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OFF THE RADAR: It's generally a questionable sign when a publisher flees before a magazine publishes its first issue; it's worse when the magazine has been launched and failed twice already. But Radar and Radaronline.com publisher Katherine Rizzuto is leaving the Maer Roshan start-up to become publisher of Cond Nast bridal magazines Brides, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and Your Prom, reporting to Susan Rerat, recently promoted to Bridal Media Group vice president and publishing director. As summarized by a statement from Radar: "Radar publisher Katherine Rizzuto received an incredible offer to return to her former employer overseeing three magazines, an offer she rightfully couldn't refuse." Rizzuto has defected after just two-and-a-half months on the job and before making the rounds to advertisers for Radaronline.com or the magazine, which is scheduled to be launched in March 2007 (though, according to a Roshan spokesman, there are three paid ads on the Web site).
Her departure naturally raises doubts among skeptics about Radar's vitality and whether the magazine's launch will be delayed or even scrapped altogether. But according to the Radar statement, "We are going full steam ahead, including our ink-on-paper launch in first-half 2007."
Rizzuto said her reason for leaving had nothing to do with turmoil at Radar; it was a chance to go back to a familiar...