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Citing ad slump, Boston magazine cuts key staffers
Editor is among the layoffs; one-week furloughs ordered
Boston magazine, the 40-year-old glossy monthly about city life and events, laid off six people yesterday, including editor James Burnett and creative director Patrick Mitchell, and announced it is implementing a one-week unpaid furlough for remaining employees.
Others laid off included food editor Amy Traverso and online editor Paul Flannery. Features editor Jolyon Helterman also resigned yesterday. In all, the magazine now has 41 employees.
A slump in advertising and an organizational restructuring spurred the layoffs and cutbacks at the magazine, according to a prepared statement. This year, the magazine dropped its rate base, the circulation numbers a publication guarantees to its advertisers, from 110,000 copies to 100,000.
“Boston magazine is not immune to what is affecting every media company across the landscape,’’ said Larry Platt, editorial director for Metrocorp Marketing in Philadelphia. Metrocorp owns Boston magazine and sister publication Philadelphia magazine, where Platt is editor.
“Advertising revenue has been hit hard,’’ added Randy Hano, president of Boston magazine. “We fared better than most, but you have to make sure you are doing what’s right for the future.’’
Platt also said yesterday that Minnesota Monthly editor Andrew Putz will replace Burnett, effective July 22. Putz had served as a senior editor under Platt in Philadelphia. Boston magazine also said Paul Reulbach would return as its publisher, a position he held from 2003 to 2007.
“I have been blessed with the chance to work with an amazing team of journalists and am proud of the magazine we put out together,’’ Burnett said, adding that he is exploring his options and is already freelancing for other publications. “It is what it is.’’
In February, the magazine introduced a redesign with more celebrity profiles that industry observers said seemed to target younger readers. One recent issue ran a cover story on Boston Red Sox owner John Henry’s courtship of his fiancee, Linda Pizzuti. Hano said the magazine’s key demographic is educated and affluent residents of Greater Boston.
In February, D. Herbert Lipson, chairman of Metrocorp, named Platt as editorial director, supervising Burnett in Boston. Platt will now serve as acting editor until Putz is in place.
Boston magazine is also looking to hire a new creative director to replace Mitchell.
In a release, Lipson said: “We want to be well-positioned when the economy rebounds. . . . At the same time, we have to face economic realities, and it is always painful to eliminate positions.’’
Johnny Diaz can be reached at jodiaz@globe.com. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
