• by Erik Sass , June 10, 2010

Parenting Launches iPhone App

Parenting is coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch with an app based on its "Ages & Stages" section, including customized interactive elements that will deliver targeted content about child development and parenting milestones to users based on their child's birthday.

The free app, created for the Bonnier title by Zumobi, is in keeping with the magazine's general mission of delivering support and information to mothers.

Users can customize the Parenting app with their children's photos, names and ages, and then receive news, advice and other content targeted to kids in that cohort.

Greg Schumann, vice president and group publisher for The Parenting Group, stated: "This new app replicates the highly targeted media strategy that we've developed for our print and Web properties, and offers compelling sponsorship opportunities for advertisers looking for the most effective ways to reach our audience."

The app's launch sponsors are Bing and Microsoft Office. The new digital offering builds on significant growth at Parenting.com, where the number of unique visitors has grown 150% over the last year, while digital ad sales have doubled annually from 2008-2010.

While the print edition of Parenting has taken its knocks during the recession, it appears to be in a relatively strong position in the event of a recovery, following the demise of various competitors, including Child, Cookie and Wondertime.

Specialty Publishing Launches Connected World

The new generation of connected devices is a large enough topic to deserve its own magazine, and now it has one -- Connected World, a monthly magazine set to debut in July. The new title -- a consumer-trade hybrid for readers in the business as well as savvy-yet-casual enthusiasts -- will have a target circulation of 300,000, covering everyone from tech executives to electronics consumers. Content will include editorials from leaders in the tech space, including big names from NASA and M.I.T.

Active Interest Buys Skram Media Enthusiast Titles

Active Interest Media is acquiring Climbing, Urban Climber and Mountain Gazette from Skram Media, according to AIM chairman and CEO Efrem Zimbalist III. The acquisition will bolster AIM's portfolio of magazines targeting outdoor enthusiasts via both print and digital platforms. AIM's outdoor group already includes Backpacker, SNEWS and National Parks Interactive -- a media network that produces print publications and Web sites targeting visitors to U.S. national park vacationers.

According to the company, the addition of the Skram titles boosts AIM outdoor's total audience to over 1.35 million print readers and 430,000 unique Web visitors per month.

Kelleher Named Sports Illustrated VP Sales

Kim Kelleher, previously the vice president and publisher of Self, has been named vice president of global sales for the Sports Illustrated Group -- making her the first woman ever to lead ad sales for the sports-enthusiast title. In 2008, she was named Condé Nast's Publisher of the Year, in recognition of her role leading the magazine to record-breaking increases in ad pages and revenue. In 2007, she was inducted into the American Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Achievement.

Mediaweek EIC Burgi Jumps Into Canoe

Michael Burgi, the longtime editor in chief of Mediaweek, is leaving the publication to become vice president of communications for Canoe Ventures, an industry consortium created by big cable companies to bring online-style targeting and interactivity to cable TV advertising. He was a 17-year vet of the magazine; his departure comes about six months after Nielsen sold the media trade publication -- along with sister pub Adweek and a number of other B2B titles -- to e5 Global Media Holdings.