Art| Published on March 26, 2008 7:46 pm

C-BUS Magazine is ceasing publication

By: Walker

Derek Grosso, Publisher C-BUS Magazine wrote Dear C-BUS Magazine readers,

After three years of showcasing Columbus’s young professional community, C-BUS Magazine is ceasing publication with its March/April issue, which will be offered online at www.cbusmagazine.com.

I am positive that we succeeded in our mission to connect our readers with local stories on young professionals, business and lifestyle features, great places to dine, area culture and nightlife, and everything else that makes Columbus a great place to live, work, and play.

Faced with a downturn in the current economy and a very weak advertising market (at least for print publications), we decided to reconsider our options and look toward shelving the magazine to focus on some other opportunities. Additionally, since C-BUS was distributed for free – on newsstands, in bulk, and via mail – it became increasingly difficult to continue producing such a high-quality publication and rely solely on advertising revenue in this market.

The bi-monthly publication, which had a circulation of 30,000, and was mailed to more than 12,000 subscribers, had a modest, yet hard-working staff of two full-time, three part-time, and about a dozen local freelance writers and photographers. These people were the heart and soul of the magazine.

I want to send a very special thank you to our devoted staff and contributors, our advertisers, our readers, and all additional supporters for making C-BUS Magazine a positive resource for the entire community. This could not have been accomplished without all of you.

I never thought C-BUS Magazine would be so popular, or grow to reach so many in such a short amount of time. That speaks volumes of the people of Columbus and the entire central Ohio region.

Yours very truly,

Derek Grosso, Publisher

C-BUS, The Magazine That’s Connecting Columbus

Tags: cbus magazine, closings, live work play, magazines

Author: Walker Walker is the founder of ColumbusUnderground.com and co-founder of TheMetropreneur.com along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media from a hobby into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community.

54 Comments

Walker March 26, 2008 7:48 pm

Big thanks to Derek for taking the time to send this notice our way to keep people informed about the situation. I had heard a few rumors flying around the last few days, and it’s always better to get the official word straight from the source.

Personally, I wish him the best with what comes next. :D
Outerloop March 26, 2008 8:41 pm

Well that just stinks! I love the magazine and the many articles showcasing what Columbus has to offer and the people who make it happen.
Zenperson March 26, 2008 8:50 pm

Oh no, BrandonPhoto :cry:
surber17 March 26, 2008 9:22 pm

I agree…..I loved that magazine. I hope they do an online version.
CbusIslander March 26, 2008 9:38 pm

That is unfortunate, I really enjoyed the magazine. Hopefully, it does return in a more limited online version.
CMH Gourmand March 26, 2008 10:46 pm

I wrote a few articles for C-Bus so I am biased. Good luck on C-Bus 2.0 whatever that may be. C-Bus was/is much better than C Magazine.
brandonphoto March 26, 2008 11:44 pm

Great people, those two words describe Derek Grosso and Kristen Mele. Those two were the engine behind this great publication. They put their blood, sweat and tears into that magazine, and it showed. I’ve had the pleasure to work with great writers and photographers, all were very talented and professional. As one of the photographers, I had the great pleasure of going to many events that the magazine covered. One of my favorite events was the Bling Ball at the Wexner Center in 2006.

It’s very sad to see the epitome of the “Little Engine that Could” stop chugging. I’ll miss working with them on a regular basis.
bustowner March 26, 2008 11:59 pm

CMH Gourmand wrote I wrote a few articles for C-Bus so I am biased. Good luck on C-Bus 2.0 whatever that may be. C-Bus was/is much better than C Magazine.

Agreed. C-Bus appears, at least, to hew to some precepts of journalism. C Magazine whores itself out by writing fawning reviews of businesses that commit to ad packages (this from a former employee), and is pretty much just a big ego stroke for its rich boy owner/publisher.
Coremodels March 27, 2008 6:55 am

I enjoyed C Magazine a lot more when they at least had some interesting photography under Kyle Widder…now I’m just bored to tears with it, an actually haven’t looked at one in a year.

CBus I at least downloaded every couple months and found a couple things of interest each time.
joev March 27, 2008 7:28 am

bustowner wrote

CMH Gourmand wrote I wrote a few articles for C-Bus so I am biased. Good luck on C-Bus 2.0 whatever that may be. C-Bus was/is much better than C Magazine.

Agreed. C-Bus appears, at least, to hew to some precepts of journalism. C Magazine whores itself out by writing fawning reviews of businesses that commit to ad packages (this from a former employee), and is pretty much just a big ego stroke for its rich boy owner/publisher.

I have to ask about your ailas, Bustowner. At first, I thought you were the very proud owner of a bust. Perhaps of Pallas or Nefertiti or Marcus Aurelius. Then I thought that you were describing your mode of transportation – you take the bus to town – ala Motorist, Cyclist (and Walker.) Then I thought you might be referring to Columbus as Bustown, and declaring yourself a citizen of that place. Which is it?

For each scenario, I propose some illuminating punctiation.

BustOwner

Bus-Towner

‘BusTowner
BCOZ March 27, 2008 7:58 am

I’m bummed…as I not only loved the magazine, but Derek and Kristen are my good neighbors.

Good luck, guys (hopefully you’re reading this)…and let me buy your brunch this Sunday Funday!

B
BetsyB March 27, 2008 9:18 am

Will Miss C-Bus…Hate C Magazine…Dislike Roopan Dey…Not really sure how C Mag makes money anyways cause I have had the inside scoop from their so-called advertisers and what they really pay or don’t pay for their ads…
Coremodels March 27, 2008 9:22 am

BetsyB wrote Will Miss C-Bus…Hate C Magazine…Dislike Roopan Dey…Not really sure how C Mag makes money anyways cause I have had the inside scoop from their so-called advertisers and what they really pay or don’t pay for their ads…

I believe they utilize the “pay our staff like migrant workers” business model.
Walker March 27, 2008 9:29 am

joev wrote Then I thought that you were describing your mode of transportation – you take the bus to town – ala Motorist, Cyclist (and Walker.)

:shock:

While I do walk around a lot, my screen-name also appears on my birth certificate. ;)
bjboose March 27, 2008 9:30 am

Speaking of C Magazine–

Roopan Dey’s picture in the beginning of every issue cracks me up. It’s the only thing I look foreward to in the magazine.

He’s got his Blue Steel look down!
placebohigh March 27, 2008 9:33 am

I also wrote a few articles for C-BUS Magazine so I’m biased as well but I’m very sad to hear it’s ceasing publication. You know it’s bad for journalists when even The NY Times is laying off people. C-BUS was a great publication and hopefully it will return in the future. It was a great concept and really filled a niche not covered by other local publications. The magazine will be missed.
f!5hl39 March 27, 2008 9:37 am

CMH Gourmand wrote C-Bus was/is much better than C Magazine.

+1
Coremodels March 27, 2008 9:38 am

placebohigh wrote I also wrote a few articles for C-BUS Magazine so I’m biased as well but I’m very sad to hear it’s ceasing publication. You know it’s bad for journalists when even The NY Times is laying off people. C-BUS was a great publication and hopefully it will return in the future. It was a great concept and really filled a niche not covered by other local publications. The magazine will be missed.

I’m guilty, I admit it. I just don’t read paper anymore, ever, other than books…and even that I’m reading more and more e-books. Hopefully CBus can consider an online version that can generate some advertising dollars with a lot less overhead.
Motorist March 27, 2008 9:44 am

I read about everything going on in Columbus on Columbus Underground. CU is even making The Alive and TOP obsolete for me.

I will miss seeing pictures of rich old people at expensive fundraisers though.
Manatee March 27, 2008 9:51 am

Motorist wrote I read about everything going on in Columbus on Columbus Underground. CU is even making The Alive and TOP obsolete for me.

I will miss seeing pictures of rich old people at expensive fundraisers though.

+1