Magazine not in Kansas anymore

The state agency that promotes state tourism is sending state money for production work on a state magazine to an out-of-state publisher, dropping two Lawrence-based companies from the project.

Allen Press Inc. and Callahan Creek recently learned that they no longer would have work on Kansas!, the tourism magazine published for the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The department had been working with Callahan Creek for design and layout services, and relying on Allen Press for printing. Editorial services were the responsibility of Nancy Nowick-Kauk, an independent contractor in Topeka.

Now all three tasks are part of a single $350,000 contract granted to Midwest Living, a Des Moines, Iowa-based magazine.

Midwest Living is owned by Meredith Corp., which also publishes Better Homes and Gardens and other magazines.

The company’s first edition of Kansas! comes out this spring.

“Of course we’re disappointed to lose the contract. We want to support our state,” said John Kuefler, vice president for client services at Callahan Creek, which remains the department’s advertising agency of record. “But if the Department of Commerce feels it’s the best use of their budget, then we’ll be supportive of that.”

Gerald Lillian, chief executive officer of Allen Press, said that his company still hadn’t received official word that it was losing the printing work. Allen Press is busy compiling a “game plan” for trying to retain the job, which might be available on a contract basis with Midwest Living.

“I can understand the rationale for the consolidation, but at this point I’m not going to comment on anything else. We might have an opportunity to fit in,” Lillian said. “It’s a valuable piece of business for us. It’s important and valuable, and not just in terms of monetary factors.”

Both Lawrence companies performed high-quality work on the magazine, and while opting for an out-of-state company proved to be a “difficult decision” for the department, spokesman Caleb Asher said, the move to Midwest Living should produce benefits.

Midwest Living already publishes the department’s Official Kansas Visitors Guide, and such familiarity is bound to help spawn content for widespread circulation, he said. The current issue of Midwest Living, for example, includes a story about the Flint Hills in Kansas.

Boosting prospects for increased exposure of Kansas and its travel destinations is considered part of the “increased efficiency” of the new deal with Midwest Living, he said.

“By working with them, they’ll have a better understanding of what we’ve got going on in Kansas,” Asher said. “That will help them have a better understanding of Kansas, and promote the state through their magazines.”

The department spent nearly $288,000 this past year on magazine work that now is going to Midwest Living, including $165,000 to Allen Press and $65,000 to Callahan Creek.

The magazine, first published in 1945, has 43,000 subscribers. Each of its four issues a year have 40 pages dedicated to stories, photos and other content focused on Kansas people, events and attractions.