WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Publications Spotlight Women: Two local business publications have gotten religion when it comes to women in the workplace.

On June 1, the Orange County Metropolitan published a cover story saying that women will play a key role in economic recovery. And the Orange County Business Journal, on June 7, published its second advertising supplement on “Women in Business,” this one numbering 16 pages.

But political correctness may not have reached the Business Journal’s advertising sales staff, said Steven Churm, publisher of the Metropolitan.

“They’ve suggested to our advertisers that we’re a women’s magazine, which is a lot of BS,” Churm said. “We’re a business book, not aimed at one (sex) or the other.”

Four of the past six issues of the Metropolitan have featured women on the cover, Churm said. Going back 12 issues, five cover photos were of women. That ratio, Churm said, implies a balanced approach.

“The Business Journal has an extraordinarily high number of male readers, while our readership is 50-50,” he said.

The Business Journal was quick to try to dispel that notion. Roger Kranz, director of advertising, said the number of female subscribers is up to 32% now, compared to 27% two years ago. And the Journal, he noted, is a corporate partner in the Orange County chapter of the National Assn. of Women Business Owners.

“Steve can’t tell you anything about who reads his publication because he is not audited,” Kranz said. “He gives away 50,000 copies. All we can assume is that people pick it up.”