Woe unto you if you are a famous person "branding" your personality as a magazine. Every misstep you take will end up being recorded, posted on the Internet, and even recycled in Weblogs.
Latest exhibit here is Rosie O'Donnell, who, according to this article at SFGate.com, is..shall we say..."difficult."
In addition to squabbling with her publisher and former editor, she's currently at odds with her present editor in chief, who "wanted to add some low-calorie cakes to a proposed Valentine's Day baking section that was laden with fattening items...Ms. O'Donnell retorted, "My people like to eat," according to people familiar with the conversation. "
Well, "Know your audience" is a mantra in journalism school, and it's good to know Rosie's taken this to heart.
According to the article, the financials for the magazine aren't bad, despite the personality problems. "The publication is generating revenue of around $70 million a year and is budgeted to lose only $1 million this year, they say."
Believe it or not, this is good, comparatively:
"Some start-ups cost as much as $40 million. Advertising is up sharply and the September issue will carry more than 120 pages of ads, the most since the launch issue."
(Via OJR)