• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, December 7, 2007

The fourth annual "Magazines 24/7" conference on magazines' digital platforms, scheduled for Feb. 27and titled "Building Audiences, Building Brands," will get a keynote presentation by Jordan Hoffner, head of premium content partnerships for YouTube. The Magazine Publishers of America, which is hosting the event at New York's New World Stages, also said Mignon Fogarty, host of the "Grammar Girl" podcast, will be presenting the second annual round of MPA Digital Awards.

The MPA has hosted the digital conferences and awards as part of its ongoing effort to publicize magazines' growing forays into the digital realm. The organization also tracks and publicizes new digital initiatives from its member publishers.

The choice of Hoffner is especially fitting, as major magazine brands dive headfirst into implementing online video strategies, bringing sight, sound and motion together with their traditional text product. Time Inc., Meredith, Hearst, Rodale and Conde Nast have all aggressively pursued video content creation--and in some cases, have even established in-house video production facilities.

Ink Publishing Launches Another In-flight Mag

Ink Publishing has been selected to create a new in-flight magazine for Skybus, a regional carrier based in Columbus, Ohio. The magazine, titled "Skybussing," will be produced four times annually. In addition to editorial content, like guides to the nightlife at various destinations, it will serve as an in-flight catalogue for the airline's food, beverage, and product offerings. The magazine is Ink Publishing's fifth in-flight magazine for a North American Airline.

Stack Publishes "Elite 50" Ranking

Stack, which caters to high school athletes aspiring to college and professional sports careers, is publishing an "Elite 50" ranking listing the schools that most successfully combine sports and academics. The magazine's publishers--mindful that most aspiring high-school athletes don't make it into professional play after college--is deliberately focusing on schools that offer athletes a balanced curriculum so they can succeed after graduation. Topping the list this year are the University of North Carolina, Stanford and the University of Texas.

BusinessWeek Relaunches "Magazine Channel"

BusinessWeek has redesigned the "Magazine Channel" portion of its Web site. The revamped feature, drawing on the print mag's contents, now includes reporters' bylines, photos and illustrations accompanying the articles, search optimization on every story, links to the most emailed and most-discussed articles and easier access to previous issues.