• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, October 10, 2008

Meredith Corporation has partnered with ShopText to integrate mobile response into its magazine advertising, beginning with the October issues of More and American Baby magazines, followed by the December issue of Parents, per Mediaweek. Better Homes and Gardens is expected to follow. Advertisers in Parents include Nintendo's Wii Fit and Dirt Devil.

In the ShopText system, readers simply send short SMS codes from ads to buy the pictured product, but first they have to register for the ShopText service, which handles billing automatically using a credit card or debit card. So far, ShopText-enabled ads have appeared in CondeNast's Allure and Lucky, Hearst's CosmoGirl, and Maxim, now owned by Alpha Media. The ShopText technology also allows users to enter sweepstakes and request samples.

Some magazine publishers are taking a slightly different route to making print advertising interactive via mobile devices. In May, Wenner Media's Rolling Stone introduced interactive print ads in partnership with SnapTell--a company with technology that allows readers to take a picture of a print ad in a magazine with their mobile phone, then receive more information about it. The June issue of Rodale's Men's Health also included SnapTell-enabled mobile interactive ads.

People Produces Newman Retrospective

People is selling a 96-page tribute to Paul Newman, published in book form, featuring various iconic and lesser-known photographs of the late actor, director, producer, philanthropist and inter-generational heartthrob. Folio reports that the publication will cost $12, with a newsstand circulation of 450,000. This is in addition to the regular Sept.27 issue of People covering Newman's death.

PGA Hires COO/CFO, Promotes 4 Execs

The Publishing Group of America named Bob Brolund its chief operating officer and chief financial officer this week. Brolund most recently held the same position at Ocean Designs, a contractor, and before that was CFO at Drexel Heritage Furnishings. PGA also promoted four executives. Charlie Cox has been promoted to senior vice president for editorial content; Jerry Lyles has been promoted to senior vice president for publisher relations; Steve Minucci has been promoted to senior vice president of business development; and Greg Coble has been promoted to senior vice president and comptroller.

Newsweek Names Pamela Raley Chief Revenue Officer

Newsweek's CEO Thomas Ascheim announced this week that Pamela Raley, previous in charge of digital sales, has been promoted to chief revenue officer--a new position for the publication. Before joining Newsweek, Raley was the head of sales and marketing for Hearst Magazines' digital operations.