Magazines aren't getting kicked around anymore—at least not as much.

Nearly two years after the bottom fell out of magazine advertising, publishers are seeing signs of stability in the first quarter and are becoming cautiously optimistic about 2010.

The largest players, including Time Inc., Condé Nast and Hearst Magazines, expect advertising pages for many of their titles to be up or at least flat through March. And after several rounds of bloodletting, in which titles and staff were chopped at nearly every company, executives say profit margins will improve as revenue creeps back.

They're also focused as never before on offering clients custom-made packages that include the latest new-media bells and whistles, including social media components and mobile phone applications.

Publishers don't expect business to return to 2007 levels anytime soon, but they all report a different mood among their advertisers.

More ... http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100117/FREE/301179970#