-     Wal-Mart cuts 1000 titles from magazine racks
In a massive magazine rack purge, Wal-Mart ousted more than 1,000 titles. With the retailer being responsible for generating more than 20 percent of all retail magazine sales in the U.S., it's not surprising that the publishing industry is going to be hurting from this move. Though few major publishers were spared, Meredith Publishing* seemed to be hit the hardest; their cut titles include Better Homes & Gardens, Fitness, and Ladies Home Journal. Some say, however, that the purge will actually help magazines that do survive the cut, giving them more visibility on the shelves. (Writersmarket.com, January, 2008)

-     Meredith Corp. restructures, eliminating 35 positions
Meredith Corp. is combining its special interest magazine and media and newsstand business divisions with its Meredith Books division. The new unit is called Meredith Retail. Most of the jobs eliminated as a result of the restructuring were at Meredith Books, including editorial. (Writersmarket.com, January, 2008)

-     Real Simple magazine launched its first wedding planning guide
Real Simple Weddings is "The 160 page guide divided into three sections--Your Plan, Your Ceremony and Your Reception--and features strategies for creating a budget, choosing a location, assembling the guest list and managing the wedding party." It's not yet clear how often this will be published; it will likely depend on the spin-off's success. Real Simple has been gradually expanding its brand into other platforms, which already includes international editions, a syndicated newspaper column and a television show. (Writersmarket.com, January, 2008)