Sad news for those in journalism and publishing:
Abandoning some of the best known names in trade publishing, the Nielsen Company said Thursday that it would shut down Editor & Publisher and Kirkus Reviews, and sell a stable of other publications, including Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter, to a newly formed media company….
For generations, Editor & Publisher, though not well known to the public, has been a leading source of newspaper industry news and job listings. It grew out of several publications, the oldest dating to 1884….
Kirkus, a biweekly founded in 1933, annually published thousands of reviews of new books, a valuable source of promotional material for publishers and authors. Calls to top Kirkus editors were not returned.
These are major titles in the field, so this will have great impact on publishing. A good many librarians rely on Kirkus to decide which books to order. And E&P has been a respected watchdog for journalism for over a century. I hate to see it go.
It’s a further shame that Kirkus and E&P were closed outright, with no attempt to move either exclusively online. As we’ve discovered, you can cut your budget and increase your readership with that kind of transition, if you do it right.
Of course, small publications and non-profits are always living on the edge. That’s why we hold fundraising drives… like the one we’re in the middle of right now.
You may have heard about it.
We’re deeply thankful for the great response thus far — it’s much needed in a tough economy. And if you haven’t yet had the chance to contribute, please do. It doesn’t need to be dramatic — every amount helps.
Here’s the link. And thank you in advance!
