CondΘ Nast cuts Jane loose

CondΘ Nast Publications shut down monthly glossy Jane this morning with no prior warning to subscribers or employees.

A CondΘ Nast employee who requested anonymity described the scene this morning as, "No warnings, no explanations, no jobs. Many tears." Representatives from Jane and CondΘ Nast did not return phone calls as of press time.

The 10-year-old women's magazine had been struggling for years. Editor in chief Brandon Holley was brought in to reinvigorate the title in 2005, but ad pages continued to fall by 20.9% in 2006. Its average paid circulation last year was 706,561.

The August issue, on newsstands July 24, will be Jane's last. Companion Web site, www.janemag.com, also got the axe, and CondΘ Nast reports no plans to resuscitate the title online.

CondΘ Nast's usual policy is to fulfill its obligations to subscribers, who will be sent a comparable CondΘ Nast women's title for the duration of their subscription. Representatives refused to say if the company would do the same for Jane subscribers.

Brandon Holley and Jane VP and publisher Carlos Lamadrid are leaving CondΘ Nast for other pursuits. The other 60 former Jane employees have the opportunity to interview for positions within the company.