October 5, 2009 – Do you love food? Do you spend hours agonizing over your next meal or spend a considerable amount of time leafing through culinary publications and blogs?

If so, you might be familiar with the “Gourmet” and “Bon Appetit” magazines, which contain recipes, histories, and stories about the food world. The magazines, which are owned by publishing giant Conde Nast, have thousands of fans across the world and can boast of a huge readership. It came as a huge shock today when it was announced that Conde Nast is planning on closing “Gourmet”, which has been in circulation since 1940 and has maintained an almost biblical status among foodies.

The cuts come at the conclusion of a three month study by McKinsey & Co., which told several magazines to cut about 25 percent from their budgets. In addition to “Gourmet”, Conde Nast also plans to cut “Cookie”, “Modern Bride”, and “Elegant Bride” from their magazine repertoire. The economy had a significant impact on the publisher’s budget, and its magazines have lost more than 8,000 in advertising pages this year.

This announcement spells big news for the magazine, advertising, and communications industry. The decline of print media—which includes magazines and newspapers—has been the subject of great debate by everyone involved in the world of publishing. The newsstand sale of magazines has plummeted and the cost of newsprint has been steadily increasing. Advertisers are starting to shift their focus to the Internet and online publications because it’s cheaper to produce and can reach a larger audience. Have seen the last of magazines at beauty parlors and doctor’s offices?

Regardless of the speculation that “Gourmet” and “Bon Appétit” might be closing, there are still many career opportunities out there for those foodies and future writers out there. If you are looking to explore career opportunities in the world of food, consider these careers:

Chef – not everyone can be a “Top Chef”, but food preparation is a growing industry because people will always need to eat!

Nutritionist – a healthy diet is the key to looking and feeling good, and nutritionists are definitely in high demand. People who have an education in food, diet, and nutrition can find work in hospitals, schools, living facilities, and spas.

Catering – these folks are the party planners of the food world. Caterers work to prepare food for events and holidays, and make sure that everything is ready to be served when it is time to eat.

If you want to write professionally, but aren’t sure if the world of print media is right for you, check out these top three careers in communication:

Blogger – many companies are jumping on the bandwagon and starting their own blogs in order to increase web traffic and publicity. This means that good writers are needed to manage the blogs! Very yum.

Copywriter – copywriters frequently work for advertising and marketing firms, who provide writing and design services for several clients. These workers are responsible for writing the text for ads and websites.

Grant writer – the goal of a grant writer is to get funding for non-profit organizations. Writers create, submit, and follow-up with proposals for funding.