Magazine Death Pool

National Geographic Adventure: RIP December 2009

They wanted an adventure, so The Reaper obliged. Dress warmly is my advice.

National Geographic is bailing out of its spin-off magazines quickly. In this economy, if people want snow, they'll take their sleds and zoom down the hills at the local school. See that helicopter on the cover? The closest anybody is coming to one of those these days is playing Call Of Duty: World At War.

So out goes Adventure and NatGeo Traveler is being shopped, according to recent reports.

We'll be down to the core product of little rhesus monkeys and naked African children in no time.

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel: NOT RIP November 2009 - just looking for a buyer!

Come fly with me, yes, fly with me, let's fly away.

Right into the ground.

There's a boat that crosses the River Styx,

It makes a trip you don't want to miss!

Come fly with me, let's float down to that place

Where the Reaper waits by the taco stand.

Maybe they'll wave their scythe at you!

Come fly with me, let's take off in the blue!

Once I get you down there, where blow-in's don't exist,

We'll just glide, on our boat ride.

Once I get you down there, where you won't be missed,

You may hear the Reaper cheer 'cause... we're together!

UPDATE: Despite the financial woes of parent Washington Post, Budget Travel is not closing after all. Cheapskates rejoice! That was a close visit with the Reaper. Washington Post! If you're going to give it up, give up Newsweek!

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: The Washington Post is looking for an equity stakeholder or outright sale of the magazine. Now that's clarified, it's really a matter of death postponed. Watch these pages!

RIP August 2008: Everywhere magazine

Everywhere went nowhere.

The beautifully bound, reader generated Everywhere magazine has gone to that great woodpile in the sky.

I am always disturbed when none of the travel magazines want to do a photojournalistic piece on traveling down the River Styx. They are probably afraid they might not come back from the assignment.

Everywhere has the distinction of being yet another "Notable Launch" from the man with the Midas touch, Professor Sumar Husni, aka "Mr. Magazine." This one was one of his Top 5 of 2007. Husni wrote that "The [choices] reflect my opinion and belief that these titles are innovative and have the potential to make an impact on the industry."

As I've said in the past, when your magazine is one of Husni's "Notable Launches," you should double check the business plan, revenue and circulation growth immediately.

And according to Ideas in Circulation expert Richard Riccelli, Everywhere was a little slow in updating its web site from taking new subscription orders. Only James Bond successfully faked his death in You Only Live Twice. It's harder when you are a magazine.