The most obvious change comes in a major redesign of the group's 64-year-old flagship publication, Real Estate Forum, which is being expanded to include two new sections focused on regional (NewsFront) and local (ForumLocal) markets. Along with these editorial changes, the magazine will up its frequency to 10 times annually and increase its circulation to 53,000 executive decision makers via its print and digital editions.

The expansion comes on the heels of last year's cancellation of the group's four regional publications: Real Estate New York, Real Estate New Jersey, Real Estate Southern California and Real Estate Florida. According to vice president and group publisher Michael G. Desiato, a troubled national economy caused the closure of the products, but the expansion, "underscores our commitment to the major markets of New York, New Jersey, Florida and California."

"This downturn is of historic proportions," says Desiato, a 30-year industry veteran. "Amidst the confusion, it is increasingly clear that real estate is no longer a regional industry. Our fortunes are tied to Congress and Treasury, to bailouts and guarantees. More than ever, success is measured by one's ability to strike an aggressive, broad-based business strategy. The new comprehensive strategy we are launching we believe will work best for our products because it serves well our readers, our conference attendees and our advertisers and sponsors."

Going beyond the print side, GlobeSt.com, will also increase its local market coverage in 2010. This is part of a major redesign the award-winning website, now in its 10th year, will launch in March. Another key part of the redesign will be a mobile version for registrants who want to keep up with the site while on the road.

Technology is also expanding the reach of the RealShare Conference Series. Desiato reports that all events will now provide year-round market information and networking opportunities via a new professional networking community, RealShareCONNECT.

To work the new strategy, a series of staff promotions have been made:

  • In editorial, 22-year REM veteran John Salustri has been named content director. He also assumes the editorship of GlobeSt.com;
  • Ian Ritter is now new media editor, overseeing the expansion in blogs, videos and webinars;
  • Other editorial changes on the regional level are: Paul Bubny, Northeast Region editor; Natalie Dolce, West; Alyson Grala, Mid-Atlantic; Amy Wolff Sorter, Southwest and Rob Carr and Katie Hinderer, Midwest;
  • In sales and marketing, executive publisher Gregg Christensen, who has been with REM for 17 years, becomes SVP, sales, and publisher of Real Estate Forum;
  • Scott Thompson becomes VP of integrated marketing and sales development;
  • Daniel Ceniceros, former publisher of ReSoCal, becomes VP, strategic development and Real Share Conferences;
  • Alexa Faulkner, who heads reprints, licensing and custom-publishing, will also oversee circulation and audience development;
  • Matt Moore, former associate publisher of Real Estate New York, becomes associate publisher, New York Region, for Real Estate Forum; and
  • Jen McCabe, who filled that same position for Real Estate New Jersey, is now Forum's associate publisher, New Jersey/Mid-Atlantic Region.

For complete editorial, sponsorship, conference and circulation information, please visit http://www.almrealestatemediagroup.com.

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Paul Bubny

Paul Bubny is managing editor of Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com. He has been reporting on business since 1988 and on commercial real estate since 2007. He is based at ALM Real Estate Media Group's offices in New York City.