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November 19, 2008
Focus on the Family Folding Four Print Publications
Brio, Brio and Beyond, Breakaway, and Plugged In will turn into online magazines.
Focus on the Family will stop publishing four of its eight magazines, the ministry told Religion News Service.
The ministry, founded by James Dobson, announced earlier this week that it will cut around 200 positions on it's staff of about 1,150.
Adelle M. Banks writes:
The print edition of "Plugged In," an entertainment review guide for parents, will continue through its online version, Schneeberger said. Three other publications, Breakaway, Brio, and Brio and Beyond, which were aimed at teenagers, will be revamped into online content.
"The content that was found in those publications will still be available online, but it will be targeted not at teens but at parents," he said.
One of the four remaining magazines, Citizen, will be reduced from 12 issues to 10 issues a year. Earlier this fall, the ministry cut 46 other staff positions by outsourcing the department that filled orders and distributed books.
Comments
Oh, no. I hate to hear that the Magazines are being cut. My 2 girls received Clubhouse for several years. The oldest one has been on Brio for 2 years now and the younger one was looking forward to "stepping up." They have thoroughly enjoyed the magazines. We have even given subscriptions to their friends as gifts.
Even though there are a lot of good sources online, we were glad that there was still a way to keep PRINT in their hands at this age. Matter of fact, my youngest daughter, just started correspondence with her 2nd penpal in California.
From one family in Virginia to Focus on the Family, you will definitely be missed in our household. God bless you for all the hard work that you have done in the past.
Tammie Herring
Augusta Springs, VA
Posted By: Tammie Herring | November 21, 2008 2:25 PM
Our family will miss these also. Why not offer them as on-line content for teens?
Posted By: Lisa Johns | November 21, 2008 4:35 PM
Oh nooo! Not Focus on the Family mags! What will my family do?
No but really. It is sad that they're losing all those jobs. Which is why it p****es me off that they just poured millions into a State legislative battle in California while cutting jobs at home. Seems to me that Focus on the Family should (in the words of a popular bumper sticker in Colorado Springs) focus on their own d***n family.
Posted By: Snark E. | November 22, 2008 7:48 PM
While Focuse is discontinuing the magazines, they are actively looking for a publisher to pick them up and continue the ministry that Brio and Breakaway have firmly established. There are many publishers anxious for the chance to be the parent companies of Brio and Breakaway. Don't give up on these brands too quickly. There is a very strong chance they will continue being published.
Posted By: Jeff Edmondson | November 24, 2008 1:40 PM
We have recieved all 4 of those publications for over 8 years.They have definetly molded,stretched and influenced the spiritual development of our entire household. I hope someone will continue to publish them as I really don't want any of us in front of the computer anymore than we are now!We keep the magazines on the dinner table and have had many in depth family discussions. Thank you for all the years of hard work!
Posted By: caroline | December 4, 2008 12:26 PM
My family is deeply disappointed that these magazines will not continue in their present form. It would be much more palatable of a loss if the online versions were still geared towards teens. They were such a great alternative to the worldly views presented in magazines on the news stands. My son enjoyed learning about Christian bands amongst other things in Breakaway and my daughter really got into the monthly Bible Readings, question/answer articles and so much more!
I understand the need for cutbacks, but if you are going to continue to produce the magazine on line, why not continue to produce it for teens? I wish that you understood what a gap this will leave behind!
Posted By: J Morey | December 5, 2008 4:36 PM
I've found out that the info about the online versions in the above article is incorrect. Focus says that BOTH the print and the online versions of Brio and Breakaway are going away -- but that a new publisher will likely pick them up. Not sure when they will announce anything though.
Posted By: ml | December 30, 2008 3:24 PM
It was a strange decision hurriedly made: 1- just a few weeks before James Dobson had testified about God's faithfulness in a time of trouble.
2- There were no alternatives suggested: No let's go quarterly, let's go bi-monthly, let's use advertising
3- The online magazine is directed to parents.
4- Many of us already paid new subscriptions.
Posted By: Andres | March 30, 2009 2:48 PM
I agree with some of the comments up there, while I don't know much about the economic crisis that's rampaging our land, I know that I've been personally touched by the Brio mags. They have helped me through many difficult times in my life. I think that the teens and young people of today need something that they can look forward to, to learn from, to get encouragement from. Brio has answered questions that I couldn't ask my parents, or leaders. They were a source if encouragement for me. Something that I looked forward to in those long days. Teens NEED a good magazine... I'll be praying for this.
Thank you FOTF...
~ from canada
Posted By: k | April 26, 2009 3:51 PM
Please send me the proper pg. to submit manuscript for a chlldren's book , can't seem to find it on the webtie thanks
Posted By: carolecliffe | May 4, 2009 4:42 PM