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The September issue of Latina magazine; Betty Cortina shown on home page.
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Cortina Steps Down as Editorial Director of 'Latina' Magazine
September 20, 2007
By Nancy Ayala
Latina Media Ventures LLC (LMV), the integrated media company best known for producing the bilingual magazine Latina, announced late today that editorial director Betty Cortina has resigned after nearly seven years. Mimi Valdés Ryan, who joined the title in August 2006 and has served as a senior contributing editor, reporting to Cortina, has been appointed editorial director of Latina Media Ventures. Her start date is effective Nov. 5.
Cortina will be leaving the company to pursue personal interests, according to a statement, after joining the media group in January 2001.
“Betty’s contributions to Latina’s success have been substantial. During Betty’s nearly seven years as editorial director, Latina has experienced five rate base increases and, for the period ending June 30, 2007, delivered 17 percent growth in total circulation,” said Peter Glusker, CEO of Latina Media Ventures, in a statement.
But according to the Mediaweek Monitor in early August, Latina’s print ad pages were down 16.8 percent to 486.6 this year through August. Circulation remained flat in the second half of 2006, reaching 416,617, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Mediaweek is Marketing y Medios’ sister publication.
There have been numerous shakeups so far this year at Latina Media Ventures.
Glusker himself was named CEO of Latina Media Ventures in April, replacing Fabio Freyre, who had held that position since 2003. Freyre also left the company to pursue other interests, according to a press statement at the time. Glusker served as senior vice president of Viacom’s Digital Media Group, overseeing cross-company digital media efforts and managing the company’s portfolio of interactive investments.
Cynthia R. Lewis also stepped in as president of the media group in April. A longtime vp and publisher for the Hearst Corp., working with such women’s titles as Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar and last year’s shuttered Shop Etc., Lewis seemed to open the door for past colleagues.
Lauren Michaels was named publisher of Latina, after serving as Condé Nast’s group advertising director at Vogue and, before then, at Hearst Magazines for 18 years in management positions for Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping and Harper’s Bazaar.
Michaels took over Aug. 16 in the publisher's role that had been open since Beth Press left the company in 2006.
A press statement explained that Cortina hand-picked Valdés Ryan as her successor: “There is no question that Mimi is the perfect choice to continue and evolve Latina’s unique editorial voice and direction,” she said.
Valdés Ryan steps into the position with a varied background. She has served as editor in chief of Vibe magazine and also worked for eight years at Vibe/Spin Ventures.
The new editorial director validated Cortina's point in the same statement about her expected goals beyond the print product: “I love that I will be able to create culturally relevant lifestyle content, as well as reach and empower the Latina community beyond the pages of the magazine through popular events, digital media and other platforms, which are unmatched by any other media company targeting U.S. Hispanic women.”
New York City-based Latina Media Ventures is majority-owned by private investment firm Solera Capital LLC.
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Copyright 2007 Marketing y Medios |
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