Big 'biz news today in the media world. While we would much prefer to track the comings and goings of Maxim staffers, it seems today we will have nothing more than Fashion Week, CBS, and the news that Time Inc. is selling off half its publications. Ok, fine, it's not that sexy, but it is pretty big industry news.

Expect the holidays (in Time Inc. language that means massive firings) to come early this year, reports Nat Ives at Advertising Age. Time Warner's mag division is pitching 9 of its pubs, including Ski, Skiing, Field & Stream, Popular Science, Outdoor Life, Motorboating, Yachting, Parenting, and BabyTalk.

Staffers are expected to learn today that a number of Time4 titles will be sold.

It's so funny when does that. "Staffers are expected to be told by their bosses that they probably won't have a job in four months, but we're going to tell them now."

There's little speculation as to who would be in line to take the titles off the block, obviously indicating either secret deals or a major lack of interest from larger companies to invest in smaller niche mags. Somebody somewhere really should save Field & Stream, though. It's the only thing retired guys in Minnesota have to look forward to. Not to mention the teen literacy in North Dakota it promotes. Ok, we'll stop now.

Time Inc. Sell-off of Titles to Begin Today [Nat Ives, Ad Age]