Consumer-magazines total circulation grow: (From the NY Times) “Overall circulation of magazines was positive in the second half of 2005 compared with the similar period of 2004, according to publishers’ figures released (Monday) by the Audit Bureau of Circulations.”

The article includes a rather curious parenthetical quote. After a few sentences regarding the circulation of O: The Oprah Magazine falling 9.2% in the final six months of 2005, the NY Times reporter (or editor) see a need to insert the following:

“(The drop was unrelated to Ms. Winfrey’s confrontation on her television show in January with the author James Frey.)”

If the reporter/editor saw the need for that explanation, I wonder why they didn’t go on to explain other unrelated reasons, like: The drop was unrelated to Ms. Winfrey’s appearance on David Letterman or that whacky interview she had with Tom Cruise. It was also unrelated to the XM deal she signed last week or the interview she had with Bill Gates where some students couldn’t ask questions.

Technorati Tags: magazines

It snows more in Nashville than at the South Pole: I know you’d expect such a factoid about snow at the NashvilleWX blog, not here. However, when following a link from Coudal Partners to an answer to the question, “Does it ever get too cold to snow?,” I thought it interesting the long-ago-posted answer uses Nashville vs. the South Pole snowfall to explain that it can never be too cold to snow — just too dry. For the record, according to the explanation, it snows an average of 11 inches in Nashville vs. 2 at the South Pole — however, global-warming aside, the “snows of yesteryear” never melt there and thus, in ski-resort terms, there’s a 9,000 foot base at the South Pole.

(Note: The ‘explanation’ includes an obligatory cheap shot at Nashville.)

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Here’s help: improve the product first: Via Rafat Ali (PaidContent.org), I just saw this story announcing that the Newspaper Association of America is going to launch an advertising campaign it claims is worth “$50 million” to show advertisers the value of newspapers. (Here is the campaign website.)  “The campaign addresses how readers are engaged with not just the core product but with Web sites, niche publications, and even podcasts,” says Editor & Publisher. (However, the NAA press release definitely focuses on the ink-on-paper message.)

At least this campaign does not start at the point the consumer magazine trade group, Magazine Publishers Association, began: a 100% defense of print. Granted, it’s a bit difficult to be a news”paper” and not be defined as being a “print” medium, but defending “paper” is not a winning strategy for the MPA or the NAA.

(Disclosure: I’m not a member of MPA or NAA, but am very active in the century-old business-to-business media association ABM, which several years ago (I’m proud to say I was on the board when this happened) changed its name from American Business Press to American Business Media. At the same time, the organization adopted the position statement: In print, Online, In person. Today, less that 40% of the revenues of members of American Business Media comes from advertising appearing on the printed page. That said, I am a staunch advocate that magazine advertising can be — for the right advertisers for the right strategies in the right magazines — the most effective advertising media available.)

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If you were going to fake your resume? David Edmondson, the CEO of Radio Shack was forced to resign this afternoon because it was discovered he “enhanced” his resumé by claiming he’d earned degrees in theology and psychology from Pacific Coast Baptist College in California. According to AP, the school, which in 1998, relocated to Oklahoma and renamed itself Heartland Baptist Bible College, said Edmondson only completed two semesters. The school also never offered psychology degrees.

What the heck was this guy thinking?

A year ago, then-CEO and now-”Executive Chairman” of Radio Shack, Len Roberts, “handpicked” Edmondson “after more than a decade of working side by side.” According to a Radio Shack press release dated January 13, 2005:

“I knew from the first time I met Dave that he could someday become CEO of RadioShack,” said Roberts. “For the past 10 years, we’ve worked together to bring increased value to RadioShack shareholders. We’ve developed an exciting growth strategy, and with Dave leading the day-to-day operations, we’re poised to take the company to the next level. It’s been gratifying for me to mentor Dave and watch him grow into an exceptional leader and manager. His passion for execution, coupled with his vision and strategic prowess, is just what we need to deliver on our Solutions Strategy.”

By the way, the link to Robert’s “executive bio” page on the Radio Shack website says the following (on 2.21.2006):

“Thank you for visiting our corporate Web site. We are currently updating and validating all of the biographical information for each of our senior executives. Please check back soon to receive this information…”

(Disclosure: I’ll admit that one reason I find all of this fascinating is that “I have a history” with the person who “handpicked” Edmondson for his post. For a brief period about 20 years ago, he was CEO of a Nashville-based company that a public relations firm I headed at the time had as a client. I say “brief,” because shortly after he was hired as CEO of that company, he “unhandpicked” me from representing it. Also for the record, I actually have a theology degree but can’t recall ever putting it on a resumé.)

Update: (AP) “He said Wednesday he believes that he received a theology diploma called a ThG, but not the four-year bachelor of science degree listed on his resume. He added that he cannot document the ThG diploma.”

Technorati Tags: radioshack, weird

Kathy Sierra has a point: “Cluelessness is underrated.” Or, as they say, ignorance is bliss. I agree with Kathy that those who are clueless and curious (the cluelessly curious? curiously clueless?) are the ones who don’t know enough to know what they don’t know — and such a clueless state can lead to good things (but often wastes a lot of time in the process). However, there’s nothing to celebrate in the cluelessly satisfied who revel in their denial of deeper understanding.

Technorati Tags: blogging, cluetrain

When is losing winning?: Frank Biondi, the executive designated to take over as CEO if (Carl Ichan’s Time-Warner) shareholder fight was successful (will receive for his services) which amounted to a few weeks work…$6 million. (from: PaidContent.org)

Technorati Tags: magazines