• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, June 7, 2012

Men's Health Debuts iPhone App

Magazine publishers are now at the cutting edge of app development. The first iPhone app developed with the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite comes from a magazine publisher. This week, Rodale’s Men’s Health unveiled its new Adobe-based iPhone app, which will become available with the September issue of the magazine.

The new Men’s Health iPhone app will include special content developed for an enhanced iPhone viewing experience that isn’t available on other devices. Sean Bumgarner, Rodale’s interactive design director, stated: “Offering iPad subscribers a chance to view Men’s Health on their iPhone gives readers a new outlet to consume our content on the go or at the gym.”

Nick Bogaty, director of business development for digital publishing at Adobe, predicted the ad would "significantly impact the market by empowering publishers to quickly scale reach of their content...”

Existing Men’s Health iPad subscribers will have access to the publication for free on their iPhones. Men’s Health will also publish the June and July/August issues in PDF format for the iPhone.

Link To Leave MPA

Nina Link, the longtime president and CEO of the MPA,  the Association of Magazine Media, will resign her post at the end of the year. Michael Clinton, Hearst Magazines president and marketing and publishing director, who serves as chairman of the MPA board of directors, said the MPA has retained the executive recruiting firm of Blinkhorn, L.L.C. to find a successor.

Under Link’s leadership, MPA undertook numerous successful initiatives including strengthening its lobbying position in Washington to address various print and digital issues in the areas of copyright, privacy, First Amendment and consumer protection, as well as postal rate changes and creating a tablet measurement task force.

MonetizeDigital, Zinio Partner For Social Promo

Zinio is teaming up with MonetizeDigital for a social media promotion which allows Zinio Facebook fans to earn credits toward magazine purchases on their mobile devices. Zinio is using MonetizeDigital’s Content Locker to deliver advertiser-sponsored surveys, which are completed in exchange for Zinio’s digital content. Users are asked to complete a short survey in order to earn $1 off a magazine purchase.

The scheme allows Zinio and magazine publishers to avoid resorting to online paywalls, for example -- which result in many potential readers leaving the site or app. Zinio cited research from the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism showing that the majority of iPad users are not willing to pay for content.

Good Lays Off Editorial Staff

Good, a magazine focusing on ethical business and philanthropy, has laid off most of its editorial staff, with five out of eight staffers getting the ax, according to Folio:, which reported the news earlier this week. Per Folio:, the cuts include executive editor Ann Friedman, managing editor Megan Greenwell, senior editor Cord Jefferson, lifestyle editor Amanda Hess, business editor Tim Fernholz and associate editor Nona Willis Aronowitz. Remaining are co-founding creative director Casey Caplowe, education editor Liz Dwyer and assistant editor Zak Stone.

Blyth, Motley to Lead AARP Media

AARP has appointed Myrna Blyth and Robyn Motley to lead its media properties. Myrna Blyth is getting the title of senior vice president and editorial director, while Motley has been named senior vice president and general manager. Blyth, who previously served as editor in chief and publishing director of Ladies’ Home Journal and founding editor and publishing director of More, oversees all editorial content creation for AARP’s media properties, which include AARP The Magazine, AARP Bulletin, www.aarp.org, AARP’s book division and AARP’s radio and broadcast outlets. Motley -- who previously served as advertising sales and service manager for the Washington Post Co. -- oversees sales, operations and business matters for AARP’s print, digital and broadcast properties.