Fox 25 Oscars 2013 Recap with Boston Common Editor Janice O'Leary
February 12, 2013
New York Live Grammy Awards Fashion Recap with Gotham's Samantha Yanks
January 18, 2013
FOX 5 Morning News Inauguration Segment with Capitol File Senior Editor Leslie Wooldridge
June 5, 2012
Hamptons Cover Star Matt Lauer on Extra
June 5, 2012
Hamptons Cover Star Matt Lauer on E! News
May 25, 2012
Samantha Yanks on Bloomberg TV: The Ultimate Guide to The Hamptons Social Scene
May 20, 2012
Michigan Avenue Magazine on CBS WBBM
April 28, 2012
CBS4 News: Behind-the-Scenes of Ocean Drive's Fashion Shoot
April 28, 2012
Capitol File White House Correspondents Dinner 2012 After-Party
April 23, 2012
Samantha Yanks on the Today Show
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
On the streets of New York: Homeland star Claire Danes pounds the pavement as she jogs in Manhattan
Press Release
She's one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood right now thanks to her award-winning performance in TV drama Homeland. So its no surprise to see Claire Danes is making sure she puts just as much time and energy into keeping fit and healthy as she does her career.The 33-year-old was spotted working up a sweaty as she jogged near her home in New York City yesterday.
Meanwhile, the actress has given a nod to her on-screen Washington D.C. life by posing for Capitol File magazine's May/June issue.The star poses in a series of white ensembles for the cover story of the glossy D.C. mag.She tells the publication she has asked the members of her New York book club if they don't mind reading about mental illness and espionage - two subjects which feature heavily in Homeland.
She explained: 'I like nerding out and getting a chance to delve into something I otherwise wouldn't learn about.'
Danes also reflected on doing research for her role as CIA officer by speaking to a female CIA officer at the agency's headquarters in Langley, Virginia.She said: 'It was pretty amazing - they answered all my questions really honestly and directly - it is just such a fascinating culture and career.'
Although Danes films Homeland on location in Charlotte, North Carolina, she reguarly returns to the New York home she shares with husband Hugh Dancy.The English actor currently films The Big C in the Big Apple.
E! Interviews Cover Star Tony Bennett at Los Angeles Confidential's Grammy Party
February 14, 2012
Access Hollywood Talks to Cover Star Tony Bennett at Los Angeles Confidential's Grammy Party
February 14, 2012
Extra: Cover Star Tony Bennett at Los Angeles Confidential's Grammy Party
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Newslink Partners with Ocean Drive Magazine to Introduce a Ground Breaking Concessions Project at Miami International Airport
Press Release
MIAMI, FL (January 31, 2012) -- NewsLink, operator of newsstands, gift shops and cafs at MIA and other leading U.S. airports, has collaborated with South Florida luxury magazine, Ocean Drive, to open a specialty retail complex at Miami International Airport. The new concept, branded The Shoppes at Ocean Drive, encompasses almost 10,000 square feet and is located in the American Airlines North Terminal at Concourse D near Gate 17.
The Shoppes at Ocean Drive is one of the largest duty-paid retail development projects in the U.S. Airport Concessions industry that creates an open shopping concept with amazing branded stores all under one roof, says Raymond Kayal, Jr., President and CEO. We have captured the sophistication of Miami as a major metropolitan city, combined with the unique vibe and essence of South Beach as expressed throughout the pages of South Floridas preeminent luxury lifestyle magazine, Ocean Drive.
The new concept offers travelers a high-end shopping mall experience with multiple specialty brands under one roof. Among the innovative concepts included are Ocean Drive News, a state of the art newsstand that offers the traveling passenger all their travel necessities; Solstice Sunglass Boutique, a leading international sunglass brand; Its Sugar bulk and retro candy concept; Zone 305 Sportswear, a unique sportswear concept that will feature iconic international brands such as Puma, Adidas, Nike, and Hugo Boss Sport; Prive Gourmet Market, an upscale, healthy gourmet shop inspired by the finest markets across the United States and Europe; Mixx Accessories Bar, a trend driven, casual chic womens accessories concept; Lets Play, a childrens toy store that offers Lego, Hasbro, Mattel, Disney and many more; and Shop Britto, a high-end retail gift boutique showcasing the artwork of world-renowned pop artist Romero Britto. The first Shop Britto concept store opened at MIA was awarded 2010 Best Airport Retail Store in the World by Travel & Leisure magazine.
As we celebrate the magazines 19th anniversary, The Shoppes at Ocean Drive offers readers, both local and international, another level of interaction with the pages of South Floridas iconic luxury lifestyle magazine, says Ocean Drive magazine Publisher, Courtland Lantaff, The Shoppes at Ocean Drive brings the stories, fashions and most in-demand products found within the book to life.
NewsLink is a Miami-based company that employs over 500 customer service oriented individuals. NewsLink owns and operates retail and food & beverage locations at Miami, Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood, Boston-Logan, Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy and Cleveland Hopkins International Airports. In addition, for the third consecutive year (2009, 2010 and 2011), NewsLink has been recognized as the Best Newsstand Operator, Small Retailer Division, by Airport Revenue News, a leading trade publication in the airport concessions industry.
OceanDrive magazine, celebrating 19 years, is the quintessential fashion and lifestyle magazine for South Florida, delivering the latest trends in fashion, beauty, art, travel, real estate, and entertainment. With its infectious glimpse into high and hip society, this glossy, oversized coffee-table book has become a staple in the homes of discerning, high-end audiences. Featuring sizzling content that is always ahead of the curve, Ocean Drive magazine delivers firsthand knowledge of new trends and captures the essence of the American Riviera. Ocean Drive magazine is published by Niche Media LLC., a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group (GMG), which traces its roots back to the launch of the Las Vegas Sun in 1950. Niche Media is the country's preeminent regional lifestyle publishing company, whose city-specific publications include: Art Basel Miami Beach, Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential, Michigan Avenue, Ocean Drive, Philadelphia Style, Vegas and Wynn. GMG publications include: Las Vegas Magazine, Las Vegas Weekly, VEGAS INC and Vegas2Go. GMG and Niche Media titles exceed 35,000 pages with a combined annual distribution of 19 million copies nationally.
Mandi Norwood Appointed Editorial Director; Laurie Brookins Promoted to Fashion Director Niche Media
Press Release
New York, NY (August 29, 2011) Mandi Norwood, formerly Consulting Editorial Director for Niche Media has just been appointed permanent Editorial Director. Simultaneously, the announcement was made that Laurie Brookins will be elevated to Fashion Director. Norwood will oversee editorial and creative content for Niche Medias ten luxury lifestyle publications, while Brookins will direct the Niche Media fashion team's coverage across all titles, working to achieve new heights in luxury-driven coverage thats erudite, sophisticated and well-curated for each of the respective markets.
As Consulting Editorial Director, Mandi Norwood quickly became an integral part of our team, expanding the editorial features and capturing the rich content that defines our world-class magazines, says Katherine Nicholls, President & Chief Operating Officer of Niche Media. Mandi brings a unique perspective to our company; the international scope and scale of her journalistic experience combined with her appreciation and understanding of our locally focused titles makes her the ideal candidate for such a key role.
Norwood brings more than 20 years of experience in journalism across magazines and newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic. The creator and founder of SHOP Etc, which she launched with the Hearst Corporation in 2004, Norwood has gained a vibrant reputation in the publishing world for pioneering unique and compelling editorial products, originating and spearheading branding campaigns, and authoring two successful books, Michelle Style: Celebrating the First Lady of Fashion and Sex and The Married Girl. Norwood has also helmed the editorial at Mademoiselle, Cosmopolitan UK, Company, and Looks magazines and was awarded British Society of Magazines Editor of the Year in both 1992 and 1999.
Niche Media magazines celebrate the excellent, the exquisite and the exemplary in each of our regions, says Norwood. They connect style setters, taste makers and society's gold standard-bearers with captivating editorial and photography of the highest quality.
Laurie Brookins has proven herself an invaluable asset, added Nicholls. She is highly respected in the fashion industry and has created unparalleled fashion features with her incredible eye for style.
As an award-winning writer/editor with more than 20 years of experience in the luxury market, Brookins reportage of the fashion industrys most high profile personalities has been at the heart of the coverage she has provided to Niche Media. Style luminaries such as Karl Lagerfeld, Alber Elbaz and Christian Louboutin, as well as the industrys hottest supermodels from Gisele Bundchen to Heidi Klum- have been profiled in the pages of Ocean Drive, Gotham and Vegas magazine under Lauries byline. Brookins started as Fashion Editor for Ocean Drive in 1997 after launching a successful career in journalism as fashion editor for the Palm Beach Daily News. Brookins will continue to serve as Editor in Chief of Wynn magazine, the premiere luxury lifestyle magazine for Steve Wynns four award-winning resorts in Las Vegas and Macau.
Niche Media is in the midst of a fantastic period of evolution, says Brookins. This growth will be reflected in our titles as we move into the fall and winter months. Our refinements are deeply rooted in a respect for and desire to showcase the best the luxury market has to offer.
About Niche Media:
Niche Media is the countrys premier regional lifestyle publishing company connecting the affluent reader with the most insightful and engaging content that celebrates and is inspired by our world-class communities. Niche Media is a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group (GMG), which traces its roots back to the launch of the Las Vegas Sun in 1950. Niche Medias city-specific publications include: Art Basel Miami Beach, Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential, Michigan Avenue, Ocean Drive, Philadelphia Style, Vegas and Wynn. GMG publications include: Las Vegas Magazine, Las Vegas Weekly, VEGAS INC and Vegas2Go. GMG and Niche Media titles exceed 35,000 pages with a combined annual distribution of 19 million copies nationally.
Hollywood came back in force to DC for the White House Correspondents Dinner. Many showbiz Democrats passed on the dinner when President Bush was the guest of honor. "I skipped it the last four years," Dana Delaney told our Gatecrasher colleague Laura Schreffler at Friday's Creative Coalition/Capitol File screening of Barry Levinson's "PoliWood." Ludicris, partying with Kevin Bacon and Kerry Washington at Friday's People/Time party, promised that, with Barack on the mike, "This year, people won't be nodding off!" While the New York Times boycotted the dinner (it doesn't want its reporters looking chummy with the pols they cover), other news organizations gloried in the administration officials and celebs they'd wrangled for their tables. ABC touted top White House aides Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, along with Jon Bon Jovi and Kate Walsh. CBS scored Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. CNN claimed Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore and Tyra Banks.
Fortune nabbed Glenn Close and George Lucas while Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw did Time. Bloomberg landed coveted pirate-survivor Richard Phillips. Strangely, "Gossip Girls" hunk Chace Crawford chose to sup with Fox News' O'Reilly/Hannity gang.
It doesn't seem possible that one more word could be written about Marilyn Monroe or Frank Sinatra, but J. Randy Taraborrelli insists. In "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe" (to be published in August by Grand Central Publishing), he describes a scene where Sinatra, in his underwear, discovers his house guest Monroe naked, peering into the fridge. The two, um, defrost. Perhaps Taraborrelli was on the produce shelf, watching. Let these people rest.
Adrien Brody planted the kiss heard round-the-world when he locked lips with Halle Berry at the 2003 Oscars. But he eased up a bit for the scene in "The Brothers Bloom" where his bashful character makes out with a willing virgin played by Rachel Weisz. "She really forces me to submit," Brody told us at the Cinema Society/Thakoon & Nars screening. Weisz rated Brody "a wonderful kisser." And was it a challenge for her to play a virgin? "No, no," said the 38-year-old mom with a wink. "[My first time] was very recent."
Edward Norton plays identical twins in "Leaves of Grass." So did he get paid double to portray a bearded Oklahoma pot-dealer and his tweedy Brown classics professor brother? "I actually got paid half what I usually make," the "Incredible Hulk" star told us at Monday's benefit for the pioneering Soho Rep Theater. Tim Blake Nelson, who wrote and directed the indie, said, "Edward is so good, you forget he's one actor." P.S.: the Tulsa-raised Nelson says, "South eastern Oklahoma has some of the greatest pot in the world."
Surveillance: Alex Rodriguez just moved into his $40,000-a-month rental on Central Park West…Angelina Jolie got two days off from "Salt" to join Brad Pitt at Cannes. (The kids are staying home.),....Lawyer Marc Dreier, due to plead guilty to scamming investors out of $700 million, has been doing interviews with "60 Minutes."...
Brandon "Greasy Bear" Davis remains the black sheep of oil heiress Nancy Davis' family. Brandon, looking thinner but still sweaty, walked the red carpet at Nancy's 16th Annual Race to Erase MS gala in LA on Friday. But when it came time for her sons to pay tribute, Brandon was missing. Also at the sold-out dinner, our Bonnie Robinson reports were honored Terri Garr, expectant parents Tommy and Dee Hillside, and still-on couples Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush and Casey Johnson and Courtenay Semel..
Azzedine AlaÏa,still fuming that none of his dresses were included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's new Costume Institute show, blames Vogue editor Anna Wintourfor icing him out of the exhibit. "She behaves like a dictator, and everyone is terrified of her," he tells Women's Wear Daily. "But I'm not scared of her or anyone."
Charlize Theron gave Will Smith some payback before she presented "America's Sweetheart" as she called him, with a Simon Wiesenthal Center honor the other night in LA. "The first time I worked with him [on 'The Legend Of Bagger Vance'], he punched me in the face," she announced. "He was training for 'Ali.' encouraged him to show me a couple of move. I was completely knocked out…Seriously, though, I'd be happy to be punched out by you anytime."Said Will: "I swear it was an accident."
Martha Stewart loves Four Seasons restaurateurs Julian Niccolini and Alex von Bidderbut wishes they would stop coming over to her table to talk about their hobbies. Especially self-regarding Julian. "Yes, we all know Julian is now keeping bees," needled the domestic diva at Tuesday's roast benefiting City meals-on-Wheels. "He received them as a gift a few years back, which shows you two things about Julian. First, he's the kind of man to whom someone would send a box of bees. And, secondly, he's the kind of man who would open a box of bees and say, 'These are a gift from one of my many admirers!'"
More celebrities are opening up to Los Angeles Confidential, now that New York's own Jason Binn is editorial director. David Arquette told the mag that he's not proud of some of his past behavior. "I've fought the bartender at Coach & Horses because she wouldn't give up the short stick for the pool table, and I've gotten beaten up outside of the Roxbury because I was a p— to Alyssa Milano." Arquette's tuning up his karma by working with Feeding America.
Jason Statham has complained about filming sex scenes in public.
The Transporter star, who used to date Kelly Brook, said stripping in front of dozens of onlookers for new movie Crank: High Voltage was no fun.
"Trying to do an aggressive sex scene is quite difficult, especially in a public place with a crowd of screaming extras with their little camera phones going click-click, taking pictures of your pasty white ass," he told Ocean Drive magazine.
He added: "I've had my fair share of bedroom antics in films, but they were a little more private."
JASON Statham (above) doesn't mind getting naked on camera, but having
simulated sex in a packed shopping mall pushed his boundaries. "Trying
to do an aggressive sex scene is quite difficult," the hunky star of
"Crank: High Voltage" tells Ocean Drive.
"Especially in a public place with a crowd of screaming extras with
their little camera phones going click-click, talking pictures of your
pasty white ass. I've had my fair share of bedroom antics in films, but
they were a little more private."
Movie tough-guy Jason Statham was left red-faced filming a sex scene in a shopping mall - his fellow actors took photos of his bare buttocks.
The Transporter 4 actor had to strip for a saucy scene for Crank 2: High Voltage in front of dozens of extras playing passers-by.
But the British star was in for an embarrassing surprise - when the bit-part actors decided to capture the moment on their cell phones.
Statham tells Ocean Drive magazine, "Trying to do an aggressive sex scene is quite difficult. Especially in a public place with a crowd of screaming extras with their little camera phones going click-click, taking pictures of your pasty white ass. I've had my fair share of bedroom antics in films, but they were a little more private."
"Trying to do an aggressive sex scene is quite difficult. Especially in
a public place with a crowd of screaming extras with their little camera
phones going click-click, taking pictures of your pasty white ass. I've
had my fair share of bedroom antics in films, but they were a little
more private."
........on filming a public sex scene in a mall as told to Ocean
Drive Magazine. Note to self: become 'extra' for movie sets.
Some of tennis' top stars spent Tuesday night in Bed together in South Beach.
Twins Mike and Bob Bryan, Sam Querrey, Amer Delic (accompanied by a Japanese Bart Simpson), Fernando Gonzalez, John Isner, Vania King and Frederico Gil were among the players who attended the kick-off party to celebrate the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open. BEST (Blue Entertainment Sports Television) Tennis co-hosted the party with Ocean Drive magazine. The exclusive event was held at B.E.D. night club on South Beach last night.
A few members of the Miami Dolphins were on hand as was Ramon Singer and husband Mario from Bravo Channel's "Real Housewives of New York City."
Caroline Wozniacki did not make it to the club, but spent the day on the beach for a tournament photo shoot.
BEST Tennis and Ocean Drive Magazine are throwing the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open kick-off party Tuesday at B.E.D. Expected at the invitation-only event: BEST Tennis clients Andy Roddick, Bob and Mike Bryan, Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki. Located on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, BEST Tennis represents more than 20 percent of the top 100 players on both the men's and women's tours.
They've been chilling out in Miami, Florida all weekend, in town for Miami Fashion Week. And yesterday (March 22) Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr were spotted on their hotel balcony after sleeping in until 3pm!
The "Gossip Girl" stars looked a bit tuckered out as they started out their day with some fresh ocean air. They were up late the night before with Jessica's Ocean Drive Magazine reception.
I’ve added 3 MQ photos of Ed with Jessica from earlier today where
Jessica hosted the Ocean Drive Magazine cover party
at Sunset Lounge at Mondrian South.
I'm starting to think that working on the set of "Gossip Girl" is better for your sex life than signing up for Match.com, becoming a millionaire or getting dumped by Madonna since the kids who spend a fair amount of time snogging on camera eventually end up doing it in real life as well.
Co-stars and former undercover lovers, Ed Westwick and Jessica Szhor, have decided to officially take their love public with a romantic weekend in Miami. They were spotted snuggling, groping and kissing all over the peninsula as Jessica was honored by Ocean Drive Magazine.
Poolside, Ed knocked back a few cocktails and Jessica got a little hands-on with her man. But the pairing of Vanessa and Chuck is just the latest romance to jump off the small screen.
Blake Lively and Penn Badgley -- Serena and Dan -- have been dating longer and more successfully than their characters have. But while that duo is splashed all over the celeb weeklies, Leighton Meester has been able to keep her relationship relatively low-key
She's been seeing Sebastian Stan, who plays Carter Baizen on "GG," for quite some time. His character has just reentered the picture, and Blair's life, which is impeccable timing since Sebastian's other gig, NBC's "Kings," received anything but a royal reception when it debuted last week to dismal ratings.
So perhaps Carter is back to stay on the UES. Looks like dating the star of TV's buzziest show has its perks after all!
Jessica Szohr and her boyfriend Ed Westwick escaped the dreary New York weather to celebrate her Ocean Drive magazine cover in sultry Miami. The Gossip Girl couple sipped Bombay Sapphire cocktails in between make-out sessions at the Sunset Lounge at Mondrian on the night of March 21.
March 23, 2009 -- (Miami Beach, FL) -- Jessica Szohr, the stunning actress from the hit CW series Gossip Girl and Niche Media's Ocean Drive magazine March issue cover star was toasted at a chic cocktail party celebrating her cover at Sunset Lounge at MONDRIAN on Saturday, March 21, 2009.
The gorgeous brunette flew into Miami on Saturday morning with boyfriend and co-star Ed Westwick and spent the day relaxing poolside at Mondrian. Later that evening, dressed head to toe in Dolce & Gabbana, the actress enjoyed dinner with friends at Asia de Cuba before heading over to Sunset Lounge to celebrate her cover on the March issue of Ocean Drive. On arrival Jessica posed for countless pictures in front of her cover, even taking the time to stage a mock photo shoot with two teenage fans. When asked in an interview about a love interest, Jessica was coy; yet, inside the event, she spent the evening flirting and dancing with Westwick.
The two CW stars enjoyed Bombay Sapphire cocktails and tequila while partying with friends from New York, including hip hop mogul Damon Dash and Niche Media's Jason and Haley Binn. During the event guests were treated to an impromptu spin session when Westwick, who requested rock and roll songs all evening, hopped in the booth with the resident DJ. Westwick managed to get the entire room out on the dance floor before wrapping the party up and heading back to his room with Jessica for the night.
About Niche Media Holdings Niche Media, a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group, was founded in 1992 and is the country's preeminent regional magazine company with the largest network of city-specific luxury publications in the United States. Niche Media consistently delivers the finest editorial content and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city. Niche Media reaches readers who maintain annual household incomes of at least $200,000 and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in publishing. Additionally, the company brings its publications' pages to life with more than 500 dynamic A-list events across the country each year.
About Morgans Hotel Group/Mondrian Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) operates and owns, or has an ownership interest in, Hudson, Morgans and Royalton in New York, Delano, Mondrian and Shore Club in Miami, Mondrian in Los Angeles, Mondrian in Scottsdale, Clift in San Francisco, and Sanderson and St. Martins Lane in London. MHG and an equity partner also own the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and related assets. MHG has other property transactions in various stages of completion, including projects in Boston, Massachusetts, Miami Beach, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Palm Springs, California.
About Bombay Sapphire® BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® is the fastest-growing, premium gin in the world. The combination of its 10 unique botanicals, vapor infusion process and authentic British heritage secure BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® as a leader among gins, as well as a symbol of style and sophistication. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® i strongly supports inspired adult individuals who create passionate work in design, film and other artistic arenas. For more information, please visit www.bombaysapphire.com.
Who says nice girls finish last? Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr is a small-town gal, but she's hitting it big in the city!
SHE plays a Brooklyn bohemian who's way out of her element in the world of rich Manhattan private schoolers on the hit show Gossip Girl. And Jessica Szohr, who hails from Menomonee Falls, Wisc., says her small-town roots actually help her relate to her character. "My friends were nothing like these kids that grew up on the Upper East Side," she reveals in Ocean Drive magazine's March issue. "When I saw the pilot for Gossip Girl, I thought, 'There's no way anyone actually had lives like that in high school.' Now I have friends that assure me people certainly do."
ACTING UP
While Jessica, 23, isn't exactly a wide-eyed, fresh-off-the bus Midwesterner anymore-- she was a model at age 5 and moved to L.A. after high school to pursue modeling as a career -- she is relatively new to acting. "Most people say it was a specific actor or film that drove them into the business, but that wasn't the case for me," she admits. "When I moved to LA. I decided to try an acting class... I did one scene, and it changed my life. I thought, 'If acting can make me feel like this, that's all I want to do.'" She landed small parts on CSI: Miami and My Wife and Kids and a recurring role on the short-lived series What About Brian before getting her big break as Vanessa on Gossip Girl. "The show has blown up so much." says Jessica. But she doesn't want to play the nice girl forever. "It would be very fun to play someone totally different," she says. But for now, she's enjoying life in the Big Apple, where the show is filmed. "There's such an energy to New York City. I go to museums and hear bands all the time. I love to just wear my iPod, walk around Central Park and get carried away." And don't forget Madison Square Garden. Jess! Though she's keeping the relationship on the down-low, Jessica was spotted locking lips with costar Ed Westwick during a N.Y. Knicks game in February!
We snapped this Friday of 35 of America's top entrepreneurs, who were hosted by Summit Series and invited to meet with White
House officials to share experiences, insights, and suggestions about job creation, energy independence, and health care reform. The group
above includes Twitter co-founder and CEO Evan Williams, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, Blackboard CEO Michael Chasen, Kiva
co-founder Jessica Jackley, DailyCandy COO Catherine Levene, Ecko Enterprises founder Marc Ecko, Trump EVP Ivanka
Trump, Mint.com founder Aaron Patzer, College Humor co-founder Josh Abramson, Tishman Speyer co-CEO Rob Speyer, Niche
Media founder Jason Binn, former Google official Chris Sacca, Tom Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, trendspotter Josh
Spear, Venturehouse founder Mark Ein, Method co-founders Adam Lowery and Eric Ryan, Kluster founder Ben Kaufman,
iContact CEO Ryan Allis, and others. The Summit Series was founded by our own 23-year old
Elliott Bisnow, also in that picture above somewhere.
A small-town girl from Wisconsin, Jessica Szohr finds herself in the middle of Upper East Side, New York drama every week on 'Gossip Girl.' Szohr plays Brooklynite Vanessa, the girl from "the wrong side of the tracks." The actress sits down with Ocean Drive magazine to talk about the show.
Being "back" in high school again: "In my head, I'm always saying, 'Stop! Don't do that!' When you read the mistakes your character is supposed to make in a script, you know from your own life experience what the consequences are."
Her own high school experience: "It was very different from the world on the show, that's for sure. I'm from a very Midwest, family-oriented small town [Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin], and my friends were nothing like these kids that grew up on the Upper East Side. When I saw the pilot for Gossip Girl, I thought, There's no way anyone actually had lives like that in high school. Now, I have friends who assure me that people certainly do."
Her 'Gossip' character: She doesn't understand their world ... But she ends up really falling in love with the things that make them different. Vanessa doesn't change for other people. She says what she thinks, and that's a hard thing to do in high school ... I'm very defensive of Vanessa.... Inside, I do think she’s just a badass girl from Brooklyn."
The show's fashion: "Since I started working on the show, I've become much more aware of different designers; I had no idea who anyone was. The wardrobe team is amazing, so it's been a real education."
February 20th, 2009 -- (Miami Beach, FL) -- Padma Lakshmi,
host of Bravo's Top Chef and Niche Media's Ocean Drive magazine
February issue cover star was toasted at a chic cocktail party
celebrating her cover at Area 31 at EPIC, a new lifestyle,
boutique waterfront hotel.
The stunning TV personality arrived at the event looking effortlessly
chic in a burgundy wrap dress and gold Sergio Rossi shoes. As she posed
with her cover and signed copies of Ocean Drive magazine,
Lakshmi gushed about her spread and grabbed the 30 x 36 inch cover
blow-up with her when she left saying, "I'd like to take it to my mom in
Los Angeles although I'm not quite sure how it's going to work on the
plane!" When asked who she'd like to see grace the glossy's cover next,
Lakshmi replied without hesitation, "Pharell."
Eager fans at the Ocean Drive magazine cover party asked her who
she thought would become the "Top Chef" this season but she remained
mum, claiming, "If I open my mouth, I will either lie or ruin the
surprise!"
Although the slim beauty specifically requested lean proteins and diet
coke, she ended up indulging in champagne and pasta from Area 31,
confessing that spaghetti was actually her favorite food. While Padma
was certainly the belle of the ball, she was not the only Bravo
personality in attendance. Reality TV star and natural food chef Bethenny
Frankel was also spotted sipping Bombay Sapphire cocktails by
the pool.
About Niche Media Holdings: Niche Media, a subsidiary of
Greenspun Media Group, was founded in 1992 and is the country's
preeminent regional magazine company with the largest network of
city-specific luxury publications in the United States. Niche Media
consistently delivers the finest editorial content and advertising to a
controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in
each city. Niche Media reaches readers who maintain annual household
incomes of at least $200,000 and have liquid assets in excess of $1
million, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable
real estate in publishing. Additionally, the company brings its
publications' pages to life with more than 500 dynamic A-list events
across the country each year.
ABOUT Area 31 Area 31, the breathtaking new restaurant on the
16th floor of the Epic Hotel, delivers guests a dramatic menu of fresh,
premium seafood prepared with a Mediterranean influence. The restaurant,
which debuted Dec. 15, 2008, features seafood from its namesake region
Fishing Area 31, the ecologically sound marine waters of the Western
Central Atlantic including the entire Florida coast, Central America and
northern South America, with its menu created by rising star John
Critchley. Critchley hails from Boston where he worked extensively with
world-renowned Chef Ken Oringer. The menu is complemented with a wine
list expertly assembled by Master Sommelier Emily Wines along with an
innovative cocktail list from Master Mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout.
Dining at Area 31 extends onto the outdoor terrace and pool deck with
breathtaking views of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay. The restaurant,
designed by famed Los Angeles designer Cheryl Rowley, offers warm,
graceful simplicity and understated elegance through the adept use of
texture and light. Area 31 is located on the 16th floor of Epic Hotel,
270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami, FL 33131. Reservations may be made by
calling 305.424.5234 or www.area31restaurant.com.
ABOUT EPIC A member of the award-winning San Francisco-based
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, EPIC is located at the edge of the Miami
River and Biscayne Bay, and combines the style of a cosmopolitan
boutique hotel with the amenities of a resort to create a sophisticated
oasis for guests amidst the energy and pulse of Miami. The hotel's 411
rooms and suites are artfully designed by Cheryl Rowley, with
furnishings that convey an understated sense of cool, and all feature
private balconies that provide inspiring views of the city and bay.
Hotel offerings include a 13,752-square-foot wrap-around pool deck with
private cabanas; Area 31 restaurant, offering premium seafood with a
Mediterranean influence; a spa and fitness center operated by Exhale; a
waterfront lounge; 11,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space;
and a private marina.
ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® is the
fastest-growing, premium gin in the world. The combination of its 10
unique botanicals, vapor infusion process and authentic British heritage
secure BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® as a leader among gins, as well as a symbol of
style and sophistication. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® strongly supports inspired
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Thursday, you can spot Indian model-turned-Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, superstar chef Emeril Lagasse, along with Top Chefs Micah Edelstein and Howie Kleinberg, at Ocean Drive magazine's February issue release party hosted by Niche Media President Jerry Powers at Area 31. Also tonight, Rachael Ray, the adorable, pint-sized kitchen marvel, famous for her 30 Minute Meals and quirky sense of humor, will be hosting the Amstel Light Burger Bash at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach. Other chef-lebrities expected at Burger Bash include Bobby Flay, known for his boyish good looks and talent for cooking a steak to perfection, local fave Michelle Bernstein, Rick Bayless, Spike Mendelsohn, Katie Lee Joel, Masaharu Morimoto and Michael Schwartz. Later on, Food Network hottie Tyler Florence will host the Modern Luxury after party.
Bring your Havaianas and a hearty appetite to Bubble Q on the sand behind the Delano on Friday night, where sexy, self-taught judge Tom Colicchio, the "top" chef, will revel in the bacchanal, along with special guests Marcus Samuelsson, Clay Conley, Howie Kleinberg, Ilan Hall, Hung Huynh and Al Roker, to name a few.
Publisher signs multiyear deal with Web-based system
Meredith today said it has signed a multiyear deal with a Web-based ad
portal to provide its advertisers improved delivery and receipt of print
advertising.
The deal--with SendMyAd.com--covers all Meredith titles, including Better
Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Parents and Ladies' Home Journal,
among others.
The portal allows advertisers to submit, approve and deliver materials
to the publisher in PDF form without the postal costs and time
associated with snail mail or e-mail.
Niche Media, publisher of luxury magazines including Gotham,
Vegas and L.A. Confidential, launched its
own portal using SendMyAd last year.
PREVIEW PERFORMANCES WILL BEGIN TUESDAY, MAY 5TH, WITH THE OFFICIAL OPENING FRIDAY, MAY 15TH. THE NEW DATES WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF MANDALAY BAY THEATRE TO ACCOMMODATE THE SET. 25 YEAR-OLD VEGAS-RAISED AMANDA RIGHETTI IS GRACING THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF VEGAS MAGAZINE. YOU MAY SEE HER CUFFING BAD GUYS ON "THE MENTALIST" OR ESCAPING THE CLUTCHES OF JASON VOORHEES IN THE NEW THRILLER "FRIDAY THE 13TH" ANDRE AGASSI AND STEFFI GRAFF AND FRIENDS HAD VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER AT SIMON AT PALMS PLACE. THEY ENJOYED FILLET, CRISPY RICE AND WOK CHARRED EDAMAE TOURISM OFFICALS ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE CORPARATE AMERICA TAKES LAS VEGAS SERIOUS.
Ocean Drive magazine will toast it's February issue release with a chic cocktail party Thursday night celebrating cover star Padma Lakshmi,
host of Bravo's Top Chef. The invitation-only even will be held at Area 31 at EPIC.
"People ask me to tell them to 'pack their knives and go,' but I never
do."—Padma Lakshmi. The Top Chef host discusses
her infamous catchphrase in the February issue of Ocean Drive
magazine.
Ice princess probably isn't the right term for Padma Lakshmi. Even though the Top Chef judge dispenses all her exiting cheftestants flatly with her signature "Please pack your knives and go," the 38-year-old former model from Kerala, India, really, really has a heart.
"I always feel bad because Top Chef is much harder to compete in than it even looks on TV," says Lakshmi, who appears on the cover of this month's Ocean Drive. "I'm with these chefs day and night and I can see how much heart and soul they put into their work. Telling a chef to go home is the single most difficult thing about my job."
The former Mrs. Salman Rushdie opened up about other, better parts of
the gig and what she's up to off the set:
You filmed Top Chef: Miami down here in '07. What did you think of the
dining scene?
"I love the food in Miami. I especially loved all the citrus and seafood. The confluence of Latin flavors and Southern cooking traditions as well as Caribbean cooking all make for a great culinary scene. Some of my favorite spots are Table 8, Michael's Genuine, or just getting tacos at Lime."
You're super thin — how do you do it? Have any guilty pleasures?
"I do try not to overeat, especially when dining out. But it's always hard — starting from when you first get to the table and that big, fat bread basket is eyeing you. My best guilty pleasure is watching old sitcoms and eating grilled cheese and tomato soup in bed."
Are you a fan of reality TV in general?
"I must say I'm not. In fact, as my life becomes busier, I find that I don't have time to turn the TV on enough, but when I do, I'm more drawn to shows like Flight of the Conchords and Mad Men. I have a weakness for old black and white videos of Julia Child's cooking show and documentaries. I've stayed up till 3 a.m. watching things like the history of paint!"
We hear you have launched a fine jewelry collection inspired by your
heritage.
"The line of [cuffs, necklaces and rings] is 10K and 14K gold with semi and precious stones. I wanted to do a line that women could wear with jeans as well as with cocktail dresses. I wasn't able to find anything on the market that really suited all my needs."
If you weren't a chef/host/author what would you be?
"I have really been fortunate to make a professional life out of what genuinely interests me. I love food, film and fashion and my work is in these areas. But I suppose trapeze artist would be interesting."
Sue Hostetler, currently the host of Plum Homes with Sue Hostetler on the lifestyle network Plum TV, has been named shelter and design editor for Niche Media.
Samantha Marcus Yanks is not only a New York style setter but an arbiter of the chic life in cities across the U.S. As the fashion and accessories director for Gotham and Hamptons magazines and a slew of other regional titles, including Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Los Angeles Confidential, Michigan Avenue and Philadelphia Style, Yanks knows a thing or two about luxurious style and her taste is impeccable. Glam caught up with the editor extraordinaire to chat about her current obsessions, inspirations and what she'll be wearing this season. ~Nola Weinstein
Niche Media has named Sue Hostetler shelter and design editor for the publisher's stable of stable of regional magazines. Hostetler serves as host of "Plum Homes with Sue Hostetler" on the resort community television network Plum TV.
FAME GAME, the popular website that analyzes social and media attention, has revealed their top searches for 2008 and Niche Media is at the top of the ranks.
Niche Media ranked the highest in the following Categories for 2008:
Top Organization Profiles of 2008:Gotham MagazineandHamptons Magazine….
2008 Most Visited Organization Profiles: Niche Media’s Gotham Magazine under the leadership of Cristina Greeven Cuomo…
Top NY Media Power Brokers:Niche Media’s Jason Binn…
Top New York Magazine Editors:Cristina Greeven Cuomo (Gotham, Hamptons)…
Top New York Newspaper Gossip Columnists/Society Contributors:Niche Media contributors Debbie Bancroft, R. Couri Hay, and Jeff Slonim…
Please see below for a complete list of category winners:
Top Ranked People Profiles of 2008: (1) Mayor Michael Bloomberg, (2) Anna Wintour, (3) Derek Blasberg, (4) Fabiola Beracasa, (5) Marc Jacobs, (6) Kristian Laliberte, (7) Lindsay Lohan, (8) Martha Stewart, (9) Emma Snowdon-Jones, (10) Paris Hilton.
Top Fashion Designers: (1) Marc Jacobs, (2) Calvin Klein, ((3) Tory Burch, ((4) Diane von Furstenberg, (5) Zac Posen, (6) Donna Karan, (7) Vera Wang, (8) Ralph Lauren, (9) Dennis Basso, (10) Peter Som.
Top Fashion Influentials: (1) Anna Wintour, (2) Fern Mallis, (3) Meredith Melling Burke, (4) Linda Fargo, (5) Andre Leon Talley, (6) Nina Garcia, (7) Hamish Bowles, (8) Roopal Patel, (9) Tom Florio, (10) Candy Pratts Price.
Top New York Politicos: (1) Mayor Michael Bloomberg, (2) Andrew Cuomo, (3) Hillary Clinton, (4) Rudy Giuliani, (5) Bill Clinton, (6) Eliot Spitzer, (7) Ray Kelly, (8) Christine Quinn, (9) Bobby Kennedy Jr., (10) Governor David Paterson.
Top New York Magazine Editors: (1) Anna Wintour (Vogue), (2) Martha Stewart (Martha Stewart), (3) Glenda Bailey (Harper’s Bazaar), (4) Pamela Fiori (Town & Country), (5) David Zinczenko (Men’s Health), (6) Graydon Carter (Vanity Fair), (7) Margaret Russell (Elle Decor), (8) Cristina Greeven Cuomo (Niche Media, Gotham, Hamptons), (9) Deborah Needleman (Domino), (10) Oprah Winfrey (O).
Top New York Patrons of the Arts/Philanthropy: (1) Gillian Miniter, (2) Lisa Anastos, (3) Somers Farkas, (4) Beth Rudin de Woody, (5) Mark Gilbertson, (6) Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, (7) Patty Raynes, (8) Valesca Guerrand Hermes, (9) Muffie Potter Aston, (10) Joanne de Guardiola.
Top New York Famous Children: (1) Ivanka Trump, (2) Liam McMullan, (3) Lydia Hearst, (4) Lauren Bush, (5) Charlotte Ronson, (6) Dylan Lauren, (7) Amanda Hearst, (8) Gillian Hearst Simonds, (9) Samantha Ronson, (10) Mark Ronson.
Top Movers and Shakers: High Profile Divorces and Child Custody Spats: (1) Christie Brinkley, (2) Ron Perelman, (3) Patricia Duff, (4) Blaine Trump, (5) Peter Cook, (6) Heather Mills, (7) Marie Douglas David, (8) George David, (9) Carole Rome, (10) Todd Rome.
Top News Anchors/Media Personalities: (1) Katie Couric, (2) Barbara Walters, (3) Anderson Cooper, (4) Al Roker, (5) Bryant Gumbel, (6) Brian Williams, (7) Matt Lauer, (8) Deborah Roberts, (9) Christiane Amanpour, (10) Poppy Harlow.
Top Entertainment Celebrities: (1) Lindsay Lohan, (2) Paris Hilton, (3) Nicole Richie, (4) Tom Cruise, (5) Molly Sims, (6) Brooke Shields, (7) Mary Kate Olsen, (8) Anne Hathaway, (9) Julianne Moore, (10) Naomi Watts.
Top New York Newspaper Gossip Columnists/Society Contributors:(1) Debbie Bancroft (Avenue, Hamptons, Niche Media), (2) R. Couri Hay (Niche Media), (3) Jeff Slonim (Niche Media, People), (4) Michael Musto (Village Voice), (5) Liz Smith (New York Post), (6) David Patrick Columbia (New York Social Diary), (7) Lloyd Grove (Portfolio, New York Magazine), (8) George Rush (New York Daily News), (9) Cindy Adams (New York Post), (10) Joanne Molloy (New York Daily News).
Top NY Media Power Brokers (Top 5): (1) Richard Johnson (New York Post/Page Six), (2) Jared Kushner (The New York Observer), (3) Tina Brown (The Daily Beast), (4) Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post), (5) Jason Binn (Niche Media).
Top Business Moguls (Top 5): (1) Donald Trump, (2) Rupert Murdoch, (3) Harvey Weinstein, (4) Barry Diller, (5) Jeff Zucker.
Top Artists (Top 5): (1) Hunt Slonem, (2) Jeff Koons, (3) Julian Schnabel, (4) Ross Bleckner, (5) Damien Hirst.
Top Authors (Top 5): (1) Candace Bushnell, (2) Anisha Lakhani, (3) Jay McInerney, (4) Kelly Klein, (5) Michael Gross.
Top Gossip Girl Cast Members (Top 5): (1) Leighton Meester, (2) Taylor Momsen, (3) Blake Lively, (4) Ed Westwick, (5) Penn Badgley.
Top Real Housewives of New York City (Top 5): (1) Kelly Killoren Bensimon, (2) Countess Luann de Lesseps, (3) Bethenny Frankel, (4) Jill Zarin, (5) Alex McCord.
MOST VISITED OVERALL: LARGEST VOLUME OF WEB TRAFFIC 2008
Top People Profiles of 2008: (1) Countess Luann de Lesseps, (2) Count Alexandre de Lesseps, (3) Jill Zarin, (4) Poppy Harlow, (5) Bethenny Frankel, (6) Tinsley Mortimer, (7) Amanda Hearst, (8) Annabelle Dexter Jones, (9) Lauren Remington Platt, (10) Olivia Palermo.
Top Party Profiles of 2008: (1) This World is Yours hosted by Fame Game, Volkswagen, and Z!NK Magazine, (2) Best Buddies Hamptons Beach Bash, (3) Art for Life, East Hampton 2008, (4) Mane Event: A Benefit for Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue, (5) Disney Channel Games 2008 - Red Carpet, (6) The 15th Annual WATERMILL Summer Benefit, (7) EXECULIFE – New York City Launch, (8) New York After Dark: The Museum of the City of New York, (9) Watermill Concert 2008 Last Song of Summer Performances by Rufus Wainwright and Jessye Norman, (10) Princess Grace Foundation 2008 Awards Gala.
2008 Most Visited Organization Profiles: Longstanding fashion magazine (and Anna Wintour’s prodigy) Vogue (1) comes in at number one, followed by Niche Media’s Gotham Magazine (2) under the leadership of Cristina Greeven Cuomo. Third place goes to luxury brand Louis Vuitton (3). Other notables: Vanity Fair (4) and Bergdorf Goodman (9).
Top Organization Profiles of 2008: (1) Vogue, (2) Gotham Magazine, (3) Louis Vuitton, (4) Vanity Fair, (5) American Ballet Theatre, (6) Quest, (7) Hamptons Magazine, (8) Palm Beach Society Magazine, (9) Bergdorf Goodman, (10) Patrick McMullan Photography.
SEARCH TRENDS: TOP SEARCHES ON FAMEGAME.COM 2008
Top Searches of 2008: (1) Paris Hilton, (2) Tinsley Mortimer, (3) Olivia Palermo, (4) Julia Allison, (5) Kristian Laliberte, (6) Jill Zarin, (7) Tia Walker, (8) David Chines, (9) Ariel Moses, (10) Jules Kirby.
Where publishers and printers look to save—and even make money—in 2009.
Vanessa Voltolina and Matt Kinsman FolioMag.com
Magazine production has changed dramatically in the last few years. Tools and standards that have come to the forefront—ad portals, virtual proofing, online insertion orders, PDFs—which weren't exactly new, still gained significant ground.
Today, publishers and printers know there's no single solution. Digital asset management and metadata are all being used, but what's old is new again, with old standbys such as "printing to the numbers" and gray component replacement being resurrected to find cheaper, faster ways to create the final print product.
The publisher/printer relationship often boils down to one factor: Price. Financial pressures have grown significantly over the last year and it's unlikely to change in the near future. But publishers may want to look at the bigger picture and assess whether the cost savings they're seeing are necessarily worth a corresponding drop in service.
Color Management
>Color management continues to be one of the industry's most vital topics, since improvements in color not only improve the finished product, but can yield production efficiencies and savings through reduced waste.
City and regional publisher Niche Media works with its printers to calibrate to the profiles of the presses. "Our make-ready's are faster, we're up to color instantly and consistently because of the closed loop color on the presses," says director of manufacturing Shawn Lowe. "You'll see more publishers partnering with printers as we all fight to keep clients happy and coming back." His goal is to reproduce a common ad better than his competitor, while being consistent across all of its publications so that an ad in Gotham is identical in quality to an ad in Michigan Avenue, for example.
Gray component replacement (GCR) is a technique for replacing gray tones otherwise made from yellow, cyan and magenta separations instead with black ink. Adopted in 1987 by Newsweek, today Time Inc. sees a broader adoption of GCR ink efficiency software with publishers. "The cost savings are substantial and economic forces should speed adoption," says Guy Gleysteen, senior vice president of production at Time Inc. "Similarly, virtual proofing has been in the marketplace for several years, but it seems likely that wider adoption in 2009 is inevitable as publishers focus on viable cost reduction technologies. Both are widely deployed at Time Inc."
Tighter press controls will also play a larger role. "What is needed now is the ability of presses, especially Web presses, to have tighter color control," says Connecticut Cottages & Gardens art and production director Matthew Hageman. "It's the final piece of the puzzle on the way to printing to the numbers. The front end controls are there, the closed-loop color technology is there. The new generation of presses is getting close, so I think it's only a matter of time."
One of Quebecor World's primary technical initiatives in 2008 was assisting with the roll-out of G7 qualification to the Web offset process (the printer claims its Dyersburg, Tennessee plant became the first G7 Qualified Web offset facility in North America). Quebecor World partnered with IDEAlliance to extend G7 Qualification, which began as a sheet-fed process, to Web offset technology.
Is Virtual Proofing Taking Off Or Behind The Times?
Digital workflows enable printers to combine production services once considered distinctly separate, such as pre-press, printing and distribution. Now they've been combined to create a seamless manufacturing process to save time and money without sacrificing quality and service.
"It starts with offering a digital and proofless prepress workflow, moves to a lean, but flexible printing and bindery operation, and goes out the door through multi-faceted distribution systems to cover all channels," says Dan Drake, director of print operations at IPC Print Services. "This allows the publisher to keep advertising open longer because they can submit files later and still get the publication in the hands of the reader faster."
While virtual proofing has existed for years, just 61 percent of publishers used it in 2008 (up from 52 percent in 2007), according to Folio:'s 2008 Manufacturing and Production Trends Survey. "While we have offered it for many years, I believe 2009 will be the year everyone takes a hard look at soft proofing," says Drake. The systems offer more than just proofing capabilities and more stable PDF formats, he says. "It's just like the evolution of computer-to-plate, it took some time, but now the process can be trusted."
In 2009, Hearst will continue to implement virtual proofing with its printers, conduct further tests for fully compliant PDF/X-4 files, and "continue to raise the awareness among the ad community about the importance of including the ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip on their supplied proofs for better print predictability," says William McGuirl, quality assurance director at Hearst Magazines.
One production department, which wishes to remain anonymous, tested the concept that when printing with a printer that has calibrated monitors in the press room, provided the front-end calibration matches that of the printer and the front-end set up converts to a profile that matches the paper stock (instead of converting to generic CMYK), the need for proofs is eliminated. "We ditched virtual proofing over the summer. I realized that as long as my monitors were calibrated, and as long as my front end set-up was the same as the premedia set-up at our printer, virtual proofing was unnecessary," the source says. "The department only uses scatter proofs for the well, which they don't ultimately send to the printer. They went on press with a number of hard proofs, but didn't bring them out until the press was up to color. It was dead on."
Eliminating A Few Steps
Blood-Horse Publications has implemented an automatic e-mail notification for when a file is uploaded to an FTP site. "There's no more watching the site for files. It's watching for us," says print operations manager Lisa Coots. Blood-Horse is also using DALiM TWiST, a premedia job processing system, for all of its files. "This allows us to automatically send the files to our printer, Publishers Press, who is also using DALiM," she says. "As a result, we can view uploaded pages and easily identify pages and forms that aren't complete."
They can also send a new file as a replacement for a previously sent file, and as a result, "can monitor their system to make sure the new file will get printed," says Coots. "We‘ve taken advantage of electronic approvals for some print projects. It's fast, efficient and paperless."
Coots says Blood-Horse is in the process of upgrading the in-house electronic tracking system where "we currently cannot attach digital files to the e-ticket," which will make the system user-friendly for print and digital, and allow them cross-platforming on some projects.
Blood-Horse is investigating an ad system that would allow clients to upload a file, attach it to an insertion order and automatically send it though the DALiM TWiST system. "This will reduce man-hours and make for a more efficient workflow," she says.
Connecticut Cottages & Gardens has seen time-saving benefits from Brown Printing's Web-based workflow. "Since we need less time to ship and proof, we've been able to extend in-house deadlines. This has given our ad sales team more time to sell," says Hageman. "It also allows last minute changes that previously would have caused 12 hours worth of chaos to be dealt with in less than half the time at a fraction of the stress."
Ad Portals Draw Small Pubs
While ad portals—which allow advertisers to submit advertising materials electronically and allow the publisher to place the materials into the correct workflow—were once the realm of larger publishers, smaller publishers like Connecticut Cottages and Gardens have begun to use them (although ad portals overall showed little growth over the last year, with 22 percent of publishers using them in 2008 versus 21 percent in 2007).
"I think ad portals are going to become big business," says Hageman. "They save so much time and aggravation. We've logged more hours than we can count troubleshooting files for people...I think it can even deter smaller advertisers who can't afford an agency from advertising at all. The idea that an advertiser can drop a file on a Web site, have it preflighted in seconds, and upon approval be placed into the printer's workflow, is phenomenal."
Niche Media's success with ad portal SendMyAd makes Lowe think that "ad portals will continue to grow and prosper. Anything that will save time, both in allowing for more ad pages, and in delivery speed to the plant, is important." However, Lowe says that portals can be a double-edged sword. "You have to keep the books open later, but you still have to make your press date and deliver books on time. There's little margin for mistakes, so the first shot has to be dead on."
Niche Media started experimenting with ad portals more than three years ago, and believes that they will "continue to grow and consolidate," says Lowe. "Advertisers are also looking for the speed and additional time to get last minute creative to press."
Niche is also starting to convert to InDesign and Acrobat, particularly "after seeing the industry shift to Adobe, to the point where Quark now has a publishing system that is file agnostic and will take ID files," says Lowe. "The goal is to first reproduce the supplied creative perfectly, since many advertisers are pushing back on poor reproduction."
Postal and Co-Mailing
Publishers have been adjusting for mailing rates, as Periodicals, Standard or First Class postage will rise by just about 4 percent in May. But as publishers know, that's not a given.
IPC's Dan Drake says the Intelligent Mail Barcode—the next generation of USPS barcode technology for sorting and tracking letters and flats—could be as big as co-mailing in terms of cutting costs and boosting efficiencies. "The incorporation of the full-service Intelligent Mail Barcode into magazine distribution systems will be huge," he adds. "It will be mandatory in 2010, but the U.S. Postal Service is expected to raise rates for magazines that do not incorporate it sooner. If you wait until late fall, you could find yourself scrambling."
Traditional Workflow
Ovid Bell emphasizes "lean manufacturing" to cut costs, and is pursuing paper deals with vendors that will have an immediate effect for customers. The printer has installed a new perfect binder, which provides a 143 percent increase in production capacity, and is recasting one of its presses as a cover press, including a sheeter for perfect bind covers.
"We're also working on shorter turn around schedules," says president John Bell, primarily with monthlies that can maintain production schedules. "In the short-run production arena, there aren't many."
The industry may see more manufacturing partnerships between publishers in the same market. "Smaller publications may lean on other publishers to help create, print and distribute their magazines and newsletters, due to reduced staff and increased manufacturing costs," says Coots. "We are all in this together."
Just as publishers are realizing with edit and marketing, there's only so much that can be cut from the manufacturing process.
Lowe says that Niche Media is still "one of the few publishers who run 50/50 splits. Investments in technology are necessary just to stay in the game today."
HIP-hop mogul Andre Harrell recently survived quadruple bypass heart surgery, and his relieved friends celebrated with him the other night at the Upper East Side townhouse of Warner Music chairman Lyor Cohen, where guests included Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Chris Rock, Andre Balazs, Jason Binn, Jellybean and Caroline Benitez, Harrell's son Gianni, 14, who plays point guard for the Horace Mann basketball team, and Gianni's mom, Wendy. "Andre said he was happy to be alive and happy to have all of them as his friends," said one guest, "particularly Sean Combs, who was there at the hospital when he was put under for surgery, and there when he came to in the recovery room."
WOODY Allen fans, rejoice! "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," which opens tomorrow, is the Wood Man's funniest film in decades. At least that was the consensus in Southampton the other night, where the movie - starring Javier Bardem as a sex-obsessed painter in a love quadran gle with Scarlett Johannson, Rebecca Hall and Penelope Cruz - was screened for the likes of Joy Behar, Lorraine Bracco, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Alfie Fanjul, Pete Peter son, Sandy Hill Pittman, Marjorie Gubelmann, Debbie and Leon Black, and Tory Burch and Lyor Cohen. Afterwards at Tus can House, as Robert Wilson and Judy and Al Taubman dined, publisher Jason Binn was joined by Verne Troyer, the minuscule Mini-Me of the "Austin Powers" films, who sat on a couple of phone books.
WOODY Allen fans, rejoice! "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," which opens tomorrow, is the Wood Man's funniest film in decades. At least that was the consensus in Southampton the other night, where the movie - starring Javier Bardem as a sex-obsessed painter in a love quadran gle with Scarlett Johannson, Rebecca Hall and Penelope Cruz — was screened for the likes of Joy Behar, Lorraine Bracco, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Alfie Fanjul, Pete Peter son, Sandy Hill Pittman, Marjorie Gubelmann, Debbie and Leon Black, and Tory Burch and Lyor Cohen. Afterwards at Tus can House, as Robert Wilson and Judy and Al Taubman dined, publisher Jason Binn was joined by Verne Troyer, the minuscule Mini-Me of the "Austin Powers" films, who sat on a couple of phone books.
Earlier this month, Niche Media (Gotham/L.A. Confidential, etc.) ceo Jason Binn announced the hire of
national ad director Steve McEvoy. He was Elle publisher from 2003−2004....
A pay day may be getting closer for Richard Ekstract, the 70-year-old magazine entrepreneur who put Hamptons Cottages & Gardens and
three other titles on the block.
First-round bids are due this week, though the deadline doesn't seem to be hard and fast.
Sources said that the company was hit with a flurry of new offers when Media Ink first reported that the titles were on the block.
Jason Binn's Niche Media and Michael Kong's Modern Luxury Media aren't believed to be participating in the auction. But
Sandow Media, which recently purchased Worth magazine, is said to be still in the hunt.
In addition to Hamptons titles, the group includes Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens, Connecticuit Cottages & Gardens and Westchester
Cottages & Gardens.
The group is projected to have sales of $7 million in 2008, and is said to be clearing a six-figure profit.
Chicago, IL. (June 6, 2008)— Ivanka Trump dazzled the crowd last night during a private cocktail reception hosted by Michigan Avenue magazine at the new Trump Hotel and Tower. With the sixteenth floor space filled with Chicago elite, Trump talked about her excitement for the launch of Michigan Avenue magazine, her love of Chicago and how fantastic it was to finally be in the recently completed hotel.
Introduced as "The One and Only Trump" by Niche Media's CEO Jason Binn, Ivanka joked that she thought Binn was introducing her father with a welcome like that. "When Jason called me to celebrate the launch of Michigan Avenue magazine, I was thrilled to be here," Trump continued. "For the past year I have been schlepping around in construction boots and a hard hat, and now that the hotel is done my day is filled with spa treatments, and lunch and dinner at Sixteen. This is all due diligence!"
Ivanka went on to refer to the Michigan Avenue staff as a "team of genius" stating that the magazine will become Chicago's go-to publication for cutting-edge fashion, celebrity, social and lifestyle coverage. Michigan Avenue magazine will be displayed in the guest rooms at Trump Hotel and Tower.
Guests of the party including Christie Hefner of Playboy Magazine, Publishing magnates Linda Johnson Rice and Shawn Donnelly, event co-host Neal Zucker, and fashion designer, Maria Pinto sipped on champagne and signature cocktails, nibbled on Asian and Italian fare and chatted the night away with Michigan Avenue's Executive Editor Susanna Homan, and Publisher Dan Uslan.
Michigan Avenue is synonymous with Chicago and Michigan Avenue magazine, debuting on September 15, 2008, will be the talk of the town, celebrating the lifestyles and passions of this city's most affluent and sophisticated readers. High-impact covers and witty, intelligent editorial content will make Michigan Avenue magazine a must-read. Every issue will feature interviews, fashion stories, an inside-look with celebrity contributors, product and accessories trends, home design, art, restaurants, theatre, entertainment, and amazing photos of the people and places that make Chicago so special.
About Niche Media Holdings: Niche Media, a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group, was founded in 1992, and is the country's preeminent regional magazine company, with the largest network of city-specific luxury publications in the US. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, advertisers are assured that with our exclusive estate and home-delivery program, Niche Media reaches readers who maintain annual household incomes of at least $250,000, own homes valued at more than $1 million, and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in publishing.
Niche Media consistently delivers the finest editorial content and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city. Additionally, the company brings its publications' pages to life with more than 500 dynamic A-list events across the country each year. With its 320 full-time employees, Niche produces more than 29,000 pages annually, and its titles have a combined distribution of more than 900,000. At an average of 5.9 readers per copy and a total of more than 5.3 million readers total, Niche's titles provide advertisers and marketers with a direct connection to the most desirable markets across the country.
Potential buyers include Adam Sandow, the CEO of Sandow Media, which recently purchases Worth magazine from CurtCo Media, and Michael Kong's
Modern Luxury Media, whichi s backed by Clarity Partners; New York magazine owner Bruce Wasserstein and Jason Binn, the self-styled unofficial
mayor of the Hamptons.
Cristina Cuomo, previously vice chairman of Niche Media, has been named editor-in-chief of Gotham and Hamptons magazines. Former Hamptons editor Cindi Cook will remain a contributor while former Gotham editor Keija Minor is now editor-in-chief at Uptown magazine.
Cuomo Feted at 8(th) Annual Gotham Magazine Gala with Cover Stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin at 30 Rock's Rainbow Room
NEW YORK -- Niche Media CEO Jason Binn has named Cristina Cuomo Editorial Director of the company's New York-based publications, Gotham and Hamptons magazines. She will also work on the recently acquired Philadelphia Style, as well as Michigan Avenue in Chicago, launching in September.
As Editorial Director, Cuomo will be responsible for overseeing the editorial pages and securing and managing the magazine's high-profile contributors and covers. She will also be tasked with generating content that focuses on New York and Hamptons-based personalities, establishments and the best that the city has to offer in the worlds of fashion, beauty, interior design, real estate, business, entertainment, culture and dining.
"Cristina's innovative ideas, creativity and passion for the lifestyle we report on are a great asset to us," said Binn. "She perfectly exemplifies the Niche reader and we are thrilled to have her on the editorial side."
Cristina joined forces with Jason Binn in 2001 as the Vice-Chairman of Niche Media. In that position, Cuomo worked closely with marketing, event promotions, advertising, and editorial, ensuring proper branding for the Niche Media model in each respective market. Prior to her arrival, she founded and ran the lifestyle magazine, Manhattan File, as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief for seven years, as well as its offshoots, Hamptons File and Vegas File. She was also editor of Hamptons for three years prior to founding Manhattan File.
She is a graduate of Cornell University and is married to ABC's "Good Morning America" News Anchor, Christopher Cuomo, son of New York's three-term Governor, Mario Cuomo. The Cuomos live on the Upper West Side of New York with their two children, Bella and Mario. She is an avid supporter of Turnaround for Children, the New York Public Library, The New York Botanical Gardens, HELP and Mentoring USA, among other charities.
About Niche Media Holdings: Niche Media, a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group, was founded in 1992, and is the country's preeminent regional magazine company, with the largest network of city-specific luxury publications in the US. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, advertisers are assured that with our exclusive estate and home-delivery program, Niche Media reaches readers who maintain annual household incomes of at least $250,000, own homes valued at more than $1 million, and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in publishing.
Niche Media consistently delivers the finest editorial content and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city. Additionally, the company brings its publications' pages to life with more than 500 dynamic A-list events across the country each year. With its 320 full-time employees, Niche produces more than 29,000 pages annually, and its titles have a combined distribution of more than 900,000. At an average of 5.9 readers per copy and a total of more than 5.3 million readers total, Niche's titles provide advertisers and marketers with a direct connection to the most desirable markets across the country.
Niche Media has acquired Philadelphia Style, Philadelphia's premier lifestyle and fashion publication, from DLG Media Holdings' Dana Spain-Smith. The addition marks another significant expansion of Niche Media's range of publications.
"It's an incredible time of growth for Niche Media, and Philadelphia is an exciting place to be," said Brian Greenspun, chairman of Niche Media Holdings.
"Philadephia Style fits perfectly into the Niche portfolio," added Greenspun Media Group President Michael T. Carr.
"With the per capita income of the Philadelphia metropolitan area making it the fifth most affluent market in the US (Bureau of Economic Analysis 2006), our advertisers and readers will now have unprecedented access to yet another of the country's great wealth markets," said Jason Binn, CEO and founder of Niche Media.
Added Jerry Powers, president of Niche Media: "We could not have asked for a better way to enter the market than with the deep-rooted Philadelphia Style name."
Philadelphia Style, established in 1997, will relaunch with the May issue of the magazine under the Niche Media umbrella, with the signature oversize glossy format and editorial that chronicles lifestyle and fashion for the city's most affluent residents. The magazine will also highlight the movers and shakers who capture the style and sophistication of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Style will continue to distribute 70,000 copies per issue; the frequency will also remain the same. Philadelphia Style founder and Publisher John Colabelli and Editor Sarah Schaffer and their respective staffs will continue to work in tandem to deepen the magazine's reach and influence within the community.
About Niche Media Holdings: Niche Media, a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group, was founded in 1992, and is the country's preeminent regional magazine company, with the largest network of city-specific luxury publications in the US. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, advertisers are assured that with our exclusive estate and home-delivery program, Niche Media reaches readers who maintain annual household incomes of at least $250,000, own homes valued at more than $1 million, and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in publishing.
Niche Media consistently delivers the finest editorial content and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city. Additionally, the company brings its publications' pages to life with more than 500 dynamic A-list events across the country each year. With its 320 full-time employees, Niche produces more than 29,000 pages annually, and its titles have a combined distribution of more than 900,000. At an average of 5.9 readers per copy and a total of more than 5.3 million readers total, Niche's titles provide advertisers and marketers with a direct connection to the most desirable markets across the country.
Niche Media CEO Jason Binn has named Susanna Homan executive editor of the company's upscale lifestyle launch, Michigan Avenue magazine, debuting September 15, 2008.
As executive editor, Homan is responsible for overseeing the editorial pages and securing and managing the magazine's high-profile contributors. She is also tasked with generating content that focuses on Chicago-based personalities, establishments and the best that the city has to offer in the worlds of fashion, beauty, interior design, real estate, business, entertainment, culture and dining.
"Susanna brings a passion and wealth of knowledge for the greater metropolitan area that will be a vital asset in creating and establishing an unprecedented Niche Media publication in Chicago," said Binn. "We are thrilled to have such a talent on board."
Homan is a well-established name in Chicago; she's spent the last seven years writing one of the city's most popular columns, "Susanna's Night Out" in the Chicago Sun-Times. She also pens the Sun Times' weekly feature "Shopping With Susanna" and will continue to contribute both pieces to the newspaper.
Her most recent position was as vice president and director of corporate communications at Chicago-based Cramer-Krasselt advertising, the country's third-largest independent agency with billings of nearly $1 billion in 2007. In addition, Homan previously served as a weekend talk radio host for WCKG-FM and is a frequent contributor on the FOX and NBC Chicago affiliates.
Homan graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism.
About Niche Media Holdings: Niche Media, a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group is the country's preeminent regional magazine group with the largest network of upscale lifestyle publications. Founded in 1992, its 19 distinct publications--Art Basel Miami Beach, Aspen Peak, Atlanta Peach, Bal Harbour, Boston Common, Bridgehampton Polo, Capitol File, CityCenter Las Vegas, Florida Inside Out, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential, Michigan Avenue, Ocean Drive, Ocean Drive Español, Style: Palazzo/ The Venetian, Trump, Vegas, Venetian Style, and Wynn—maintain a readership that is second to none. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, clients are assured that through our exclusive estate and home-delivery program, our readers maintain at least $250,000 annual household incomes, own homes valued at more than $1 million, and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million.
All of this makes the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in the country. By celebrating the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate, and nightlife, Niche Media magazines consistently deliver the finest editorial and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city. Additionally, the company brings its publications' content to life with over 500 dynamic A-list events across the country each year. With its 300 full-time employees, Niche produces more than 27,000 pages annually, and its titles have a combined distribution of over 800,000. At an average of 5.9 readers per copy and 4.7 million readers total, Niche's titles provide advertisers and marketers a direct connection to the most affluent people in the most desirable markets across the US.
Fox Greenberg Public Relations
Sarah Greenberg/Kaitlyn Reilly
212-334-1212
Aspen, Colorado (January 2, 2008) Denise Rich and Ivana Trump rang in the New Year in style, joining Niche Media CEO Jason Binn to host Niche Media's Annual Aspen Peak magazine New Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2007 at The St. Regis Resort, Aspen.
Rich and Trump took their co-hosting duties seriously, dressing alike in similar metallic silver dresses and enthusiastically counting down the New Year on stage with Binn. Homerun slugger Barry Bonds and Yankees' player David Winfield held court in the luxurious Viceroy Snowmass Resorts & Residences' lounge created by Related Westpac, while hotelier Vikram Chatwal mingled among the crowd. Over 750 guests enjoyed special libations by Christiania Vodka, Redwood Creek Wines, Sapporo beer, FIJI water, and 8 O'Clock Coffee and danced until the early morning to the sounds of local Denver band, Jerry Barnett and Club Extreme.
About Niche Media Holdings: About Niche Media Holdings: Niche Media, a subsidiary of Greenspun Media Group is the country's preeminent regional magazine group with the largest network of city-specific luxury publications in the country.
Founded in 1992, its 16 distinct publications—Atlanta Peach, Art Basel Miami Beach, Aspen Peak, Bal Harbour, Boston Common, Capitol File, Florida Inside Out, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential, Michigan Ave., Ocean Drive, Ocean Drive Español, Vegas, Venetian Style, and Wynn—maintain a readership that is second to none. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, advertisers are assured that the majority of Niche Media readers maintain at least $250,000 annual household incomes, own homes valued at more than $1 million, and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in the country. By celebrating the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate, and nightlife, Niche Media magazines consistently deliver the finest editorial and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city. Additionally, the company brings its publications' content to life with more than 500 dynamic A-list events across the country each year. With its 300 full-time employees, Niche produces more than 27,000 pages annually, and its titles have a combined distribution of more than 800,000. At an average of 5.9 readers per copy and 4.7 million readers total, Niche's titles provide advertisers and marketers a direct connection to the most affluent people in the most desirable markets across the US.
Media Contacts
Fox Greenberg Public Relations, 212-334-1212
Sarah Greenberg/Kaitlyn Reilly
October 29, 2007 -- BOCA RATON, Fla. - Jason Binn, president of Niche Media, again stole the show opening night at the American Magazine Conference with his now famous dinner party, drawing media reporters and guests as diverse as Dan Rather and the Miami Heat's Alonso Mourning.
Rather told Media Ink that he has every intention of seeing his lawsuit against CBS Inc. through the sworn deposition stage and beyond.
Newsweek Chairman Rick Smith, clearly near the end of his long and distinguished career, told us that he has no intention of writing a book about his days of working with the late Katharine Graham and running the news magazine for the Washington Post Co.
However, if he changes his mind, Media Ink thinks he has plenty of material to draw upon.
He recalled how Graham wanted to fire veteran Newsweek Editor Maynard Parker back in 1984 and appoint Smith as his replacement. But Smith intervened and convinced Graham and the board to keep Parker on board as editor, with Smith vowing to help keep Parker from going off the rails on major stories as he had done several years earlier with the publication of the now-debunked Hitler Diaries.
Parker ended up staying and serving admirably for the rest of his career until his death from leukemia in 1998.
But as riveting as the anecdote might be, Smith said he has no intention of "taking a walk down memory lane" with his own memoir.
"I've seen too many editors write bad books," he said.
Such is not the case with many of the party's other attendees.
New York Times scribe David Carr said he is working on final edits on his memoir about his days of addiction and then his career as an editor, reporter and columnist, which he is writing for big bucks for Simon & Schuter's David Rosenthal.
Carr said he's hoping the book makes it onto the spring 2008 list so it is not running into all the important books that are bound to make an appearance during the election cycle.
People Managing Editor Larry Hackett was one of only a very few Time Inc. people on hand at this year's event.
He interviewed former White House press secretary Tony Snow at the opening session Sunday night.
Snow said he thought the race for the presidential nomination was all but over for the Democrats, with Hillary Clinton all but walking away with it, but not so for the Republicans. He scurried out after his talk and skipped the Binn dinner.
The parent corporation of Beverly Hills-based magazine "L.A. Confidential" has merged with two similar companies to create a portfolio of 16 upscale city publications.
Niche Media, owner of "Confidential," will combine with Nevada-based Greenspun Media Group and Ocean Drive Media Group in Florida. The unified operation will distribute more than 750,000 copies of its publications and produce more than 24,000 pages per year. With an average of 5.9 readers per copy, the titles will reach more than 4.4 million readers.
All the publications will follow a controlled circulation strategy targeting wealthy households.
"Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, advertisers are assured that the majority of Niche Media readers maintain at least $250,000 annual household incomes, own homes valued at more than $1 million, and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million," according to the company.
"We provide our advertising and marketing partners with a powerful and proven luxury magazine portfolio," said Jason Binn, publisher of L.A. Confidential and chief executive officer at Niche Media.
Although technically a merger, the conglomerate will carry the name of Niche Media. The new company will have 300 employees.
Besides "Confidential," Niche Media currently owns "Aspen Peak," "Boston Common," "Capitol File," "Gotham" and "Hamptons." Greenspun Media brings "Vegas" and the casino titles "Venetian Style" and "Wynn." Ocean Drive has "Atlanta Peach," "Bal Harbour," "Ocean Drive," "Ocean Drive Español" and "Florida InsideOut."
In addition to magazines, the new Niche Media will reach consumers in all 16 markets through hundreds of events, including fashion shows, parties and dinners.
The merger will give the magazines better access to national consumer advertisers. It also will "enable our media group to enter new markets more effectively in the United States and internationally, including Asia and Europe," said Greenspun Media Group President Michael Carr.
The three most prominent controlled-circulation publishers, Greenspun Media Group, Niche Media Holdings, and Ocean Drive Media Group, have announced an agreement to form a strategic partnership uniting the founders, Brian Greenspun, Jason Binn, and Jerry Powers.
This partnership brings together the three luxury publishing companies and unifies the operations of the publications in the most prestigious network of city-specific magazines. This gives marketers a direct connection into each of America's wealthiest communities. The new entity will have a combined distribution of more than 750,000 and will provide advertisers access to the most affluent people in desirable markets across the U.S. With an average of 5.9 readers per copy, the titles reach more than 4.4 million readers. The Greenspun luxury magazine portfolio includes City Center, Vegas, Venetian Style and Wynn; Niche Media's luxury magazine collection includes Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons and Los Angeles Confidential; and Ocean Drive Media Group includes Art Basel, Atlanta Peach, Bal Harbour, Ocean Drive, Ocean Drive Español and Florida InsideOut.
All of the titles will now operate under one umbrella as Niche Media.
The successful luxury, controlled-circulation publishing model that Jason Binn and Jerry Powers created 15 years ago with Ocean Drive magazine will now include a total of 16 publications. The management team will combine the strengths of Greenspun Luxury Group, Niche Media, and the Ocean Drive Media Group, a team that has achieved consistent growth in revenues, page counts, and staffing of approximately 20 percent every year since 1992. The united company will employ more than 300 full-time employees and produce more than 24,000 pages each year.
With the merger, advertisers now have a unique opportunity to connect to each of these 16 wealth markets in a distinctly refined style. Additionally, the company brings the brand to life through the execution of more than 500 dynamic A-list events across the country every year.
This collection of luxury lifestyle magazines celebrates the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate, and nightlife, with the most prominent leaders of each community celebrating their hobbies and interests as contributors. These publications maintain a readership that is second to none by delivering readers with the highest disposable income. Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, advertisers are assured that the majority of Niche Media readers maintain at least $250,000 annual household incomes, own homes valued at more than $1 million, and have liquid assets in excess of $1 million.
"Jason and Jerry are both passionate about the category they invented," said Brian Greenspun. "This is a very exciting time for our publishing venture as we continue to build a world-class media company."
"These well-respected publishers and businessmen have established incredible properties that enable our media group to enter new markets more effectively in the United States and internationally, including Asia and Europe," added Greenspun Media Group President Michael T. Carr.
"We provide our advertising and marketing partners with a powerful and proven luxury magazine portfolio," said Jason Binn. "We have each developed nationally recognized publications that are locally relevant."
"This strategic partnership will make us the most powerful luxury publisher in the country," said Jerry Powers. "Ocean Drive Media Group's stable of readers and clients will now be able to simplify and amplify their access to a broader reach of the wealthiest segment of society."
About Greenspun Media Group
The Greenspun Media Group is managed by The Greenspun Corporation with headquarters in Henderson, Nev. Its primary businesses include the newspaper and magazine publications In Business Las Vegas, Las Vegas Home & Design, Las Vegas Magazine (LVM) and LVM2Go, Las Vegas Life magazine, Las Vegas Weekly, The News Community Newspapers, The Ralston Report, VEGAS Magazine, VegasGolfer magazine and the Interactive Media Department. GMG is owned by the Greenspun family, which also publishes the Las Vegas Sun daily newspaper, owns the Web site VEGAS.com; Vegas TV, KTUD TV 14, Las Vegas' number one independent TV station and Las Vegas ONE, a partnership with KLAS TV-8 and Cox Communications on an all-news cable channel.
About Niche Media Holdings, LLC
Niche Media Holdings, LLC is the country's pre-eminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through its distinct publications Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential magazines. Renowned for reaching the most affluent consumers, the pages of these upscale glossies are some of the most valuable real estate in the country. By celebrating the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate, and nightlife, the magazines consistently deliver the finest editorial and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city.
About Ocean Drive Media Group
Ocean Drive Media Group publishes Ocean Drive magazine, Ocean Drive Español, home and design magazine, Florida Inside Out, Vegas, a monthly joint venture with the Greenspun Media Group, Atlanta Peach, and Ocean Drive Venezuela and boasts custom publishing projects, including Venetian Style and Wynn, the in-room magazines for those resorts in Las Vegas, Bal Harbour, the seasonal magazine for South Florida's most upscale shopping destination, the Bal Harbour Shops, Art Basel: Miami Beach, the industry magazine to the world's largest contemporary art fair and CRYSTAL, the new in-cabin magazine for Crystal Cruises.
Contacts:
Fox Greenberg Public Relations
Sarah Greenberg
212-334-1212 sarah@foxgreenberg.com
NICHE MEDIA'S CELEB COVER PARTIES BUILD BRAND BUZZ HOW THE ULTRA-LUXE MAGAZINE PUBLISHER USES EVENTS TO BUILD BUSINESS, AND ITS BRANDS.
Nearly every issue of Niche Media's six magazines is celebrated with a private party complete with celebrity cover star, millionaire-packed guest list and flashing cameras from the most notorious members of the print and television press. Niche Media's six luxury regional lifestyle titles are mailed to a select group of elite readers. Recipients of the controlled circ magazines need to pass through three filters: $1 million in liquid assets, $200,000+ annual income, and a home valued at $1 million or more. When your readership base is cream of the crop you naturally draw in top advertisers who want to reach consumers with money to spend.
Events are a core part of Niche's overall business platform. The publisher producers nearly 250 events per year, 30 of which are cover parties. Other events focus on raising money for charities and a variety of other parties including individual advertiser events. "As much as distribution, the right advertising environment, the right contributors, infrastructure and staffing are important, it's also about events and marketing your product," says CEO Jason Binn.
Niche group marketing director Emily Kampner has a four-person Manhattan-based staff that handles all parties for Gotham (monthly) and Hamptons (weekly, Memorial Day through Labor Day), with a designated event director in each of the other cities where Niche publishes magazines. Approximately 300 guests attend the cover parties, which are held weekly throughout the year. At times multiple events are held in one weekend, especially during summer months. "our marketing department in 99.9 percent event-driven," says Kampner. "Everything we do from an added-value perspective and marketing perspective is events."
Due to the financial standing of its readers, celebrities are an added-value to the Niche Media readership base. According to Kampner, celebrities welcome the opportunity to adorn the covers of Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Captiol File, Gotham, Hamptons and Los Angeles Confidential magazines, due to the relationships they have with the magazines.
Binn dips into the company's pockets to throw a cover party for nearly all of his cover stars. With or without funding from sponsors, Niche puts on a party with cover celebrities, select readers, advertisers and press. "It's community building, it's brand building, it's giving credibility to the people you are connecting with in that marketplace," says Binn. "It brings in money but that's not our priority. It's part of our business model to fund these events."
Each party is relevant to the celebrity cover star and the individual market, according to Kampner, who at presstime, was planning a Golden Globes party in honor of L.A. Confidential cover star Penelope Cruz's nomination. Similarly, in December, Boston-native actor Denis Leary celebrated his Boston Common cover with Boston Bruins hockey star Cam Neely in the capital.
Although at times cover parties are held without sponsors, the company does not refuse finding from interested advertisers. For example, for a New Year's Eve party in Aspen with Heidi Klum and husband Seal, Hendricks Vodka joined Aspen Peak as presenting sponsor for the event. The liquor company got its name in top billing alongside the magazine brand on the invitations, signage and every press release. The parties do turn a profit, according to Binn, but that's not his primary concern. "Typically magazines say ‘We're not doing this event unless we raise X amount of money,'" says Binn. "Our attitude is that if it's great opportunity, let's do it, and then, if we can get financial supporters, that's a second priority."
Event marketing comes with ease to Kampner and her staff, which is one of the benefits of the strength of the brand. The cover parties are well-known amongst the celebrities and consumers who attend, while press impressions seem to come with the territory. Although, Niche does work with Fox Greenberg, the coveted guest list is what really attracts the cameras. Binn says relationships with the media are key and when you say a certain someone will be in attendance, you'd better deliver. "If you don't they won't be there next time," he says.
Niche cover parties have been featured on TV programs like "Entertainment Tonight" and "Access Hollywood" as well as in celeb mags like Us and InStyle due to their celebrity buzz-factor. "the key is making sure the event itself has the right people attending and the right feel for the celebrity," says Kampner. "You have to manage the guest list the same way you manage your brand."
New York, New York (February 1, 2007) Giants superstar Tiki Barber celebrated his retirement from the NFL at Gotham Magazine's 7th Annual Gala on January 30th at Capitale in New York.
New Yorkers showed up in hordes at Gotham Magazine's Gala to show support for their favorite magazine and sportsman, Giants running back and Gotham magazine's Yearbook issue cover star Tiki Barber. Tiki's mirror image, twin Ronde Barber, greeted his brother on the red carpet along with New York Giants Eli Manning, David Diehl, Amani Toomer, and Jay Feely. Standing behind the pack of football players was a six year old fan that waited patiently in his #21 jersey to meet his favorite player finally getting a photo and football signed by the beaming guest of honor. The young boy wasn't the only fan to walk away with special memorabilia as an official NFL Pro Bowl jersey, game jersey, helmet, and football all autographed by Tiki himself were prizes in a silent auction which rose over $2500 for charity.
Other guests in attendance included musical legends Jon Bon Jovi and Clive Davis who mingled with Russell Simmons in the VIP area while reality TV stars, Top Chef 's Sam Talbot and America's Next Top Model Caridee English hung out downstairs talking to fans and tearing up the dance floor.
Niche Media LLC, the country's preeminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through its distinct publications Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential, Vegas, Venetian Style and Wynn is renowned for reaching the most affluent consumers, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in the country. By celebrating the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate and nightlife, the magazines consistently deliver the finest editorial and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city.
Contacts: Fox Greenberg Public Relations, 212-334-1212
Sarah Greenberg/Kaitlyn Reilly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mariah Carey is on the cover of Aspen Peak magazine, so no wonder she's going to be in town Boxing Day (Dec. 26) for a launch party at the Hotel Jerome for the issue.
Her people say she'll mingle, talk about an upcoming movie and her new perfume and tell who she's gonna kiss on New Year's Eve.
"I love the vibe of Aspen," she tells Aspen Peak. "Not necessarily the whole paparazzi-celebrity thing, which is cool, but I do stuff like going on sleigh rides with friends. Being out in Aspen is always so amazing and picturesque."
Asked where she's going to stay in Aspen, Carey says, "I don't know yet, but it has to have a hot tub. ... It's a tradition for us to have Santa Claus-looking bikinis, jump out of the hot tub, and roll in the fresh snow." Ho daddy!
New York, New York (November 15, 2006) — Niche Media CEO Jason Binn and Los Angeles Confidential Editor-in-Chief Andrew Stone tapped former E! Online Editor and co-author of Party Confidential, Lara Morgenson as the new Executive Editor of Los Angeles Confidential Magazine, it was announced today. Morgenson will report directly to Stone.
As Executive Editor, Morgenson will generate content that focuses on Los Angeles-based personalities and establishments, the entertainment industry, style, luxury and fashion. In addition, Morgenson will be responsible for managing some of the magazine's high profile contributors.
"Lara is an exciting addition to the Los Angeles Confidential family," said Stone. ÒHer extraordinary background in writing and reporting in the luxury lifestyle arena will be a great asset to us.Ó
Morgenson comes to Los Angeles Confidential from E! Online where she held the position of Senior Editor and conceived of the popular "Hollywood Party Girl" brand which included a column covering celebrities, A-List events and movie premieres to millions of readers worldwide as well as a weekly ÒHollywood Party GirlÓ podcast and radio show on XM and Sirius Satellite. She also co-wrote the party planning guide Party Confidential with Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison.
After studying English at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Ks. Morgenson headed to Boston, Ma to get a Masters Degree from Emerson University in the field of Writing and Publishing.
Niche Media LLC, the country's preeminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through its distinct publications Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential, Vegas, Venetian StyleL and Wynn, is renowned for reaching the most affluent consumers, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in the country. By celebrating the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate and nightlife, the magazines consistently deliver the finest editorial and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city.
Contacts: Fox Greenberg Public Relations, 212-334-1212
Sarah Greenberg/Kaitlyn Reilly
New York, NY (October 9, 2006) -- Niche Media Holdings LLC CEO Jason Binn along with The Greenspun Corporation Chairman Brian L.Greenspun, announced a strategic partnership. The company will conduct business with Jason Binn as CEO and Brian Greenspun as Chairman.
Niche Media LLC, the country's preeminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through its distinct publications Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential is renowned for reaching the most affluent consumers, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in the country. By celebrating the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate and nightlife, the magazines consistently deliver the finest editorial and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city.
The partnership will extend the reach of Greenspun Media Group (GMG) publications into the luxury market now served by Niche Media publications. Advertising and marketing for GMG luxury magazines VEGAS, Wynn and Venetian Style will fall under Niche Media's umbrella.
"The Greenspun Media Group properties represent a strong brand presence in the markets we now serve," said GMG President Michael T. Carr. "This partnership represents a significant expansion into this genre of upscale publishing and the sophisticated audience it serves."
"This is a wonderful marriage of companies for us," explained Binn. "The Greenspun Media Group reputation will allow us to accelerate our market share for our advertising partners."
"Our diverse group of companies has continued to benefit from these types of strategic alliances," added Greenspun. "We will continue to partner with blue-chip companies run by talented individuals."
The Greenspun Media Group is managed by The Greenspun Corporation with headquarters in Henderson, Nevada. Its primary businesses include the weekly newspaper and magazine publications In Business Las Vegas, Las Vegas Home & Design, Las Vegas Magazine (LVM) and LVM2Go, Las Vegas Life magazine, Las Vegas Weekly, The News Community Newspapers, The Ralston Report, VEGAS Magazine, VegasGolfer Magazine and CelebrityWeek.com. GMG is owned by the Greenspun family, which also publishes the Las Vegas Sun daily newspaper, and owns the website VEGAS.com; Vegas TV; KTUD TV-14, Las Vegas' number one independent TV station; and Las Vegas ONE, a partnership with KLAS TV-8, Cox Communications on an all-news cable channel.
Contact: Niche Media
Fox Greenberg Public Relations, 212-334-1212
Sarah Greenberg, sarah@foxgreenberg.com
Niche Media and The Greenspun Corporation have formed a partnership to extend three Greenspun Media Group titles, VEGAS, Wynn and Venetian Style, into the luxury market now served by Niche Media's publications, according to a statement released by both companies Monday.
The three Greenspun publications will now fall under the Niche umbrella, which is comprised of Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File,Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential. The new partnership will conduct business with Niche Media's Jason Binn as CEO and Greenspun's Brian Greenspun as chairman.
"This is a wonderful marriage of companies for us," said Binn, in a statement. "The Greenspun Media Group reputation will allow us to accelerate our market share for our advertising partners."
The Greenspun Media Group is managed by The Greenspun Corporation with headquarters in Henderson, Nevada. Its primary businesses include the weekly newspaper and magazine publications, In Business Las Vegas, Las Vegas Home & Design, Las Vegas Magazine (LVM) and LVM2Go, Las Vegas Life magazine, Las Vegas Weekly, The News Community Newspapers, The Ralston Report, VEGAS Magazine, VegasGolfer Magazine and CelebrityWeek.com. GMG also publishes the Las Vegas Sun daily newspaper and owns several television stations.
New York, New York (October, 2006) — Former Condé Nast Marketer Emily Kampner has been tapped by Niche Media CEO Jason Binn and Group Publisher Lori Burgess as the new Group Marketing Director for Niche Media, it was announced today. Kampner will report directly to Burgess.
In her new position, Kampner is responsible for overseeing marketing, events, promotional activities and branding for all Niche Media titles including Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential, Vegas, Venetian Style and Wynn magazines. She will also be developing in-book and in-market advertising opportunities to be sold across all titles that will be applicable to readers in every market.
"With her extraordinary experience in helping to brand the Condé Nast Bridal Group, there is no doubt she will be able to contribute greatly to our current stable of brands and expand our marketing capabilities in all of our markets," says Burgess.
Kampner comes to Niche Media from Condé Nast Publications where she was awarded "Marketer of the Year" in 2002 and 2005 and "MVP of Marketing" in 2003 for her work in the Condé Nast Bridal Group (Brides, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride, Your Prom). As Director of Merchandising Services for Condé Nast Bridal Group, she developed programs that were responsible for breaking major categories and brands in the magazines such as Cartier, Barneys New York, Pontiac, Ford, L'Oreal and Absolut.
Prior to Condé Nast Bridal Group, Emily was at Glamour Magazine from 1998—2000 and Southern Marketing Manager at cK Calvin Klein from 1996—1998.
Kampner graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas and lives in New York City.
Niche Media LLC, the country's preeminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through its distinct publications Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential, Vegas, Venetian Style and Wynn is renowned for reaching the most affluent consumers, making the pages of these glossies some of the most valuable real estate in the country. By celebrating the worlds of culture, fashion, fine dining, real estate and nightlife, the magazines consistently deliver the finest editorial and advertising to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable incomes in each city.
Los Angeles, Ca. (June 1, 2006) — Former Los Angeles Times Category Manager and Acting Publisher of Distinction Magazine Jo Campbell-Fujii was tapped by Los Angeles Confidential Magazine Publisher Tova Bonem and Niche Media Group Publisher Lori Burgess as the new Associate Publisher for Los Angeles Confidential Magazine, it was announced today. Campbell-Fujii will report directly to Bonem.
In her new position, Campbell-Fujii is responsible for creating and executing new and exciting marketing and promotional opportunities for the magazine as well as working with the local sales team to help sell through special advertising opportunities and develop new accounts.
'This is an exciting appointment for us,' says Bonem. 'Jo comes with an exceptional background in advertising and marketing, making her well equipped to help increase advertising sales and strengthen the seniority of our West Coast team.'
With over 20 years of experience at some of the most prestigious brands in publishing, Campbell-Fujii joins Niche Media from The Los Angeles Times where she served as Category Manager on a desk that brought in over $13 million in yearly billings. Prior to that she served as Acting Publisher for Distinction magazine where she led her team to close their second year with a 20 percent increase in revenues bringing in over $2.2 million. She also served as Associate Publisher of Museums Magazine, West Coast Advertising Director of Stagebill and Wine & Spirits Manager/European Automotive Manager at The New Yorker, and held various positions in advertising at New York Magazine, Buzz Magazine, Caribbean Business and Vision Europe.
A resident of Los Angeles in the Hancock Park area, Jo Campbell-Fujii also owns a second home in Palm Springs and travels often. She has lived in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England and Puerto Rico and speaks French, Spanish, Urdu and is currently learning Japanese.
Niche Media Holdings LLC, is the country's pre-eminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through the pages of distinct publications including Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential. By celebrating the worlds of high-end retail, interior design, fine dining, exclusive real estate, culture, and nightlife, the magazines consistently deliver what is well known to be the finest editorial to a controlled group of influencers with the highest disposable income in each city.
Contacts: Fox Greenberg Public Relations, 212-334-1212
Sarah Greenberg/Michelle Fox
Last fall, Hachette Filipacchi president and CEO and Magazine Publishers
of America president Jack Kliger called on the magazine industry to
re-examine its performance metrics by asking: "Why should an advertiser
care whether a magazine copy is paid or unpaid or how much or by
whom if it delivers readers who are appropriate targets for their
products?"
While that was intended as a rallying cry for an industry plagued with
circulation scandals and dwindling newsstand response, it's not likely
many publishers will abandon their own dependence on circulation
metrics, especially in the fiercely competitive regional magazine
market. In recent years, the regional magazine market has seen
competition grow between two different types of regional magazines:
traditional regional general interest, list oriented, paid
circulation versus the new regional upscale, visual-dependent,
controlled circulation, published by companies such as Jerry Power's
Ocean Drive, Michael Kong's Modern Luxury and Jason Binn's Niche
Media. (SEE: Regional Magazine Glut.) While paid circ regionals
largely have been dismissive of the glossy freebies, the new luxe titles
have made enough dents in the local ad market to demand a response.
Emmis Communications, which publishes behemoth Texas Monthly and
68,177 circ. Atlanta Magazine, falls into the paid circ camp and
recently released a study in which it commissioned Monroe Mendelsohn
Research to examine how readers in three markets-Atlanta, Dallas and Los
Angeles-feel about magazines they pay for versus free regionals mailed
to their homes. The study found what else that free magazines "proved to
be significantly less likely to be read and significantly less likely to
be valued than paid magazines."
In Atlanta's swanky Buckhead community, the study claims just 5.6
percent of respondents hadn't heard of Emmis' Atlanta Magazine,
while 76.3 percent hadn't heard of Paper City and 56.3 percent hadn't
heard of Season. In Dallas, only 4.5 percent of respondents hadn't heard
of Texas Monthly, compared to 80.2 percent for Brilliant and 59.8
percent for Modern Luxury Dallas. In Los Angeles, just 5 percent of
respondents hadn't heard of Los Angeles Magazine compared to 39.6
percent in Angeleno.
The study took an additional shot at freebies, saying a significant
number of respondents indicated they wanted to be taken off circulation
lists, although phrased in generic terms, claiming 94.7 percent of
Atlanta respondents "say they receive too many UNSOLICITED catalogs,
brochures, magazines and newspapers in the mail."
Whether advertisers put significant stock in the study remains to be
seen but it's clear publishers aren't ready to give up paid circ as a
selling point.
As Group Publisher of Jason Binn's Group of Upscale, Regional Magazines:
LORI BURGESS STILL FINDS A "NICHE" WITH CONDÉ NAST.
Her career has included two publisher stints at CN: (1) Mademoiselle
(November 1999 through its cessation in October 2001) and (2) House &
Garden (February 2003 through August 2004). That departure was
well-reported (min, August 23, 2004), but Burgess landed nicely this
February with Binn's Niche Media. Six properties (all controlled
circulation targeted to the very wealthy) are flagshipped by the
18-times-a-year Hamptons (weekly "in season" and a year-end holiday
issue), followed by Gotham (10 times)/ L.A. Confidential
(bimonthly)/D.C.'s Capitol File (five times) and Boston Common (five
times), with the newest being the twice-yearly Aspen Peak. "With 46
releases, I feel like I'm running a weekly," she says, "because all of
the advertising is local. I am more hands-on than I have ever been in my
career," which also included publisher of Seventeen (September 1996
through November 1999) and Elle (May 2002 through February 2003).Proof
came in June, when CN marketers came to her to get their corporate
campaign insert into Aspen Peak's already closed Summer issue (200-plus
ad pages) that was ready to be distributed to local hotels. "They were
desperate," Burgess says, "because, for one thing, they really wanted to
reach Food & Wine's 'Best Chefs,' who meet each June in Aspen, and whom
we deliver to. [Irony: American Express Publishing's F&W competes with
CN's Bon Appetit/Gourmet.] Had I worked at a big publishing company with
all the bureaucracy, I likely would have had to turn CN down, but here I
simply called Jason and quickly worked things out. We hired student
interns in Aspen to put the insert into the magazine and then to
re-polybag them. Issues were distributed in plenty of time."
This Christmas: Burgess will be vacationing (and skiing) with her family
in Aspen, where they own a home. She will also do some Aspen Peak
business (including hosting holiday parties) on the side.
New York, New York (November 10, 2005) — Former Hampton Style Publishing Director Debra Halpert was tapped by Niche Media's CEO Jason Binn and Group Publisher Lori Burgess as the new Publisher for Hamptons Magazine and Associate Publisher for Gotham Magazine, it was announced today. Halpert will report directly to Burgess.
In her new position, Halpert is responsible for creating and executing new and exciting revenue generating ideas for Hamptons and Gotham advertisers as well as managing the local sales teams in both markets. Halpert will also be charged with overseeing the development of the Home category for all six magazines in the Niche Media network.
"We are thrilled to have such a wonderful talent on board as we launch into our 29th season of Hamptons," says Burgess. "With an exceptional publishing career and extraordinary background in the Hamptons area, Debra has expertise needed to help increase advertising sales and will elevate our brands in both markets."
Halpert joins Niche Media from Hampton Style where she served as Publishing Director. In her previous position as Publisher, she created marketing and other added value programs that resulted in increased ad revenue by over 30 percent. Prior to Hampton Style, Halpert served as Publisher of Hamptons Cottages & Gardens and was the launching Publisher of Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens. She was also the Publisher of VIDEO Magazine, a consumer video-devotee magazine with more than 750,000 readers and revenue in excess of $8,000,000.
As a resident of East Quogue in the Hamptons for over 17 years, Halpert also served as president of the Suffolk Region of Hadassah, the Woman's Zionist Organization of America and the founding president of the Pioneer Chapter of Hadassah in Westhampton Beach. Halpert has three children.
Niche Media Holdings LLC, is the country's pre-eminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through the pages of distinct publications including Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons, and Los Angeles Confidential. The company plans to launch Boardwalk Magazine in Atlantic City (2006) and other publications in affluent areas around the country such as Chicago. Remaining consistent with the Niche Media formula, the new magazines will target readers by celebrating the worlds of high-end retail, interior design, fine dining, exclusive real estate, culture, and nightlife. These quarterly magazines will have a controlled circulation of 70,000 each.
Contacts: Fox Greenberg Public Relations, 212-334-1212
Sarah Greenberg/Michelle Fox
Boston, MA (September 16, 2005) Luxury magazine publisher Niche Media LLC will launch Boston Common, a 352 page lifestyle and power scene glossy magazine in Boston, that hits newsstands on September 21, 2005. The launch marks a significant expansion to Niche Media's existing portfolio of publications which includes Aspen Peak, Gotham, Hamptons, Los Angeles Confidential and the recently launched Capitol File magazines.
"I wanted a magazine that truly celebrates Boston," said Jason Binn, CEO of Niche Media. "Boston Common will do for Boston what my other magazines have done in their respective markets, entertain those who live in Boston with a book that celebrates the community they call home."
Boston Common will operate on a similar model as all Niche Media publications in that it will feature the best in food, culture, society, philanthropy, real estate and home design. The magazine will also highlight the personality that captures the movers and shakers in Boston. Boston Commons will showcase the most-informed writers in the region and will be a turn-to resource to access the influential demographic in Boston.
Boston Common's premier issue boasts an impressive roster of noteworthy contributors renowned in their respective fields sharing the following unexpected insights:
Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler gives Boston Common's editor Kim Atkinson the exclusive scoop on his new album, fashion line, tour and home. Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge shares details about the upcoming Celtics season; Renowned Celebrity Chef Todd English discusses traveling to Tokyo; Businessman Chris Heinz raves about his favorite Boston date spots; Owner of Gretta Enterprises and Host of TLC's A Makeover Story, Gretchen Monahan briefs us on fall fashion; and Red Sox wife and philanthropist Shonda Schilling talks about her philanthropy and donations to Hurricane Katrina victims.
Additional editorial content includes a Q+A with Elizabeth Hurley, former New Kids on the Block Joey McIntyre talking to the stars of "Hairspray," Tonight Show host and Andover, Massachusetts native Jay Leno sharing his best Boston jokes, legal eagle Alan Dershowitz weighing in on the new Supreme Court and local rock star Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo talking about the fall music scene.
"It's time to showcase what's smart and sexy about Boston," says Kim Atkinson. "The upscale fashion, nightlife, food, arts and cultural scenes are now some of the best in the world and our magazine will prove this in a creative, thoughtful and proactive manner. The first issue promises to be an exciting page turner!"
"We've created a product that the public and our advertisers will really relate to," adds Publisher Glen Kelley. "Our initial advertising sales, for the premiere issue blew our expectations out of the water. There's definitely a buzz in the city about Boston Common."
Representing the most widely distribution controlled circulation magazine in Boston, Boston Common will print and distribute 70,000 copies five issues a year by way of a variety of distribution channels. Among these destinations are private homes valued at more than $750,000, prominent newsstands throughout the Boston area, prestigious Boston hotels as well as premiere private car and jet services. On September 21, Boston Common will invite leaders in business, media, culture, music, arts, sports and society to an invitation-only launch party that will surely be attended by some special celebrity guests. At the launch party, Niche Media will present a check for $100,000 on behalf of its magazines to the American Red Cross to help aid the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund.
About Niche Media
Niche Media, parent company of Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons and Los Angeles Confidential, is a network of regional publications that caters to the high-end luxury market. With city-specific content from an impressive roster of noteworthy contributors and top photographers, the magazine celebrate the best in fashion, entertainment, food, art, society, design, real estate and business. Targeted distribution has an unparalleled record of reaching an affluent audience in each city by celebrating upscale, luxury brands and services and bringing them to life in an engaging format, both promotionally and editorially.
Media Contacts
FOX GREENBERG PUBLIC RELATIONS
Sarah Greenberg, 212-334-1212
sarah@foxgreenberg.com
Washington, DC (September 2005) This September, Niche Media LLC takes Washington, DC by storm with the launch of its newest regional publication, CAPITOL FILE magazine. Targeting a savvy and affluent audience, Capitol File zooms in on the best that DC has to offer in the worlds of fashion, beauty, interior design, real estate, business, entertainment, culture and dining. Capitol FileÕs smart and sophisticated style promises to captivate movers and shakers Inside the Beltway with city-specific content that illustrates the luxury, glamour, sex appeal and vibrant energy that makes our nationÕs capital such an exciting city.
"Ever since I started planning Capitol File in Washington, DC back in October, I realized what a perfect city it is for a high-end luxury magazine," says Jason Binn, CEO of Niche Media,"Washington is a city that emanates style and sophistication, as well as power. I love that we are able to illustrate what makes Washington so great. This has been my most successful launch yet."
Capitol File's premiere issue boasts an impressive roster of noteworthy contributors with the best of the bold-faced names in Washington Ð renowned in their respective fields Ð sharing unexpected insights on their passions and interests:
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright shares the lessons of traveling 1,038,000 miles; CNN's Larry King pitches his passion Ð baseball, while his colleague, Wolf Blitzer goes full-court press on the Washington Wizards; the Reverend Al Sharpton explains how James Brown changed his life; attorney Bob Bennett briefs us on fly fishing; Washington Ballet artistic director Septime Webre steps up with the best DC venues for dancing; National Geographic "Explorer" host Lisa Ling stays fit on the road; Ali Wentworth on returning to her hometown as Mrs. George Stephanopolous; former Clinton Chief of Staff and unofficial foodie John Podesta shares recipes for the newly married; Redskins owner Dan Snyder tells us how he really feels about this season; Mayor Anthony Williams raves about one of his favorite neighborhoods, 8th Street/Barracks Row, and its recent revitalization; Rep. Mark Foley points out the pros and cons of his travels as a congressman; Hilary Rosen delineates the nuances of sexual preference behind the enemy lines of WashingtonÕs partisan wars; partners and powerhouse lobbyists on opposite side of the political fence, Jack Quinn and Ed Gillespie, go head to head in "He Said, He Said,"and MUCH MUCH MORE!
"It is thrilling to have so many bold-faced names reveal their passions and personalities on the pages of Capitol File. There is a 'wow' factor on every page. You won't want to miss a single page," says editor-in-chief, Kate Gibbs.
"With Capitol File, Jason Binn hopes to change the parameters of society coverage and reporting on the wealthy folk in Washington suburbs," stated Newsweek magazine (May 9, 2005).
Hitting newsstands on September 9, Capitol File, an ABC audited publication, will distribute 70,000 copies locally to households valued at over $1 million, residents with incomes over $250,000 per year and to consumers who spend more than $100,000 on
their personal credit cards. Capitol File also boasts in-room placement in Washington's
prominent hotels, executive car services, NetJets and offices on Capitol Hill. On September 22, Capitol File will invite 800+ Washington-based leaders in government, diplomacy, media, culture, sports, society and business to the Four Seasons to officially welcome the magazine into Washington, DC, celebrating our city's passion for luxury, sophisticated style and panache. The party is closed to the public and is by invitation only.
Niche Media, parent company of Aspen Peak, Boston Common, Capitol File, Gotham, Hamptons and Los Angeles Confidential, is a network of regional publications that caters to the high-end luxury market. With city-specific content from an impressive roster of noteworthy contributors and top photographers, we celebrate the best in fashion, entertainment, food, art, society, design, real estate and business. Our targeted distribution has an unparalleled record of reaching an affluent audience in each city by celebrating upscale, luxury brands and services and bringing them to life in an engaging format, both promotionally and editorially.
Contacts:
FOX GREENBERG PUBLIC RELATIONS
Sarah Greenberg, 212-334-1212
New York, New York (March 23, 2005) — Excitement as Jason Binn's Niche Media team expands into Boston and Washington, DC, with luxury lifestyle magazines, Boston Common and Capitol File. Both publications have recently managed to snatch up a number of top level executives from companies in their respective markets for the launches of the two upcoming publications.
Paige Bishop, sales manager for the Washington Business Journal, has jumped ship to Capitol File magazine where she has been named publisher, according to an announcement made today by Niche Media's CEO Jason Binn, and group publisher Lori Burgess. The appointment of the sharp and market-savvy Bishop, who held various senior-level management positions with Clear Channel Radio prior to driving both local and national accounts for WBJ, comes with the September 2005 launch of DC's new luxury lifestyle publication quickly approaching, and further strengthens what is already a formidable DC-based team. Recruitment is well underwayÑalready hired to head client services is Nazy Nazhand, former Washington Life advertising director, and Francine Berk as senior account manager. Under Bishop's leadership, Nazhand will spearhead Capitol File's fashion and luxury business, capitalizing on her ability to create brand-building, traffic-driving events; Berk, former account manager at US Airways, will spearhead Capitol File's efforts in the travel, hospitality, and restaurant community in DC.
The masthead is no less impressive in DC, as Binn and Burgess have tapped one of Boston magazine's most senior executives, bringing on Glen J. Kelley as publisher of Boston Common and in the process sparking what appears to be a mass exodus to the new publication. It seems Kelley was not the only Boston magazine veteran inspired by the quickly approaching debut of Boston's first true-luxury lifestyle magazine.Kelley, who spent eight years at Boston magazine as one of its top performers was followed by former staffers Carin C. Keane and Deborah E. Rubin, along with Susan Berry, ex-Conde Nast and Hearst account executive. Kelley will lead the Boston-based team heading up all advertising sales, marketing, and promotions for the new launch; Keane will serve as Kelley's lead salesperson, having worked alongside him for the last six years as senior account executive. Additionally, Kelley brings on Rubin who comes from Boston magazine where she was an account executive credited with closing more than $1 million in business in 2004 alone. Rounding out the team is Berry, a former advertising sales consultant for Vogue, House & Garden, CondŽ Nast Traveler and Boston magazine.
Niche Media LLC, is the country's preeminent regional magazine group catering to the high-end luxury market through its distinct publications, including Hamptons, Gotham, Los Angeles Confidential, and Aspen Peak. Boston Common and Capitol File, the two latest Niche Media publications, will debut in September 2005.Remaining consistent with the company's formula, the new magazines will target affluent readers by celebrating the worlds of high-end retail, interior design, fine dining, entertainment, exclusive real estate, culture, and nightlife in each city. These quarterly magazines will have an ABC audited, controlled circulation of 70,000, and will be distributed via several distribution channels to the region's most affluent consumers.
Contacts:
FOX GREENBERG PUBLIC RELATIONS
Sarah Greenberg, 212-334-1212
New York, New York (February 21, 2005) - It was announced today by CEO Jason Binn that Lori Burgess has been named Group Publisher of Niche Media. In this position, she will manage the publishing side of all Niche Media publications, reporting directly to Jason Binn. She comes to Niche Media from House & Garden magazine, where she was Publisher.
"Lori is a true star in publishing," said Steve Florio, CEO of CondŽ Nast Publications for 10 years, and its current Vice Chairman for Advance Magazines. "Lori was very much missed when she left as Publisher of Mademoiselle to become Publisher of Elle. When the opportunity came for me to bring her back into the CondŽ Nast fold to publish House & Garden, I jumped at it."
"Niche Media is a great next step for Lori", Florio continued. "With its top-notch editorial and one-of-a-kind distribution method that has allowed it to penetrate the most affluent homes, Niche Media has created a category that has earned it a great deal of respect from the biggest publishing companies in the world, as well as garnering it the support of the most prestigious luxury advertisers. I am confident that Lori will continue to enhance this national network of regional publications in top markets to further drive revenue streams and build advertiser brands."
"We are thrilled to have Lori join the Niche Media family," added Niche Media CEO Binn. "With her strong background in advertising, she is sure to be an asset to the company and to our growing presence in the marketplace."
Prior to her years at House & Garden, Burgess served as Publisher of Elle, where she was named one of MIN magazine's "People to Watch" in 2002. From November 1999 until the magazine suspended publication in November 2001, Burgess was also Publisher of Mademoiselle. At Seventeen magazine, where she was Publisher from 1996 to 1999, advertising revenue increased 44 percent during her tenure. She began at Seventeen in 1993 as Advertising Director and also served as an Associate Publisher at YM. Burgess began her publishing career in advertising sales at several daily newspapers.
Burgess graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in journalism and business. She lives in South Orange, New Jersey, with her husband and son.
Contacts:
FOX GREENBERG PUBLIC RELATIONS
Sarah Greenberg, 212-334-1212
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