Penton Media announced today that it will expand its Chief Marketer Online Network in April by launching Chief Marketer magazine.

The new title, the print accompaniment to the Chief Marketer Web site and e-mail newsletters, will be the premier publication devoted exclusively to measurable marketing and marketing operations. It will be published six times per year and have an initial circulation of 55,000—25,000 print subscribers and 30,000 unduplicated digital subscribers. Subscribers will be the senior marketing managers at the major marketers and agencies in the U.S.

“The emphasis on measurable marketing and the subsequent demand for information on how to effectively employ measured, quantifiable marketing strategy are rapidly increasing,” said Leslie Bacon, group publisher of Penton’s Chief Marketer Network, including Direct, Promo, Multichannel Merchant, and Chief Marketer. “54% of all marketing dollars will be spent on measured marketing according to Direct Marketing Association research. And what that growing percentage represents will be our focus.”

Chief Marketer will also incorporate elements from Direct and Promo magazines, including emphasis on marketing innovation, targeting, and return on investment.

“Additionally, the lines have blurred between different forms of marketing,” said Bacon. “A packaged goods marketer may be running live events or setting up a triggered e-mail program—either way, the spend must be justified, especially in this economic climate. And that requires measurement and analytic capabilities.”

“We have seen it happening over the last 10 years with the growth of the Internet and increasing with each passing year,” Bacon continued. “The tipping point has now been reached and will certainly accelerate in this economy.”

Reflecting this blurring of marketing disciplines, Direct and Promo are part of the Chief Marketer Network and will become on-line properties, delivering their content through their Web sites (www.directmag.com and www.promomagazine.com), e-mail newsletters, Webinars, and other online products. Multichannel Merchant will continue to deliver content via its monthly publication, Web site, e-newsletters, Webinars, and other online products.

“Are we crazy for starting a magazine in this climate? Maybe,” said Ray Schultz, founding editor for the Chief Marketer Network. “But the marketing landscape has changed. The marketing community as a whole is hungry for content on measurable marketing strategies, practices, and operations and we hope to deliver it in a well-packaged magazine containing the best material from multiple sources.”

The Chief Marketer Network includes the Chief Marketer web site (“your marketing one-stop”) and the Direct, Promo, and Multichannel Merchant sites. Chief Marketer serves as the umbrella for these brands.

The network also includes Multichannel Merchant magazine and several e-mail newsletters, including Chief Marketer Report, E-Centric, Magilla Marketing, Direct Newsline, Direct Listline, Promo Xtra, Promo Interactive, Promo P&I, Multichannel Merchant Weekly, O+F Advisor, and I-Merchant.

Penton Media Inc. is the largest, independent, business-to-business media company in the U.S. serving more than six million business professionals every month through 15 focused vertical markets. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.

Penton Media announced today that it will expand its Chief Marketer Online Network in April by launching Chief Marketer magazine.

The new title, the print accompaniment to the Chief Marketer Web site and e-mail newsletters, will be the premier publication devoted exclusively to measurable marketing and marketing operations. It will be published six times per year and have an initial circulation of 55,000—25,000 print subscribers and 30,000 unduplicated digital subscribers. Subscribers will be the senior marketing managers at the major marketers and agencies in the U.S.

“The emphasis on measurable marketing and the subsequent demand for information on how to effectively employ measured, quantifiable marketing strategy are rapidly increasing,” said Leslie Bacon, group publisher of Penton’s Chief Marketer Network, including Direct, Promo, Multichannel Merchant, and Chief Marketer. “54% of all marketing dollars will be spent on measured marketing according to Direct Marketing Association research. And what that growing percentage represents will be our focus.”

Chief Marketer will also incorporate elements from Direct and Promo magazines, including emphasis on marketing innovation, targeting, and return on investment.

“Additionally, the lines have blurred between different forms of marketing,” said Bacon. “A packaged goods marketer may be running live events or setting up a triggered e-mail program—either way, the spend must be justified, especially in this economic climate. And that requires measurement and analytic capabilities.”

“We have seen it happening over the last 10 years with the growth of the Internet and increasing with each passing year,” Bacon continued. “The tipping point has now been reached and will certainly accelerate in this economy.”

Reflecting this blurring of marketing disciplines, Direct and Promo are part of the Chief Marketer Network and will become online properties, delivering their content through their web sites (www.directmag.com and www.promomag.com), e-mail newsletters, Webinars, and other online products. Multichannel Merchant will continue to deliver content via its monthly publication, Web site, e-newsletters, Webinars, and other online products.

“Are we crazy for starting a magazine in this climate? Maybe,” said Ray Schultz, founding editor for the Chief Marketer Network. “But the marketing landscape has changed. The marketing community as a whole is hungry for content on measurable marketing strategies, practices, and operations and we hope to deliver it in a well-packaged magazine containing the best material from multiple sources.”

The Chief Marketer Network includes the Chief Marketer Web site (“your marketing one-stop”) and the Direct, Promo, and Multichannel Merchant sites. Chief Marketer serves as the umbrella for these brands.

The network also includes Multichannel Merchant magazine and several e-mail newsletters, including Chief Marketer Report, E-Centric, Magilla Marketing, Direct Newsline, Direct Listline, Promo Xtra, Promo Interactive, Promo P&I, Multichannel Merchant Weekly, O+F Advisor, and I-Merchant.

Penton Media Inc. is the largest, independent, business-to-business media company in the U.S. serving more than six million business professionals every month through 15 focused vertical markets.. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co. LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.