Why BW must leave McGraw-Hill
Steve Baker, a senior writer at BusinessWeek, posts on his blog the reasons why he thinks the weekly business magazine must leave the confines of McGraw-Hill, which has put it up for sale. Baker writes, “But McGraw-Hill is not a safe home. The company, for all its merits, is slow and bureacratic, and it’s painfully […]
Why BusinessWeek will survive
TALKING BIZ NEWS EXCLUSIVE A lot had been written and said in the past two weeks about BusinessWeek, which has been put up for sale by its parent company, McGraw-Hill. Some have even predicted that the company will be unable to sell the money-losing weekly and will end up closing it. Here’s five reasons why […]
Prediction: BusinessWeek will go under
Jeff Bercovici of Daily Finance has compiled a group of several dozen editors in chief, publishers, producers, developers, executives, consultants and others to get their opinions on media matters, and their prediction is that BusinessWeek will not be sold and will eventually close. Bercovici writes, “This was the clear consensus favorite, and it should come as […]
Mansueto interested in BusinessWeek
Jon Fine of BusinessWeek is reporting that Joe Mansueto, who owns Inc. and Fast Company magazines, is interested in purchasing the McGraw-Hill title. Fine reports, “In a brief email exchange, Mansueto said he had ‘no comment regarding the potential BusinessWeek sale.’ In 2005 Mansueto bought Inc. and Fast Company from Gruner & Jahr for around […]
How bad is it at BusinessWeek?
Former BusinessWeek reporter Gary Weiss comments Thursday on the financial data of the weekly business magazine disclosed in an item written by the publication’s own Jon Fine. First, Fine reported that, “The financial data provided to potential buyers or partners are not for the faint of heart. While certain performance metrics detailed in the initial […]
Two more potential bidders emerge for BusinessWeek
Jon Fine, who covers the media for BusinessWeek, reports Thursday that two more potential bidders, both private equity funds, have emerged for the McGraw-Hill business weekly, put up for sale earlier this month. Fine writes, “Platinum Equity, the Beverly Hills-based private equity firm, is among the companies meeting with BusinessWeek management to view detailed presentations and […]
The pain from BusinessWeek
Marketwatch.com media columnist Jon Friedman writes Tuesday about the pain being endured at McGraw-Hill from its ownership of struggling BusinessWeek. Friedman writes, “Sure, the McGraw-Hill weekly financial-news magazine and Web site have a strong reputation. But McGraw-Hill put them on the block a few weeks ago, in a sign that the profit-fixated company may eventually […]
Bidders emerge for BusinessWeek
Jon Fine of BusinessWeek writes Thursday that a handful of bidders have emerged to purchase the McGraw-Hill business glossy. Fine writes, “One company participating in that process is OpenGate Capital, the Los Angeles private equity firm that in October 2008 purchased TV Guide magazine (without its Web operations) for $1 plus the assumption of substantial […]
The looming biz magazine shakeout
Robert MacMillan of Reuters writes Tuesday about the impending shakeout among business magazines. MacMillan writes, “Business news publishers rubbed their hands in glee when the financial crisis grabbed headlines last fall, saying the meltdown would deliver a windfall blown in by widespread interest in their stories. “It did not turn out that way. Appetite for […]
When being right doesn't mean much
Former BusinessWeek investigative reporter Gary Weiss rants Tuesday about those who believe in the omnipotent power of the press to change society, noting that he wrote an article for the magazine in 1998 that railed against the excessive use of leverage — and accomplished nothing. Weiss writes, “Journalism is not as powerful as some poeple […]
