Tag Archives: Crain’s publications
Crain’s Chicago names new editor
by Chris Roush
Crain’s Chicago Business has named Michael Arndt, the paper’s current managing editor, to be its new editor.
A story on its website states, “Mr. Arndt, 56, has been with Crain’s in the managing editor role since 2010. He joined the paper after a decade at BusinessWeek, where he was a senior correspondent and a senior editor in the Chicago office. Prior to that, he spent 20 years at the Chicago Tribune, both as chief economics correspondent and on the business desk, where he served as Sunday Business editor for five years.
“Mr. Arndt will oversee the day-to-day operations of Crain’s newsroom, which includes both print and digital content; he will report to Jim Kirk, Crain’s chief of editorial operations, who oversees all new and existing editorial initiatives for the weekly business newspaper. In addition to developing new products, Mr. Kirk will continue to oversee financial, budgeting and personnel responsibilities and work with Mr. Arndt in guiding the overall direction of the newsroom and content.
“Mr. Kirk had been serving as interim editor since January, when former Editor Joe Cahill left that role to become a weekly columnist for Crain’s.
“‘I’m extremely confident in Michael’s ability to lead our newsroom at this moment of great transformation in our industry,’ Mr. Kirk said. ‘He comes to the post with a wealth of experience. He is a fabulous editor.’
Changes made at Crain’s Chicago
by Chris Roush
Robert Feder of Time Out Chicago writes about some staff changes made recently at Crain’s Chicago Business.
Feder writes, “I’ve always thought Lisa Leiter did a terrific job as anchor and reporter of the Crain’s Chicago Business daily online video updates. So I was sorry to see that the former Bloomberg and CNN correspondent is no longer fronting Chicago Business Today after almost a four-year run. The new face of Crain’s video is Danny Ecker, who joined the company as a part-time videographer/editor and moved up to full-time status last fall. Although Leiter’s contract expired at the end of the year, she’s still expected to work on small business coverage in print and in video as well as on other projects. ‘I’m a huge fan of Lisa’s and glad she’s continuing to work with us,’ said Jim Kirk, Crain’s chief of editorial operations.
“Also new to Crain’s is Steve Reiss, enterprise editor of the Washington Post and former deputy assistant managing editor of its Style section. He’ll sign on next month as assistant managing editor in charge of features, overseeing Crain’s Business of Life section as well as major feature stories for both print and online. He replaces Andrea Hanis, who jumped to the Chicago Tribune last June as business section planning editor. Before joining the Post in 1990, Reiss had been a reporter and editor at the Miami Herald.”
Read more here.
Crain’s Chicago editor to write column beginning in 2012
by Chris Roush
Joseph B. Cahill, editor of Crain’s Chicago Business since 2005, will begin writing a weekly business column for the paper beginning in January and step down from his editing duties.
A story on the Crain’s Chicago website states, “In his new position as columnist, Mr. Cahill, 52, will focus on providing weekly analysis of Chicago companies, leaders and industry shifts affecting the city’s business community.”‘Joe’s sharp analytical eye, combined with his deep understanding of the broad Chicago business landscape, makes him the perfect fit for this new challenge. He will be a strong new voice in the city as well as for Crain’s,’ said Jim Kirk, Crain’s chief of editorial operations, who will assume Mr. Cahill’s editing duties on an interim basis while a search for a new editor is conducted.
“In more than six years as editor, Mr. Cahill has overseen numerous changes at the publication, including the expansion of Crain’s news coverage on the Web. Under his watch, the publication won more than 100 journalism awards and broadened the paper’s investigative footprint.
“‘We accomplished a lot in the last six-and-a-half years, and I’ll always treasure my experience leading the best team of journalists in Chicago,’ Mr.Cahill said. ‘But after so many years in management, I’m ready to get back on the front lines of reporting. This new column is a unique opportunity to focus all my energy and attention on my favorite subject — Chicago business.’”
Crain’s Detroit to expand coverage
by Chris Roush
Mary Kramer, the publisher of Crain’s Detroit, writes about how the weekly business newspaper wants to expand its coverage in the next year.
Kramer writes, “Last year, we recognized that the kind of journalism we produce at Crain’s Detroit Business would be welcomed in other parts of the state. So we created a monthly print section devoted to offering in-depth reporting on industry trends outside of Southeast Michigan. In addition to our own subscribers in Southeast Michigan, we send this monthly issue to 5,000 C-suite executives around the state.
“We also now have weekly digests of important Michigan business news and a weekly e-newsletter that offers timely updates.
“As a news organization, we at Crain’s have never felt a stronger need in our market — and our state — for reliable business reporting than we feel right now.
“Our plans in 2012 are not to retrench but to expand and provide in-depth reporting on companies and industry trends not just in Southeast Michigan but around the state.
“We’ll be announcing how we do that soon.”
Read more here.
Chicago Trib biz section hires Crain’s AME for new position
by Chris Roush
Andrea Hanis, an assistant managing editor at Crain’s Chicago Business, has been hired to be planning editor — a new position — of the Chicago Tribune business section, reports Robert Feder of Time Out Chicago.
Feder writes, “At Crain’s, she launched Business of Life, a weekly section focusing on the workplace culture, and added popular columns by Shia Kapos and Mary Frey.
“‘Crain’s is a great place to work, and I’ve been very happy here,’ Hanis, 41, told me Monday. ‘The Tribune just offered an opportunity that really dovetailed out of what I was already doing, where I felt like I could contribute right away, but also learn and grow. I’m not someone who loves the process of change — it’s hard, especially when you’re leaving a great situation — but I also believe you can’t just hide and try to stay safe.’
“Michael Lev, the Tribune’s assistant managing editor of business, told staffers in a memo that Hanis ‘will work with all members of our department, as well as other colleagues across the newsroom, to help ensure that the Tribune’s daily business report is a comprehensive must-read.’
“Her hiring is part of an editorial expansion at the Tribune, including the addition of pages to the business section and increased staff. The newspaper also unveiled its redesigned home page Monday. ‘Work will continue the rest of the night and into tomorrow,’ tweeted Bill Adee, vice president of digital development and operations.”
Read more here.
Dow Jones giving Factiva lots of attention
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Matthew Flamm of Crain’s New York Business writes Sunday about how Dow Jones & Co., the parent of The Wall Street Journal and Marketwatch.com, is looking to boost its Factiva search service.
Flamm writes, “This month, Factiva is rolling out services and products, including an iPad application, designed to attract new corporate customers. The investment comes as the division is poised for a turnaround after two years of declining revenues.
“Like other paid-search companies, including archrival LexisNexis, Factiva has been hurt by Google and the recession. Revenues were $295 million last year, compared with a peak of $320 million in 2008, according to consulting firm Outsell Inc.
“Dow Jones, which started Factiva as a 50-50 joint venture with Reuters in 1999, bought out its partner in 2006.
“The enhancements include the addition of 100 Arabic news sources, following the recent addition of 1,800 sources in 16 languages. International markets have become the biggest source of growth for Factiva and now account for more than half of its revenues.”
Read more here.
Crain’s executives departing
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Matt Kinsman of Folio writes about some recent departures of executives at Crain’s Communications, which operates business newspapers in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and New York.
Kinsman writes that the departures included “David Blake (a 24-year-vet who most recently served as publisher of Crain’s Chicago Business and who retired in September), Bob Simmons (a 30-year vet who oversaw the Akron-based group including Plastics News, Rubber & Plastics News, Tire Business and Waste & Recycling News–which he founded–who retired earlier this month) and Marty Ross (who had been with Business Insurance since 1985, most recently as vp/publisher), who moved to the new position of vp/managing director of events and business development before leaving.
“However, some sources are saying Crain is asking some long-time executives to retire or transition to new roles and has changed the compensation plan to make transitions easier internally. ‘Bob Simmons ran Akron as an empire for 30 years and was forced to retire a couple weeks ago,’ says one source. ‘Word is that if you were over 50, you had trouble. Where you used to get a week’s pay for every year, now they get three weeks, period.’
“‘They don’t handle executive transitions well,’ says another source. ‘It’s either too soft a touch or right out the door.’
“Chairman Keith Crain denies any of the three executives were asked to leave.”
Read more here.
Crain’s New York names new columnist
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Michael Gross has been named a new columnist for Crain’s New York Business, reports Chris O’Shea of FishbowlNY.
O’Shea writes, “His column will appear every other week, and he’ll be covering a variety of subjects, including real estate, finance and politics.
“Gross has written several best-selling books, and has contributed to The New York Times, New York magazine, Esquire, and Vanity Fair.
“Xana Antunes, Editor of Crain’s New York Business, said of Gross, ‘We’re thrilled to offer Michael’s distinctive New York voice to our readers. He brings a refreshing perspective on the highs and lows of the city’s moneyed culture and never fails to call it as he sees it.’”
Read more here.
Crain’s Detroit launches statewide biz magazine
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Crain’s Detroit Business announced Friday that it has published the first print issue of Crain’s Michigan Business, a magazine that will be inserted every other Monday into the business newspaper.
Crain’s Michigan Business intends to act as a supplement to the regular business coverage that is provided by local print and electronic media throughout the state. It will be sent to to about 5,000 “business influencers” outside of the traditional five-county region in Southeast Michigan that is covered by Crain’s Detroit.
“We have the utmost respect for the fine local business reporting that other media are performing in Michigan,” publisher Mary Kramer said in a statement. “We see Crain’s Michigan Business as a way to provide statewide business reporting to local markets and build dialogue among business leaders throughout Michigan.”
Bob Allen has been named editor of Crain’s Michigan Business. He is also a senior editor at Crain’s Detroit.
Matthew Gryczan has been named the West Michigan editor of Crain’s Michigan Business. He was the first managing editor of Crain’s Detroit.
Read more here.
Crain’s Chicago names Kirk head of editorial operations
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Crain’s Chicago Business announced Monday that Jim Kirk, a veteran Chicago business journalist, will assume the newly created post of chief of editorial operations.
A story on its site states, “In that role, Mr. Kirk will oversee Crain’s growing number of content-based businesses, which have expanded in recent years with the publication’s increased emphasis on online, event and data offerings.
“Joseph Cahill will remain editor of Crain’s Chicago Business and will continue to direct the paper’s award-winning print and online news operations.
“Mr. Kirk’s primary responsibilities will be overseeing the expansion of Crain’s editorial franchise by spearheading the development and distribution of new, editorially driven products that build on Crain’s position as the market-leading source for Chicago business news and information.”
