The “perfect storm” of economic problems has hit Christianity Today International in Wheaton, Illinois, which is one of the largest and best-run Christian magazine publishing businesses in the U.S. They were very early adapters of Web technology. In my opinion, they have always produced professional products done to high editorial standards, and consequently they have spoken with an authoritative voice. Christianity Today International publishes 9 print magazines and newsletters and operates an award-winning website reaching more than 2.5-million unique visitors monthly.
They announced on Friday (right before the American Memorial Day long weekend, what a great start to the holiday) that CTI is closing 4 publications, including Today’s Christian Woman magazine, and laying off 30-plus employees. In January, they previously had shut down Ignite Your Faith (formerly called Campus Life) and Marriage Partnership magazines, and sold Today’s Christian, the Reader’s Digest type publication.
We have had a number of very fine CTI staffers come to teach excellent advanced journalism classes at our Write! Canada writers’ conference in past years. Ginger Kolbaba was editor of Today’s Christian Woman and Marriage Partnership, so I’m assuming she might be out of a job. Ed Gilbreath was editor of Today’s Christian, now he’s working for Urban Ministries. Eric Reed is managing editor of Leadership Journal, which the news release calls one of their core products and iconic brands, along with Christianity Today newsmagazine. Marshall Shelley is vice president of editorial, CTI, so has an executive position. My regrets to any CTI staffers who are losing their jobs, and best wishes in landing another position somewhere in the publishing business.
Read the news release.
– Wendy Elaine Nelles
1 Comment
May 29, 2009 at 10:37 pm
It’s an unfortunate loss to the Christian literary community. Hopefully an upswing in the economy will see a revival in the publishing industry. Hopefully the people involved will quickly recover.