a brief internal note to staff about the departures headed "Thank you Dianne, Beth and Kristen", Steve Maich, the senior vice-president, publishing and Derek DeCloet, the vice-president of content announced that the departures are:

• Dianne de Fenoyl, who has held various editorial management roles at Maclean's,
  Chatelaine and elsewhere within Rogers, has seen her role as editor-at-large eliminated. She was managing editor of Maclean's from 2005 until 2009 and then editorial director of Chatelaine. The note described her as "one of the country's most talented editors" who had "fine-tuned editorial instincts". de Fenoyl had earlier in her career held various lynchpin jobs at the Globe and Mail  (Review editor),executive editor at Saturday Night magazine and life editor of the National Post. 
• Beth Thompson, is leaving the company and her job as editor-in-chief of Canadian Health and Lifestyle magazine, which now falls under the Chatelaine umbrella. She became editor last September after Rogers bought the magazine in April 2012. The magazine is a controlled vehicle distributed through the Rexall Group of pharmacies. Previous positions had been editor-in-chief of Glow magazine and beauty editor of More. 
• Kristin Vinakmens is leaving as editor-in-chief of Cosmetics and Made for Men magazines, both now rolled under the Flare brand. Vinakmens had been beauty editor at Flare and Glow magazines and online editor of Totem's Rouge.  

[Update] Also laid off was Antonia Whyatt, the features director at Chatelaine since June 2010 and previously beauty director at Conde Nast's Tatler and at Jane magazine in New York. 

Next Issue Canada adds People magazine to menu

Next Issue Canada, the digital magazine subscription service, has added People magazine, Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine to the more than 100 titles it offers tablet subscribers for a single monthly fee. 

"At Next Issue, we want to give readers unparalleled access to the magazines they love, and adding People, Travel + Leisure, and Food & Wine to our newsstand offers Canadians an opportunity to experience these brands in an engaging new way," said Ken Whyte, President, Next Issue Canada in a release. "In addition to what's offered in the print edition, readers can now explore the extra content, such as exclusive videos and photo galleries, that will enhance their enjoyment of these renowned magazines on Next Issue."

Related posts:

• Next Issue Canada mag sub service has 45,000 paying, 20,000 tryout customers
• Next Issue Canada rolls out free 30-day trial for non-Rogers subscribers
• Rogers Media withdraws magazine titles from library service offering free downloads
• Rogers partners with big 5 U.S. publishers on digital newsstand service Next Issue Canada

Rogers Publishing latest company to end unpaid internships

Unpaid interns at several magazines in Rogers Publishing were let go this morning, the latest fallout from the crackdown last week by the Ontario Ministry of Labour under the terms of the Employment Standards Act. 

Most publications have one or more unpaid interns. Flare magazine, for instance, has had 6. 

An enquiry to Rogers asking how many interns were let go and at which magazines was responded to this way by Louise Leger, communications manager, publishing:

I can confirm that some interns within Publishing finished their internships with us today. We believe internships are a valuable opportunity for students and recent graduates to gain practical experience. We also view interns as prospective employees. In fact, we’ve hired about one-third of those who interned with us in the past year, while others go on to get jobs in their fields at other companies.

Some Rogers internships which were ended today were not due to finish until early May. Some Rogers publications, such as Canadian Business pay their interns and Rogers has paid a modest honorarium to people who take part in its M-School, which involves placements in editorial, sales & marketing, design, photography or production. 

Three new group publishers named at Rogers Publishing

Sandra Parente

More changes at Rogers Publishing, with Sandra Parente, currently publisher of MoneySense and once a general manager of corporate sales for Rogers Media, becoming group publisher of Rogers’ current affairs group, which includes Maclean’s and Sportsnet.

Ian Portsmouth, who currently oversees Canadian Business and Profit will now have all three consumer-facing business magazines in his portfolio as he takes over as group publisher, business, including MoneySense. 

Sophie Banford, newly arrived from TVA (where she was publisher at  Clin d’Oeil and Moi & Cie.) has been pointed group publisher of the Quebec-based women’s titles, responsible for such titles as LouLou and Chȃtelaine, Banford (like Parente) will report to executive publisher Lorraine Hoefler. 

The three appointments round out other management changes made recently as part of creating a group publisher structure: the appointments of Penny Hicks as group publisher for women's service magazines Chatelaine, Today's Parent and Canadian Health & Lifestyle and of Melissa Ahlstrand as group publisher of fashion and beauty books, including Flare, Cosmetics and Hello! 

Related posts:

• Editor of Report on Business leaves Globe to be director of content strategy for Rogers Publishing
• Major shakeup in progress at Rogers Publishing with switchover to group publisher structure
• Sasha Emmons named as EIC of Today's Parent
• Karine Ewart shifts from Today's Parent to be EIC of Chatelaine
• Canadian Business absorbs Profit and goes monthly 
• John Intini named EIC of Sportsnet magazine

Major shakeup in progress at Rogers Publishing with switchover to group publisher structure

Penny Hicks, who had been publisher of Maclean's since December 2011, has been named group publisher for the women's service magazines at Rogers Publishing, responsible for Chatelaine, Today's Parent and Canadian Health & Lifestyle. She replaces Tara Tucker whose position as publisher of Chatelaine has been eliminated after two years in the position. She is leaving the company. 

The announcement by Steve Maich, senior vice-president and general manager, publishing, is part of a major shakeup at Rogers. Hicks's appointment as group publisher parallels the appointment of Melissa Ahlstrand to be group publisher in charge of Flare, Hello! Canada and the trade magazine Cosmetics.

Maich says that there will be further group publisher appointments, one in charge of current affairs (Maclean's and Sportsnet) and one in charge of Quebec-based titles (Chatelaine and LouLou (French and English)). 

"Moving forward, we will operate under a Group Publisher model, with our publishers each overseeing a content category made up of more than one brand," he said in an internal company memo. "This new structure allows us to take advantage of editorial and advertising synergies in each group, and adapt to the rapidly evolving media environment. The change is driven by our desire to not only remain competitive, but build our brands on all platforms and grow our business."

Other announced changes:

• the appointment of Rosemary Munroe as senior director of partnerships and new business for all magazine brands and brand extensions, such as the Today's Parent Approved program. 
• Jim Hicks steps back from being publisher of Cosmetics to make way for Ahlstrand and to prepare for his retirement. 
• Carole Beaulieu will continue as publisher and editor of L'actualite.
• Julia Cyboran has been appointed associate publisher and editor in-chief of LouLou (English and French) after returning from a maternity leave and Joanie Pietracupa has been appointed executive editor after filling in for Cyboran

Cameron Williamson named EIC of Flare

Williamson

Cameron Williamson has been named the new editor-in-chief of Rogers's Flare magazine. He is moving over from being a freelance project editor for the Globe's Style Advisor and is returning to Rogers where he had previously been editor-in-chief of Glow magazine and art director of Chatelaine. 

Previous to that he was creative director of Toro and fashion editor at National Post and Saturday Night magazine. 

Williamson replaces Miranda Purves, who is moving back to the U.S. after 18 months in the editor's chair.                    

John Intini named EIC of Sportsnet magazine

John Intini

John Intini has been named editor-in-chief of Sportsnet magazine. Editor since last September, Intini takes over the role previously held by Steve Maich before he was named senior vice-president and general manager of publishing at Rogers Media. Maich made the announcement of Intini's appointment.

"As the sports and publishing industries continue to evolve, having someone with John's knowledge and passion at the helm is crucial in helping the brand thrive," said Maich [in a release]. "John has been a key contributor to Sportsnet's growth since day one, and I'm confident that under his leadership the magazine will continue to reach new levels of success and will engage, inform and entertain readers like never before."

Sportsnet was launched in 2011 and Intini was deputy editor from the start. He had previously been managing editor of Macleans.ca and then senior editor of Maclean's, where he had worked for 11 years in various writing and editing roles.

Canadian Business absorbs Profit and goes monthly

Profit, the magazine for smaller businesses published by Rogers Publishing is being merged with its big brother Canadian Business magazine, which is going to become a monthly (now publishes fortnightly during much of the year). 

Profit will become a section heading within Canadian Business. The change happens January 16. The new Canadian Business will publish 14 times a year -- 12 CB and 2 bonus Profit-themed issues.  The result, says Rogers, is a "powerhouse business magazine with a projected readership of more than 1 million." Ian Portsmouth, formerly publisher and editor of Profit, will be the publisher of the new, merged monthly. 

The final standalone issue

"The new frequency and enhanced content of the new Canadian Business allows us to do more of what we do best - provide intelligent analysis, context, and thoughtful features to the business community," said Duncan Hood, editor-in-chief of the new Canadian Business [in a release]. 

"The Profit section within Canadian Business will continue to deliver the actionable information that entrepreneurs need, while offering a larger audience access to the latest thought-leaders in innovative thinking."

Profit has been publishing for 30 years and, until now, came out six times annually, with a circulation of 84,632 and a total readership of 184,00. Canadian Business has a circulation of 85,027 and a readership of 897,000.  Profit also has had its own web presence with profitguide.com. 

Profit has been well-known for publishing specials about Canada's 500 fastest-growing companies, top new growth companies and top female entrepreneurs as well as Canada's best small and medium employers, all of which are being folded into CB. 
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Chatelaine covers itself eight ways to mark 85th anniversary

Chatelaine magazines' June issue, on newsstands today, marks the occasion of its 85th anniversary (not Canada's oldest, but close) by publishing eight different covers in a special bonus double issue. 

The magazine, which is #1 in Canada in terms of paid circulation, now has 800,000 unique monthly visitors to its redesigned chatelaine.com website. According to a company release, the magazine has 40,000 followers on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and has 33,000 monthly visits to its tablet edition. 

Rogers rebrands and relaunches recently acquired Canadian Health & Lifestyle magazine

Canadian Health & Lifestyle magazine, which Rogers Publishing bought in April, is being rebranded and relaunched effective with its Winter 2012 issue, out early in November. The magazine will also be increasing from quarterly to six times a year in 2013.

According to a story in Marketing magazine, the focus of the magazine is on small adjustments that readers can make to improve their lifestyles and that the print redesign is concurrent with the launch of an iPad version.

"Around the time Rogers Publishing purchased the book, Rogers Media senior vice-president of sales and marketing Dale Hooper said at an industry conference that women represent one of the main consumer groups Rogers is trying to better connect (the others being sports fans, entertainment lovers and news followers). "

The magazine has a largely controlled distribution of 397,000. Some 230,000 of those are distributed free to its customers by the Katz Group Canada Ltd. through its Rexall group of pharmacies, including in its Rexall, PharmaPlus, Guardian, IDA and The Medicine Shoppe outlets. Those copies have carried the Rexall logo along with the Canadian Health & Lifestyle banner. According to the latest fall 2012 PMB data, the readership is 2.1 million, of whom 65% are women 25 to 54. The associated website healthandlifestyle.ca will also be redesigned to reflect the new emphasis.