Arena faces uncertain future
Emap’s men’s monthly magazine Arena is believed to have lost a further four editorial staff as the publishing giant reviews its consumer magazine business and attempts to find £40 million.
Arena was one of the worst casualties in the latest ABCs, with circulation plunging 29.9 per cent year-on-year to hit less than 35,000.
Six months ago there was 17 full-time editorial staff on the title, by the end of the month there are expected to be just 11 remaining.
Former editor Will Drew was transferred earlier this month to work on a special project, believed to be the much-talked about men's answer to Grazia, referred to as “Project Dizzy”. Drew's credentials make him well-suited to such a position, prior to Arena he worked on a business fashion magazine.
Elsewhere, swathes of Emap’s consumer staff have been told to reapply for different roles, while others have been told to reapply for their existing jobs. Publishing roles across the group are being reconsidered. To date, Arena’s Fan Flower, Grazia’s Abby Carvosso, First and Heat’s Sophie Wybrew Bond and FHM’s Rimi Atwal are either leaving the company or being relocated to other roles.
There is wide-spread speculation that under-performing titles - like Arena - will be either closed or sold within the immediate future.
Further announcements surrounding job losses are expected later today.
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