AgriCultures Network, aka LEISA Magazines, is adding a new publication to its crop of international small-scale-farming magazines. The newbie, Farming Matters, focuses on small-scale agriculture and sustainability around the world. It’s published by ILEIA, the Centre for Learning on Sustainable Agriculture, and has more than 18,000 subscribers in 150 countries. According to ILEIA, Farming Matters will put local experiences into a global context, and bring readers news, opinion, and practical examples of how small-scale farming provides food and a healthy environment. It will be published four times a year.
New launches AgriCultures Network, farming, ILEIA
Some advertising might not be as influential as it was in years past, but custom publishing broke all records in 2009. Seventy percent of companies say branded content is more effective than television advertising; 61% say it is more effective than direct mail and 57% say it is more effective than public relations, according to a recent study by the Custom Publishing Council in conjunction with ContentWise.
Turns out marketers poured more money into branded content in 2009 than ever before. The results showed that total spending on branded content was over $1.8 million per company, with 51% spent on print publications, 27% on Internet media and 22% on categories such as video or audio. That means 2009 spending was double that of 2008 and the highest amount since the CPC began conducting the survey in 2003.
The ContentWise and Custom Publishing Councils’ 2009 Spending: A Look at How Corporate America Invests in Branded Content was conducted via online and mailed methods targeting a random sample of companies across all industries. Among the responding companies were: Booz Allen Hamilton, Costco Wholesale, General Electric Energy, Honda Financial Services, State Farm Insurance, VistaCare, and World Vision.
Industry buzz
Rick Steves might be made of gold. He’s got travel shows and travel books. He’s even got travel tours and travel clothing lines. And soon you can get his travel magazine, published by the Smithsonian, on newsstands.
According to FOLIO, the publication, tentatively titled Smithsonian Presents: Travels with Rick Steves, is expected to have a distribution of more than 100,000. Entirely written by Steves (where does the man find the time?!), it will spotlight destinations based on his personal travels and will include service features, tips and advice.
Look for it on newsstands May 4, 2010. Then check out the digital companion from Smithsonian.com.
New launches launch, Rick Steves, Smithsonian, travel
The industry is buzzing about today’s announcement of a digital storefront for publishers (read the AdAge story here), but that’s not the only thing going on in the print-to-digital content world…
Conde Nast and Adobe are building a digital version of Wired magazine, according to the Wall Street Journal. The e-reader app will be available sometime next year, and then Conde Nast will move on to building apps for the rest of its titles. The app will let readers flip through the pages as if they were in print, as well as access additional layers of content, launch videos, and link to the Web. Read the Wall Street Journal Story here.
Meanwhile, Hearst is launching a service and online store in 2010 that will deliver newspapers and magazines from a variety of publishers on a variety of electronic devices. Called Skiff, the service will work with Sprint to connect readers through dedicated Skiff e-readers sold in Sprint stores, as well as other devices. Read the FOLIO story here.
Industry buzz apps, content, digital, e-readers, magazine, Wired
The media world has been buzzing about this for months. Now, finally, the plans for a large digital newsstand (from a consortium of magazine and newspaper publishers) are expected to be announced early next week. According to reports in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times: News Corp., Conde Nast, Meredith, Hearst, and Time Inc. are all investing in the “iTunes for print” company. The new venture doesn’t have a name yet, but, in theory, will sell content from magazines and newspapers from a single website while leaving the hardware (or reading devices) to others. The alliance would develop standards for magazine viewing on mobile phones, e-book readers, and other platforms. Time Inc. vet John Squires will be the managing director while the company looks for a CEO. Read the New York Times story here or The Guardian’s story here.
Industry buzz Conde Nast, digital, Hearst, magazine, Meredith, News Corp., online, Time Inc.
The next time you’re hopping to a meeting on your NetJet aircraft, take note: a new magazine called Briefings on Talent & Leadership will be in the seat pocket in front of you. Published by the Korn/Ferry International Institute, the quarterly magazine is targeted at a global audience of top corporate executives, opinion leaders, heads of government and academia. Articles cover CEO succession, governance and risk, talent development and leadership and are penned by Korn/Ferry consultants and journalists from the Financial Times, The New York Times, The Economist, Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal. The first issue features an interview with American Express Chairman and CEO Kenneth I. Chenault, a profile of Li & Fung Co-Chairman William Fung, a piece focusing on leadership guru Warren Bennis, and articles on succession planning at McDonald’s, corporate governance and job creation in Europe. The magazine also includes research on human capital, leadership and talent, as well as book reviews. In conjunction with the launch of the print publication, the Institute also launched a website. The site will feature content from each issue as well as original online content. But you don’t have to be a CEO to get it, you can also find the pub at book retailers and newsstands.
New launches Briefings, CEO, Korn/Ferry, leadership, talent
