Dave Donohue: nerd-in-residence

Yesterday Matthew Karnitschnig wrote an outstanding overview of the latest ways that BusinessWeek, Forbes, and Fortune are responding to Web competition - and to Conde Nast’s Portfolio. For example:

“Still, both Fortune and BusinessWeek are responding. BusinessWeek is narrowing its focus by emphasizing core business coverage and retreating from lifestyle areas. [emphasis mine] The shift is reflected in the redesigned magazine, which sports a cleaner look. Gone is the magazine’s “Executive Life” section, which included lifestyle pieces on subjects such as New Zealand spas and powder skiing in New Mexico.

In a world of nonstop information and ever busier schedules, BusinessWeek’s readers want a concise take on the week’s business news, says BusinessWeek President Keith Fox. “Readers want an intelligent filter,” he says.”

Louise Story at the NYT has a related piece in yesterday’s paper, focusing on ways in which BusinessWeek’s redesign were at least partially in response to Web properties.

I find these kinds of articles to be invaluable. In PR, it’s so easy to fall into the trap that press has just one side - editorial. In reality, there are an awful lot of folks on the publishing side who are busting their humps to keep afloat in an ever-changing world. It’s important to understand both, and these two articles definitely helped my understanding.