Freedom Magazines to Stop Publishing P.O.V.

Freedom Magazines Inc. said Wednesday that it will cease publishing P.O.V., a lifestyle magazine for young professionals, with the February edition to focus on other aspects of its business, including a possible new Web site this year.

Freedom Communications, which owns the Orange County Register and other media outlets, said that its magazine division bought P.O.V. in 1996 and built its circulation to 360,000. But the magazine, with a title that stands for “point of view,” never turned a profit, Freedom spokesman Mike Lednovich said.

The division will close P.O.V.’s office in New York City on Friday, laying off 40 employees.