Cirrus Media hives off another title with Sterling Publishing picking up Lawyers Weekly
Australia’s biggest business to business publishing house Cirrus Media has continued its move to sell off less profitable titles, selling Lawyers Weekly to the rapidly-growing Sterling Publishing.
The move comes just weeks after Cirrus, formerly Reed Business Information before being acquired by private equity last year, sold off its media title B&T and Travel Weekly to its publishers.
Sterling’s group publisher Alex Whitlock said: “We’ve strategically built our portfolio of titles around real estate, financial services, investment and professional services. The opportunity to acquire such a respected title as Lawyers Weekly was one that we could not afford to miss. The brand will enhance our existing stable of titles while enhance our audience reach across Australia’s professional services sectors.”
Lawyers Weekly was launched in 2000 and claims around 80,000 unique visitors to its website each month, as well as a print product and established event portfolio, and Whitlock said it was looking to build on those elements.
It adds to Sterling’s other titles which include The Adviser, Mortgage Business, Real Estate Business, Smart Property Investment and SMSF Adviser. Justin Whealing will continue as editor of the publication, with the editorial team moving across under him.
Last year Cirrus elected to keep hold of several of its less profitable titles despite a consultant’s report suggesting it consolidated around some key pillars.
However since then the CEO, Jeremy Knibbs, has departed the organisation to be replaced by former Trader Group CEO John King. The group has titles including Australian Doctor and Money Management in its portfolio.
Sterling was advised by BBB Capital and legal advice from Landerer & Company during the process.
Alex Hayes
Disclaimer: Alex Hayes is a former employee of Cirrus Media
Maybe Alex should go back to Cirrus, the grammar in the second last paragraph is pretty bad
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Hi Grammar,
You’re right, that was an absolute shocker – the problem of getting info on deadline.
However, I’m afraid I won’t be coming to join you back in the Cirrus offices in Chatswood any time soon.
Cheers,
Alex – editor, Mumbrella
“Australia’s biggest business to business publishing house Cirrus Media” According to who? Are Cirrus the biggest B2B publisher? How is this substantiated?
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p.s. If you Google ‘Lawyer Jokes’ Lawyers Weekly is the #1 organic search result.
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Seems that the new blood is making some changes, and about time.
The majority of the titles and web sites in the stable are beyond repair.
Having Oz Doc, Medical Observer, and Money Management are the cash cows, the rest are a nuisance, and should be bleed off quickly.
Whilst the morale is at a new time high with the departure of the old guard, the worry is that the changes are too late, and deep cuts will be required.
Also, Cirrus tagline is “A content marketing Agency”…. although they are not in the 1st page of the SERPS.
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