Let It Snow for Rihanna... Conde Nast Cuts... Books Boost Rodale

CONDE NAST CUTS: Condé Nast Publication Inc.’s Internet division, home to destination sites Concierge.com, Epicurious.com and Style.com, on Tuesday laid off staffers across all its functions, including editorial, marketing and sales, production and technology. The cuts come as Condé Nast is said to be reducing head counts across the company by 5 percent, either by attrition or other measures. A CondéNet spokeswoman released a statement that said: “Visibility for 2009 is very limited and therefore we are adjusting all costs to prepare for slower revenue growth. The adjustments are across the board and include staff restructuring and some reduction. Despite the current environment, CondéNet will end the year slightly up over 2007. These moves will put the company in a stronger position to handle a challenging year ahead and for the business to benefit when the economy and the ad market start to rebound.” CondéNet did not release specific names or the number of positions affected, but sources close to the company describe the figure as in the dozens. CondéNet is the latest company property hit by the downturn in the economy, following last week’s reduction in the frequencies of Men’s Vogue and Portfolio. Also recently departing the company was corporate creative director Gary Van Dis, who most recently was in charge of Condé Nast’s “Point of Passion” ad campaign. — Stephanie D. Smith