Time managing editor Rick Stengel is expected to be nominated undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs.
He was Time's top editor for the past seven years. Stengel currently is on a leave of absence from the weekly magazine.
Nancy Gibbs, Stengel's deputy at Time, is expected to take his post.
The propaganda czar post is vacant following Tara Sonenshine departure in July following a 14-month stint.
Maxim Sold to Darden
Maxim, which bills itself as the "ultimate guys guide," has been sold to Darden Media Group.
Alpha Media, which is controlled by Cerebus Capital Management, is the seller of the magazine that is sold in nearly 50 countries.
Darden plans to transform Maxim into a cable TV network.
Its chief Calvin Darden said he plans to invest to build on Maxim's global platform.
He runs a development group in Atlanta.
Taplett Moves to Defense One
Katie Taplett, publisher for the defense/space/security sectors at Penton's Aviation Week, is now associate publisher of Atlantic Media's Defense One, digital publication.
Previously, Taplett was U.S. sales director for HIS/Janes Information Group.
Tim Hartman, president of AM's government executive media group, said Taplett's "deep knowledge of the defense market combined with her digital and events expertise make her an ideal fit to lead our efforts in the sponsor community."
Launched in July, Defense One has 62K subscribers. It eyes the Defense One Summit in Washington on Nov. 17. The event will focus on issues affecting the nation's national security apparatus.
Time Inc. Acquires Amex Mags
Time Inc. is acquiring American Express Publishing Corp., which produces magazines Food & Wine, Departures, Black Ink, Executive Travel and Travel + Leisure, in a deal to be completed during the fourth quarter.
New Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp called the magazines "the most desirable brands in the luxury space."
He believes the deal will "create some exciting synergistic opportunities across our portfolio."
Time Inc. and AmexCo Publishing have been business partners for more than 20 years with the magazine company providing publishing management services to the financial services giant.
Ed Kelly, chief marketing officer for AmexCo, called Time Inc. the "ideal partner to continue the group's tradition of excellence, and we expect to work closely with them on a range of marketing initiatives in the future."
AmexCo Publishing reaches more than 36M consumers each year via its magazines, books, digital properties, events and social media platforms.
Time Inc.'s 130M monthly audience is captured by brands such as Time, Sports Illustrated, People, Real Simple, InStyle and Fortune.
AA Editor Moves to KBS&P
Matt Creamer, editor at large at Advertising Age, has moved to ad agency Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal and Partners, as executive editor/associate creative director.
As part of its Content Labs, Creamer to create content "with the efficiency of a newsroom and at the speed of social media, according to the MDC Partners unit.
He also has written for the New York Daily News, New York Observer, The Awl and Atlantic Wire.
Creamer joins former AA editor Jonah Bloom at the agency.
Newspaper Trade Group Goes Dark
The Newspaper Assn. of America has stopped releasing quarterly circulation and revenue figures to put an end to stories about the "death of the industry," according to CEO Caroline Little.
The performance figures have been in steady decline since 2012. She told the Harvard Riptide project that every time the NAA issued the press release covering the state of the industry, 100 stories would follow with the newspapers are dead theme.
She noted that all media "have been disrupted over the past 10 to 15 years.
The media focus on the decline in print overshadowed gains make by newspapers in digital, weekly/niche publications, contract services and direct mail, said Little.
NAA is working on a broader measurement gauge to measure progress made by the business.
NBCU's Shaw Tunes in Viacom
Chris Shaw, senior VP-global ad sales at NBCUniversal's international TV unit, has joined Viacom International Media Networks as advertising czar for its Be Viacom unit.
He's in charge of brands such as Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon. Based in London, Shaw reports to VIMN CEO Bob Bakish.
Prior to NBCU, Shaw was senior VP for Discovery Communications in charge of the cable programmer's Europe, Middle East and Africa commercial development.
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