CQ magazine has announced that it will publish a combined January/February 2015 issue and cease publication of its CQ Plus digital supplement as of the March 2015 issue. Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, said that both moves are intended to help restore the magazine’s normal schedule for its print edition and to strengthen its foundations moving forward as it enters its 8th decade of publication.

“These decisions were not made lightly,” Ross added, “but in recognition of the realities of the publishing industry. It’s a tough time to be in the magazine business, and we appreciate the patience and loyalty of both our readers and our advertisers.”

CQ announced last February that it was incorporating content from the magazine’s three sister publications — Popular Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio Online —into CQ Plus. The publisher also phased out the print editions of Popular Communications and CQ VHF and said WorldRadio Online would no longer exist as a separate online publication.

CQ will continue to publish both print and digital editions, but the digital edition will no longer contain the 50-60 additional pages each month that constituted CQ Plus. Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, has said he hopes to include some CQ Plus content within the pages of CQ, but added that ham radio will remain the magazine’s primary focus. CQ marks its 70th publication anniversary with its January/February issue.

The magazine also announced that, “as a consequence of the changes,” CQ Plus Editor Richard Fisher, KI6SN, will be leaving the CQ staff after serving for many years as a columnist for — and then as editor of — Popular Communications, WorldRadio Online, and CQ Plus. He was also CQ magazine’s emergency communications editor.

Due to the combined January/February issue, CQ will extend by 1 month all print and digital edition subscriptions to CQ.

CQ also has named veteran DXer, DXpeditioner, and QSL manager Bob Schenck, N2OO, as its DX editor. A 2008 inductee into the CQ DX Hall of Fame, Schenck succeeds Wayne Mills, N7NG, who stepped down to pursue other ham-related interests, CQ said. Schenck’s first “CQ DX” column will appear in the magazine’s January/February 2015 issue.