Veteran South Fl Publisher Bernie McCormick Sells Magazines
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Bernie McCormick, the veteran journalist who started publishing his magazines when Fort Lauderdale was a sleepy outpost, is selling his publications.
McCormick was a Philadelphia newsman who moved to Fort Lauderdale almost 50 years ago.
He began covering minor sports while still at La Salle College High School in Philadelphia. After college at what is now La Salle University, he was a sports writer and a general columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times in suburban Philadelphia.
But it was in 1965 that he found his calling. He joined Philadelphia Magazine, a spunky glossy publication that helped pioneer city magazines.
In 1970 he left Philadelphia to lead a group that was publishing Gold Coast magazine in Fort Lauderdale. He eventually became the editor and publisher of that magazine and several other magazines.
With its full page ads promoting the luxury lifestyle along the Gold Coast, McCormick became a wealthy and influential force in South Florida journalism.
But the magazine was not totally about yachts and high-end condominiums, His friend, the late Gaeton Fonzi, another Philadelphia journalist, followed McCormick to Fort Lauderdale. Fonzi became a staple of Gold Coast magazine filling it with serious investigative pieces.
He is a Fort Lauderdale institution, whose Gulfstream Media Group publishing empire now stretches from Las Olas Boulevard to Jupiter.
Here is his announcement e-mailed today:
Dear friends:
We have company news today.
Hour Media, which owns 160 magazines around the country – including properties in Palm Beach and Naples – closed this week on a deal to buy our magazine assets.
Most of our staff will stay with the magazine. I will not be active in the company, but will assist the new owner in any way I can. Independently, I will also continue to publish my blog, McCormick Place.
Keeping quiet was awkward because I was dealing with some of you on future stories and events. I trust those projects will not be affected.
My recent health issues have caused my 800 meter time to slow. More important was the reality that running five magazines was a big job for Mark McCormick, on top of his leadership of our software company that produces The Magazine Manager.
That company has grown to serve 16,000 magazines, newspapers and online products in 22 countries and is about to launch a marketing automation platform. Hour Media is one of those clients. Mark will now have time and resources to accelerate the growth of that successful endeavor.
It has been a long run – just a month short of 50 years. We are grateful to the shareholders who supported our reorganization when Mark came aboard in the 1990s, and happy that all of them made a nice return on their investments. We are especially indebted to our retired chairman, Bob McCabe. His long career in the investment business enabled him to attract many of our shareholders. They aren’t around to thank, but we remember fondly our late editorial colleagues, Gaeton Fonzi and Chuck McNamara, both formerly co-staffers from our Philadelphia magazine days. Their writing enhanced our publications for years. We also appreciate our late former associate publishers, John Collins and John Broderick, whose contributions were so valuable.
Most importantly, I thank our great staff and those of you who have been valued associates for so many years.
Bernard McCormick
December 4th, 2019 at 1:01 pm
I like that magazine.Also like Riverwalk publication as well.
December 4th, 2019 at 4:07 pm
Bernie has always been a stalwart supporter of The Church and Notre Dame, not necessarily in that order. I expect we will be seeing him more in church now.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:19 am
Bernie,
You forgot to thank Mary Brooks and J.W. Patton, the two people who tried to steal your publication back in the 80’s (joking). Congrats to you, Peggy and Mark. Its been a long run. Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Ted Galatis