Bonnier Set to Launch Science Illustrated

Bonnier Set to Launch Science Illustrated
By Joanna Pettas
http://www.foliomag.com/viewmedia.asp?prmMID=8040


In the current magazine climate, any launch is notable-even if it's a translation of an existing Danish science magazine. Bonnier Corporation is set to launch Science Illustrated, a new bi-monthly title, in December. The publication is modeled after the largest magazine in Scandinavia, which is published by Bonnier and shares the same name in translation.

Science Illustrated will be published with help from Popular Science, also a Bonnier title, and the two titles will share resources, PopSci publisher Gregg Hano tells Folio: Alert. "We will basically be putting it out with Popular Science's existing staff," Hano says. "We are hiring a translator/editor because the magazine is currently in Danish, but editorial, consumer marketing, production, manufacturing, and advertising will all be through us."
The two magazines will differentiate from one another in terms of content and audience, Hano says. "Popular Science will remain true to its 'Future-is-now' roots," focusing on the latest technology, gadgets, and products of now and the near-future, while Science Illustrated will focus on four basic pillars: nature, technology, culture, and medicine. Also, while Popular Science has a male readership of 85 percent, Science Illustrated will be "more dual-audience, gender-neutral, and family-oriented."

The Science Illustrated venture comes at a time when print launches are becoming less and less frequent, but it coincides with Chairman Jonas Bonnier's long-term vision for Bonnier Corp. "For more than 40 years, we have tried to establish a position in the U.S. magazine market," he told Folio: in April. "And we will keep on trying to do this for the coming 40 years. For anyone who wants a strong presence in the international magazine market, publishing in English is essential."


Business 2.0's Facebook Group Reacts to Magazine's Death
By Dylan Stableford
http://www.foliomag.com/viewmedia.asp?prmMID=8037

When rumors swirled in July that Time Inc.'s struggling Business 2.0 was on put on the publishing equivalent of life support, subscribers on Facebook sprang into action, forming a "I read Business 2.0 - and I want to keep reading!" group on the social networking site. In two days, the group had 700 members. In two weeks, the group had over 2,000 members, including Web 2.0 luminaries like Craiglist's Craig Newmark -- and Business 2.0's editor Josh Quittner. It currently has 2,339 members.

But all of that cyber-sweat came crashing down earlier this week, when Time Inc. announced it would fold Business 2.0 into Fortune rather than sell to rival Fast Company owner Joe Mansueto. Here's a sampling of the Facebook group's reaction:

Given what a general mess Time Warner/AOL is, I'm not surprised they're letting a good title die. This is no way to reassure investors or readers.

What a bummer. So where are we going for our content after October? I see people are being moved to Fortune magazine, but I hardly think that's where I'm going to find quality content a la business 2.0.

That's what they get for naming Jason Calacanis as one of the 50 most important people.
I think a mix of Wired and Fast Company will have to do for now.

In a post entitled "Why this Facebook group failed," Alex Hammer, owner of Media 2.0, said he tried to "put together a group to purchase this fine publication."

Unfortunately, being frank, it was more interested in updating the number of members in this Facebook group than bringing together the key industry figures in the group to rescue the magazine. I realize that Time nixed offers, perhaps for competitive reasons, but the financers, insiders and industry heavyweights to pull together to make this publication survive - perhaps online are right in this group (as well as outside). 600,000 subscribers thrown away. That's not chump change.

Colin Carmichael, the group's founder, wrote: "Well folks, it's been an interesting couple months watching this all unfold. I think we can claim responsibility for the October issue and the extra time for folks at B2 to figure out plan B, so not all was in vain."