Comic Book Resources is reporting that Wizard Entertainment Group has fired Senior Vice President/Editor-in-Chief Pat McCallum. An official announcement is expected later today.
McCallum, who oversaw all the company’s publications, was one of the original staff members of Wizard magazine.
As the CBR story notes, it’s been a bumpy year for Wizard Entertainment Group, on both the publishing and convention fronts.
In May, Wizard laid off seven employees from its various magazines, including Anime Insider and Inquest. According to Newsarama, a source said staff members were told the lay-offs were based on “revenue issues.”
Then in August, less than a week after Wizard World Chicago, the company fired its senior convention staffers, Stewart Morales and Gabe Fieramosco.
Update: Wizard has issued a press release that lists McCallum’s firing among “several staffing changes,” that include new hires in the publishing and convention divisions.
The release limits mention of McCallum to one sentence: “Additionally, Wizard announced that Editor-in-Chief Pat McCallum and Wizard Entertainment have parted ways.”
November 30th, 2006 at 8:39 am
Maybe they should consider a drastic overhaul to the magazine to make it worth reading. Then they wouldn’t have so many revenue issues.
Dare to dream, I know.
November 30th, 2006 at 9:22 am
I’m wouldn’t be surprised if this was slowly a move to transform the magazine into “WIZARD: THE GUIDE TO MIXED-MARTIAL ARTS COMPETITIONS!”
-Steve!
November 30th, 2006 at 11:47 am
Augie - you should apply:
http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/jobview.asp?joid=47392&page=1
November 30th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Neil - You know, it’s almost half-tempting. Congers is only about a half hour away from me. And, oh, I’d have ideas.
Sure, they’d shoot all the ideas down in 30 seconds and send me packing, but I have them. . .
November 30th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
But it would make a great story for Pipeline.
December 1st, 2006 at 2:56 am
Just think Wizard will probably actually get worse now. Huzzah!
Maybe they should focus more on movie coverage. Heh,heh.
Or shorter articles with more art. tee hee
And interviews where creators only cover their new “hot” project and how excited they are. ho ho
Can’t wait till the final issue of Wizard comes out. Wonder who will be blamed then? Probably me for surely it could not be Gareb and his host of magazine consultants.
December 12th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
At what point did Wizard lose its soul? The last few years, it seems to me they’ve been nothing more than cheerleaders for publishers. Everything’s a huge event, everything’s the greatest ever - reminds me of what “Rolling Stone” has turned into - just another advertising arm of the entertainment industry. Does anyone really believe, as “Rolling Stone’s” cover story said a few summers ago, that the joint Justin Timberlake/Christina Aguylerra show was the “Hottest Tour of the Summer!!!”? Similarly, does anyone relly think that that overpriced comic “grading” service they’re pimping is worth it, or just a bunch of hot air?