'Newsweek' appoints new top editor

Article Abstract:

The Washington Post Co.'s Newsweek appointed its managing editor, Mark Whitaker, as editor of the newsmagazine to succeed Maynard Parker, who died from pneumonia in October 1998. Whitaker, who becomes the first African-American to sit as editor of a major US news weekly publication, says that he intends to pursue the magazine's current concentration, but would work on attracting younger readers. Printmark's Alex Brown praises the new goal of the newsmagazine, which has circulation of around 3.1 million, although he says that it could be risky.

Comment:

Newsweek appoints managing editor, Mark Whitaker, as editor of newsmagazine to succeed Maynard Parker, who died in 10/98

Executive changes & profiles, Periodical publishing, Periodicals, Washington Post Co., Article

'US Weekly' runs into slow-sales problems

Article Abstract:

Questions about the viability of US Weekly magazine in the realm of entertainment news have been raised in the wake of reports that its publisher told ad agencies that the periodical would not be able to maintain its 1-million-a-week guaranteed circulation. US Weekly's guaranteed circulation figure has been adjusted to 800,000. The magazine is also reportedly testing cover prices charges both lower and higher than its existing $2.99 cover charge.

Music giants move deeper into distribution on Internet

Article Abstract:

The music industry is aggressively devising deals that will let them become players in the Internet, which has become a hugely popular medium for music distribution. This, as they and their trade group, the Recording Industry Assn of America, continue to fight Web sites, such as Scour, which allow users to trade and download musiic over the Internet. Music companies claim that those sites are violating their copyrights.