Trade publications are usually a lucrative business, at least by print media standards. There is a niche audience typically willing to pay for special intelligence. But when the industry you cover is the hardest hit during the worst recession in generations, the model gets more complicated. So, too, does the coverage. So it goes downtown at The Architect’s Newspaper.

“There are fewer high-profile, high-design buildings to cover,” said Alan Brake, the managing editor. “Urbanism and public space stories have really filled the void, though. New York has been at the forefront, but there are fascinating projects happening all over the country.”

Mr. Brake will be taking over as executive editor at the end of the month, when Julie Iovine steps down. A veteran of The New York Times, she has led the paper for almost six years, including a vast expansion online that has seen considerable gains in web traffic, as well as the launching of new editions of the paper and conferences. Still, she said guiding the biweekly rag through the recession has been one of her most gratifying challenges. Read More