• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, August 2, 2012

ABC Delays New Publisher's Statement

A new, more detailed publisher’s statement is coming from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, including expanded reporting of digital metrics, but it will debut a little later than originally promised, allowing the ABC board to gather more input from publishers, advertisers and ad agencies, per the organization.
 
The board also agreed to defer requiring larger magazines to report issue-by-issue data via ABC’s Rapid Report tool until the new digital reporting requirements are approved.
 
The plan to introduce a new publisher’s statement with enhanced digital reporting was first revealed back in March. At the time, ABC said the new report format would require publishers to report several key metrics for digital magazine consumption, via tablet apps and Web browsers, including the number of unique browsers or devices, total visits and average visit duration.

In addition, only one platform out of a bundled subscription could be counted toward the total circulation. For example, if a magazine sold a digital sub, including a tablet app, a smartphone app and Web access, this would count as one paid sub when calculating circulation. The organization also decided that only digital replica editions may count toward total average circulation. It’s not clear whether, or how, any of these rules will be affected by revisions.
 
Layoffs at Spin
 
After being acquired by Buzzmedia, Spin has laid off 11 employees, or a third of its staff, including Editor in Chief Steve Kandell and Managing Editor Catherine Davis, according to The New York Times, which reported the news earlier this week. Buzzmedia told the NYT that it is nixing plans for a November-December issue, although it remains “committed to moving forward with print.” Buzzmedia operates an online network of entertainment and music sites, prompting earlier speculation that Spin’s print edition might be in jeopardy.
 
Lehrer resigns from The New Yorker
 
Jonah Lehrer is leaving his position as a staff writer for The New Yorker following revelations that he fabricated some quotes from Bob Dylan that appear in his new book "Imagine: How Creativity Works." The fabrications were uncovered by Michael C. Moynihan, and first publicized in Tablet. Previously, Lehrer was accused of plagiarizing his own previous work in blog posts on The New Yorker Web site.
 
Murphy to AmEx publishing VP, custom media
 
Sean Murphy has been promoted to the position of vice president for custom media at American Express Publishing Corporation. He previously served as director of content for custom media. In his new position, Murphy will be responsible for overseeing editorial, creative, client services, marketing and sales for AmEx Publishing’s custom media division. Murphy took a lead role in creating new custom projects for Autograph Collection Hotels, Corinthia Hotel London and the American Express Human Resources department’s Healthy Living initiative.
 
Byrne to publisher, Backpacker
 
Michael Byrne has been promoted to the position of publisher for Backpacker, part of Active Interest Media’s outdoor group. He previously served as the mag's national advertising director, a role he took up in 2010. The outdoor group also announced the promotion of Rob Wood to director of sales and marketing for its National Park trips division, and Elizabeth Averbeck to director of sales and marketing for its trade division, including SNEWS, a subscription Web site in the B2B space for the outdoor and fitness industries, and Outdoor Retailer Daily. Finally, Shannon Davis was appointed editor of Climbing magazine, while the previous editor, Dougald MacDonald, will become editor at large.