Hour Media, the publisher of city and regional magazines throughout the U.S., has acquired SagaCity Media, owner of Portland Magazine and other publications, for $1.6 million, according to
media reports.
And, as often happens after acquisitions, there were layoffs. Those affected included Brooke Jackson-Glidden, editor in chief; Alex Frane, associate editor; Sarah Nipper,
managing editor at SagaCity, and Eric Nusbaum, editor in chief of Seattle Met, Jackson-Glidden told Willamette Week.
“I don’t know how Hour Media envisions
the future of SagaCity or Portland Monthly, but I struggle to see how these conditions would allow for the editorial rigor and narrative depth that Portland Monthly is
known for,” Jackson-Gidden said.
Portland Monthly was only one of the publications recently purchased by Hour Media--others included Seattle Met,
Houstonia, Aspen Sojourner, Vail-Beaver Creek and Park City magazines.
advertisement
advertisement
If nothing else, this shows that magazines are subject to some of the same pressures as
newspapers. Typically, layoffs follow when a new owner comes in, although buyouts are often also offered to employees.
In fairness, publishers are facing daunting economic
challenges.
SagaCity Media’s founder Nicole Vogel filed for receivership, in which a third party manages a company, last November, owing $2.5 million
for a bank loan and other debts, Houston Business Journal writes.
This isn’t the only recent purchase deal Hero Media has pulled off. In January, it
acquired Salt Lake Magazine, Utah Bride & Groom and Utah Style & Design.
James Bradford Pugh, editor, posted: “You may have already
heard through the Jell-O wire but yesterday, Salt Lake magazine’s new ownership cut the entire staff, save for managing editor Avrey Evans and our graphic designer, Kimmy Hammonds.”
Pugh added: “Lots of feelings, but, honestly, I’d been pushing that rock up that hill a long time. Thought maybe this new company would help me get it over the hill. But nope. That dang
rock just rolled back down on me.”
Launched in 1996 with the start of its flagship publication Hour Detroit, Hour Media went on to start publications like
Detroit Design, DBusiness and Metropolitan Detroit Guest Guide. It now has over 100 titles, including Atlanta Magazine, Cincinnati Magazine and
Florida Design, while acquiring research firm Compass Media and launching a video content studio Hour City Studios, it says on its website.