Small Business Computing Magazine Ceases Publication

Posted on December 28, 2001

Freedom Technology Media Group (FTMG) announced that it will stop publishing Small Business Computing magazine effective with the January 2002 issue. The decision was reached after FTMG was unable to find a buyer for the publication. Thirteen positions were affected by the shutdown, and these associates were offered severance packages.

Small Business Computing, a five year-old technology publication, was hit especially hard by the tough 2001 market conditions, a period when most business-to-business technology publishers experienced a severe drop in advertising pages. Colin Ungaro, president of Freedom Magazines, said the move to cease publication of Small Business Computing was necessary to improve FTMG's profitability.

``We regret having to make this decision after what was clearly a very challenging year for all magazines,'' said Colin Ungaro. ``We are especially saddened to have to lay off associates who did such a stellar job of producing Small Business Computing magazine. But this move was necessary to improve the profitability of the company.''

FTMG, which publishes CRM and Field Force Automation magazines, is a part of Freedom Magazines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Freedom Communications, Inc. Freedom magazines also publishes Latin Trade, and maintains a 50% interest in MultiMedia HealthCare/Freedom, L.L.C, a portfolio of 4 journals published out of Plainsboro, New Jersey. Freedom Communications, headquartered in Irvine, CA, also publishes 27 daily newspapers, and operates 8 broadcast television stations along with over 50 affiliated Internet sites.