Following our announcement that Masthead and MastheadOnline would close at the end of this year, we were inundated with comments, e-mails and phone calls from readers. While expressing their sadness, many suggested that we hang on the website, which has become an important source of news and information about and for the Canadian magazine industry. We took those suggestions to heart and are proud to announce that North Island Publishing Ltd. will continue publishing MastheadOnline in 2009, as well as the weekly MastheadExpress e-bulletin and the Masthead Job Board.

As a result, Marco Ursi will retain his full-time position as editor. “I’m like totally thrilled,” Ursi said. “I have some wicked new ideas for the site and look forward to serving the industry with more news, features, service and opinions. I also get to keep sticking my nose into other magazine people’s business without having to make an excuse for it.”

Annual print features such as the tally of launches and closures and the ranking of Canada’s top 50 magazines by revenue will find a new home on the website, Ursi said. “I’d also love to hear from readers about what they’d like to see more and less of on the site. And if anyone has an idea for a blog, please pitch it.”

Ursi can be reached by e-mail at mursi@masthead.ca or by phone at 905-625-7070 ext. 222.

The print version of Masthead currently in production will be the last regular issue. The special “Collectors’ Edition” will feature an exclusive business outlook survey with results from more than 200 publishers; a list of the top 10 events that have shaped the magazine industry in the last two decades; a farewell column from Paul Jones analyzing today’s top five publishing trends; a special Circ Watch round-table moderated by Scott Bullock; a profile of b-to-b publishing magnate Jim Glionna; and much more. Watch for it in January.