• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, January 6, 2009

The recession is claiming some relatively new titles, which launched with innovative publication strategies and strong niche appeal, but failed to secure spots in an increasingly brutal magazine ad market.

Last week saw the closure of 8020 Media, which published JPG magazine, about photography, and Everywhere, about travel. Both are user-generated and relied on content submitted by readers. In an email announcing 8020's demise on New Year's Day, the company's founder, Michael Fox, said he was confident he had solved the "riddle of having a sound Web platform support that drives interactivity with a print product."

Still, he added: "None of us could have predicted the global economic collapse we've witnessed in the past few months. So our timing to grow the business and bring it to profitability through even the smallest amount of additional funding could not have been worse."

New magazine launches have sailed into a perfect storm of trouble. Sounding a bit shell-shocked, Fox wrote: "In the face of these extraordinary economic times, in a devastated advertising climate, we can no longer continue to operate the business due to lack of funds." Everywhere, 8020's travel-themed title, closed in August; in recent months, 8020 was unable to raise more capital or find a buyer, as the global credit crunch has made banks leery of lending.

Then on Monday, rumors circulated that Plenty magazine has laid off most of its employees, with plans to close the print publication and become an online-only operation.

In a report posted Monday night citing an unnamed source, Gawker said Plenty was being forced to close after failing to secure more funding from Al Gore's charitable foundation.