Governing Magazine

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 11:40am on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

e.Republic Acquires Governing Magazine

WASHINGTON, November 20, 2009 -- e.Republic today announced it has agreed to acquire Governing magazine from the Times Publishing Company.

"We are very pleased to welcome Governing to e.Republic," said Paul Harney, Chief Operating Officer for the California-based media company. "Our flagship Government Technology magazine has published alongside Governing for over 20 years, and we have a high regard for Governing's long history of editorial excellence," Harney said. "Combined, the two organizations create the largest media firm providing news, research and analysis of the $2.9 trillion state and local government market."

Governing will remain in its current offices on Connecticut Avenue in downtown Washington, D.C., under the leadership of its publisher Fred Kuhn, though some operations will be combined with similar functions at e.Republic.

Each company has long and deep experience in chronicling how the public's business gets done in states and localities. Stemming from its long affiliation with Congressional Quarterly, Governing's focus is on providing factual, unbiased coverage on public policy, management and what federal actions mean for cities, counties and states.

Headquartered in Sacramento, California, e.Republic has focused on the role technology plays in government transformation. e.Republic is also home to the Center for Digital Government, a research organization providing information on technology deployment and trends in state and local government.

"Governing plays an important role in informing and connecting America's state and local leaders," said Dennis McKenna, President and CEO of e.Republic.

Both companies have approved the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday.

A media and research firm, e.Republic has focused on state and local government and education for over 20 years. e.Republic's products include: Government Technology, Govtech.com, GTtv, Public CIO, Emergency Management, Emergencymgmt.com, DigitalCommunities.com, Center for Digital Government, Center for Digital Education, Digital Government Navigator, Converge, and Convergemag.com.

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 3:18pm on Monday, November 23rd, 2009

The staff of Governing magazine are nervous about working for their new Scientologist bosses, the New York Times reported on November 22, 2009:

“There are certain tenets of the religion that affect management,” said Peter Harkness, who founded Governing in 1987 and who came out of retirement in August to serve as publisher during the sale process. “To my knowledge, they have not been proselytizing.”

Some of the anxiety among the staff stems from a 2001 article in the Sacramento News and Review, an independent weekly, about e.Republic, which bought Governing from Times Publishing Co.

That article, which has been widely read by Governing’s reporters in the last few days, reported that e.Republic’s staff members are required to read a book on management called “Speaking From Experience,” written by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.

“There is concern,” Mr. Harkness said. “Unquestionably, there is concern.”

The full story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/business/media/23govern.html

Mondo Times editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 1:46pm on Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Governing magazine, a provider of news, information and best practices for state and city government officials is being offered for sale by the Times Publishing Company.

Based in Washington, D.C., Governing is one of three divisions that formed the Congressional Quarterly group of companies owned by the St. Petersburg-based Times Publishing Company, which has been divesting its Washington properties to support its growth initiatives in Florida.

Last year, Times Publishing sold the CQ Press books division to Sage Publications. This month, the company announced that Roll Call Group, a division of the Economist Group, has agreed to acquire Congressional Quarterly.

For more than 20 years, Governing has been provided intelligence and analysis to senior officials in state and local government, with a sharp focus on policy and politics. Governing's subscribers include a mix of elected and appointed officials, as well as top-tier managers with a range of executive and legislative titles.

Governing is a monthly magazine with a BPA-audited circulation of more than 80,000 subscribers nationwide. The business includes a web site and a portfolio of conferences and seminars.

In addition, Governing presents the Public Officials of the Year Awards, which is attended by award winners and senior executives from across the nation.

"The launch of Governing magazine two decades ago opened our eyes to the key role that states, cities, and counties play in the United States," said founding publisher Peter Harkness. "From helping to form national policy on key domestic issues to administering most of the nation's public programs, our states and localities hold much of the responsibility for how well our public sector performs."

The company has engaged the Jordan Edmiston Group, Inc., the leading investment bank for media, information marketing services and related technology, to act as financial adviser in the transaction.