Sun-Times Media Sells North Shore Magazine To MakeItBetter.net


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Posted by Bud on April 27, 2010 at 11:09:52:

Sun-Times Media, LLC and MakeItBetter.net each put out press releases recently, announcing that MakeItBetter.net has purchased North Shore Magazine's assets from Sun-Times Media. Most terms of the deal were not publicly disclosed.

North Shore is the glossy lifestyle monthly magazine that has been around for over three decades. The magazine's content is targeted to upscale Chicagoans and north suburban residents.

MakeItBetter.net is a three year old Web site and, as of six months ago, a monthly magazine also called Make It Better.net. It was founded by Susan B. Noyes, a former North Shore columnist, as well as a former labor lawyer with Sidley & Austin. The company was co-founded by a large group of women who call themselves the "kitchen cabinet."

"North Shore (Magazine) has served the North Shore region for 32 years, and Sun-Times Media is pleased to have sold it to Susan Noyes, whose tremendous talent and publishing success with Make It Better.net media makes it a logical new home for North Shore," said Jeremy L. Halbreich, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Sun-Times Media. "Sun-Times Media will continue to invest in its core business of online, mobile and print media. The decision to exit the magazine business is perfectly consistent with strategy and focus."

"I am delighted by this opportunity," says MakeItBetter.net founder Susan B. Noyes, "because MakeItBetter.net grew from a column I wrote for NorthShore magazine. The synergies here will work to the benefit of our audience, our advertising partners and for our staff."

"NorthShore became an institution in our communities, just as MakeItBetter.net has. I'm honored to join our two lively, stylish publications to this more than 30-year-old history," said Ms. Noyes. "We are committed to providing our readers a unique perspective on the big and little things that influence our lives each day, and to our advertisers an impressive audience."

MakeItBetter.net, the fast growing website, is an information, entertainment and community networking source catering to suburban women. The website had over 35,000 unique readers in the first three months of 2010. New content is added daily to the website with timely information about family, fashion, food, fun, education, health exercise, shopping and home. Additionally, approximately 13,000 web subscribers receive a weekly email newsletter called the "Better Letter" with links to timely recommendations, articles, tips, guides, steals & deals and easy ways to make a difference.

The magazine of the same name -- which is a free subscription, just as is North Shore Magazine -- is sent to more than 52,000 selected homes every month. Now with the North Shore Magazine subscription list combined with MIB's, the expected circulation will be around 70,000 homes. The larger subscription base now provides advertisers with a bigger chance to reach more affluent suburban households than any other targeted web and print product in the metropolitan Chicago marketplace.

MakeItBetter.net, headquartered in Wilmette, does a great deal of philanthropic work, as well. The company partners with not-for-profit organizations, providing them with an auction site with 100% of the proceeds raised going directly to the sponsoring organization. New subscribers to its weekly e-newsletter can also choose a charity to receive a $5 donation from MakeItBetter.net. To date MakeItBetter.net has helped to raise $333,215 for local charities.

The change in ownership will be felt & seen right away. The June issue of North Shore, coming out in mid-May, will be the first one for MakeItBetter.net. Starting in early May, the North Shore website will be redirected to MakeItBetter's website.

It may have sold its only magazine, but the Sun-Times Media still owns the Chicago Sun-Times, the Beacon-News (Aurora), Courier-News (Elgin), Herald-News (Joliet), Lake County News-Sun, Naperville Sun, Post-Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.), the SouthtownStar, 39 weekly newspapers published by the Pioneer Press, and 11 weekly Sun newspapers.


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