35th FIPP WORLD MAGAZINE CONGRESS

Nearly 1,000 magazine executives from around the globe attended the 35th World Magazine Congress of the International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP), held for the first time in New York City and hosted by Magazine Publishers of America. The attendance, comprised of magazine delegates from 51 countries, was the highest recorded for the World Magazine Congress.

A premier lineup of keynote speakers and panelists addressed key issues in U.S. and international magazine publishing. The roster of presenters included: Robert Civita of Editora Abril S.A.; Michael Clinton of Hearst Magazines; Yukoh Kawamura of Nikkei Business Publications; William Lauder of Estee Lauder Companies; Don Logan, of Time Warner; Renetta McCann of Starcom MediaVest Group; Susan Lyne of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia; Harold McGraw III of The McGraw-Hill Companies; Jonathan Newhouse of Condé Nast International; Atoosa Rubenstein of Seventeen; Emilio Azcarraga Jean of Grupo Televisa; Mark Whitaker of Newsweek; and more. The Congress was punctuated by an opening reception and dinner at historic Ellis Island, and a closing celebration at the world-famous Museum of Modern Art.

This special edition of the MPA E-Newsletter provides coverage of highlights from the 35th World Magazine Congress. In addition, presentations and transcripts from the FIPP World Magazine Congress are available on the MPA website.

Also: MPA Government Affairs News
New York and New Jersey Consider Restrictions on Renewal Notices

Apparently responding to complaints from consumer organizations, New York State Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-23rd) introduced a bill that would require that all New York magazine subscription renewal notices include the expiration date in the notice (the expiration date is currently required on the mailing label in NY). MPA representatives responded with extensive contacts to members of the Assembly to explain the long-standing and well-understood nature of the current procedures and suggesting that requiring publishers to completely redesign renewal campaigns would not lead to increased consumer protection.

In response to MPA’s criticisms, the current version of the bill provides somewhat more flexibility by allowing publishers several options for providing expiration date information. As currently written, the bill offers publishers the following choices:

  • Provide the month and year of the expiration date of the subscription within the renewal offer or on the order card;

  • Include a customer service website and toll-free telephone number where the subscriber may find the expiration date; or

  • Include the expiration date on the mailing label when a renewal invitation is packaged with the magazine.

Although the current proposal calls for the new law to go into effect within 60 days after the bill is signed by the Governor, MPA is asking legislators to delay the implementation date to at least October 1 in order to allow publishers a reasonable period of time to comply with the new requirements.

Picking up on the same theme, the New Jersey Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee has approved a bill that would require that publishers:

  • Provide the month and year of the expiration date of the subscription within the renewal offer or on the order card; or

  • Include the expiration date on the mailing label when a renewal invitation is packaged with the magazine.
MPA is urging the Assembly to either table the legislature or allow publishers to refer readers to a website where they can find the subscription expiration date.