|
My job description includes checking up on related websites. And with some of them I get in touch with a query or suggestion. So imagine my surprise when the following text showed up on my screen.
Thank you for taking the time to write. Gourmet magazine has been closed. For subscription information, you can write to:
GMTcustserv(at)cdsfulfillment.com
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an e-mail that goes directly to the corporate offices, and no human being is monitoring this in box, so I don't know how to direct those of you who wish to have their voices heard. I wish I could respond to each of the more than 500 upset readers who've e-mailed in the last 36 hours and to all of you who've written since our doors were locked, but I can't do it. Needless to say, we couldn't have done this magazine without you, our readers, and we thought about you every day. We will miss you, too. Thanks for all of us for your interest, for your criticisms, and most of all for your support.
Could this be? I had caught a whiff of a rumour that Condé Nast had closed several of their magazines, including Gourmet. Now I know it to be true. The lack of advertising interest has left the gourmet magazine market the poorer. Which famous names will follow? Rumour also has it that some European restaurant guides are slowing the cycle down to bi-annual publication (and testing) and Pudlo themselves have said that they will not be producing a guide for the whole of France, for the time being at least.
When we come to updating the rankings we will know the extent of the downsizing taking place.
|
