• by Erik Sass , June 30, 2006

Pop culture mag Radar is back--again. After folding twice, the magazine's determined founder and editor, Maer Roshan, is bringing it back a third time--first as a Web site in August of this year, then as a print edition in 2007. The magazine was founded to deliver brutally honest news about pop culture without the puffery and spin that generally accompanies reportage on television, movies, music, and other mass media in mainstream culture mags. The magazine ate through two multimillion-dollar chunks of cash with a first run of two issues and a second run of three--but it seems to have netted a far more substantial amount of capital in the form of new investment from Integrity Multimedia, a Chicago-based media investment firm. Integrity is headed up by Yusef Jackson, who is the son of social activist and religious leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Mediaweek reports that Jackson has put up a sum that is sufficient to support Radar for five years. At a time when even "mainstream" pop culture mags are folding, Roshan explained his tenacious commitment to Radar: "We started this venture because we believed there was a real market for a funny, honest title that didn't pull any punches. Launching an indie magazine hasn't always been easy, but the phenomenal response Radar has received has kept us going."

Tag Team: Two Wrestling Mags Join Forces

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced the launch this week of WWE Magazine, which will merge two existing enthusiast titles, WWE Smackdown and WWE Raw. The new magazine will focus on the larger-than-life personalities who animate the elaborate, carefully scripted world of pro wrestling--centering of course on the wrestlers themselves, but also including the flamboyant promoters, voluptuous female companions, and hapless flunkies who make up a big part of the show. The first issue, with a cover price of $5.99, was distributed to 250,000 readers currently subscribed to WWE Smackdown and WWE Raw on June 26th. Subsequent issues will sell for $6.99 beginning in July. WWE Magazine's publication schedule calls for eight regular issues and four special issues in 2006, then 13 regular and eight special issues in 2007.

Parents Magazine Comes to Indonesia

Meredith Corporation announced Monday the launch of an Indonesian edition of Parents magazine in partnership with Pt Metromakmur Sejahtera, a subsidiary of Mahaka Media, a major Indonesian media company. With a population of over 240 million, Indonesia is the fourth-largest country in the world, and by far the largest Muslim population. With a relatively high literacy rate of around 90 percent, a young population, large urban centers, and a growing middle class of about 20 million people, Indonesia is a logical market for parenting lifestyle magazines. Mahaka Media will distribute the local Indonesia edition in the official language, Bahasa Indonesia, throughout the giant archipelago's major cities beginning in 2007. John Zieser, Meredith's vice president of corporate development, said: "Our agreement with Mahaka Media further broadens our plan to extend our magazine brands and editorial expertise outside of the United States." The announcement comes just weeks after Meredith announced the launch of a Better Homes and Gardens China edition.

Gayle Butler Named Editor in Chief of Better Homes and Gardens

Meredith Corporation announced Thursday that Gayle Butler had been named editor in chief for Better Homes and Gardens, effective July 1st. Butler had previously served as editorial director for the magazine's Special Interest Publications and Creative Collection, with 240 issues covering various specialty aspects of home care and decoration, crafts, and landscaping.

Clarification: FHM's Online Gaming Tied to British Edition

An item in last week's Mag Bag stated that the popular lad mag FHM was launching an online gaming site. The item failed to state that this site is connected to FHM's British edition, rather than the American one.