Nielsen selling trade journals

NEW YORK (AP) — The Nielsen Co. is selling some of its most prominent trade journals — including The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard — and shutting down Editor & Publisher, which has chronicled the newspaper business for more than 100 years.

The changes come in a tumultuous year for the media industry, with some storied brands put on the auction block or shuttered altogether. Such titles as Gourmet magazine and the Rocky Mountain News have been closed.

Nielsen is selling eight titles to e5 Global Media LLC, a new company formed by private equity firm Pluribus Capital Management and Guggenheim Partners, a financial services company. James Finkelstein, one of Pluribus’ three founders, will serve as e5’s chairman. Guggenheim’s executive chairman is the former CEO of Bear Stearns Cos., Alan Schwartz.

The price of Thursday’s deal was not disclosed, and Finkelstein did not return messages seeking comment.