Brill, Primedia to Part Ways, Lay Off 38

Only six months after Brill Media Holdings and Primedia Inc. executives announced their partnership, a spokesman said the two sides have decided to go their separate ways.

The decision will result in the layoffs of about 38 workers at media Web site Inside.com and Brill’s Content magazine, which is being suspended, according to a memo sent by Brill Media founder Steve Brill to staffers and obtained by Reuters.

In the memo to staff, Brill said Primedia will buy Inside.com and unwind the Brill Media Ventures and the Media Central venture as a result of talks between the two parties that have been going on since the summer. Primedia held a 49% stake in Brill Media Ventures.

Brill has agreed to stay on as chief executive of Media Central through the end of the year.