Conde Nast yesterday said that its Golf World magazine "is closing its print edition and shifting entirely to digital media, where it will be part of the Golf Digest website," according to Michael Sebastian of AD AGE. A magazine spokesperson said that nearly 10 employees "were laid off as a result of the move," which combines Golf World and Conde Nast-owned Golf Digest into a single news division. The company made the announcement in a blog post. Instead of "publishing a print magazine 31 times a year, Golf World ... now becomes a weekly email newsletter sent to subscribers 50 times a year" on Mondays at 7:00am ET. Golf World's website "will also include daily updates," and print subscribers of Golf World "will start receiving Golf Digest, which is published 12 times a year." The changes "take effect next week." Golf World Editor-in-Chief Jaime Diaz "will keep his title and lead the combined news-division team, continuing to report to Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde." Dan Robertson "remains the publisher of Golf Digest and Golf World." Alliance for Audited Media data showed that Golf World "averaged paid and verified circulation of 213,387 during the last six months" of '13. Media Industry Newsletter said that print ad pages "were off 28.5% through its July 21 edition." The changes "come as Conde Nast has sought to inject new life into Golf Digest amid waning interest in the game of golf" (ADAGE.com, 7/23). Golf World is the "oldest golf magazine in America," publishing its first issue in '47. However, Tarde is not looking at the July 21 issue "as the last one." He said, "Golf World is not ending. We're moving into a bigger digital footprint. ... We've got another cover coming next Monday. We're all about producing great content. Where it appears has become less critical'' (AP, 7/23).
