MEDIA

Whittle Plans to Close Book Division: Whittle Communications will close its book publishing operations, which have failed to obtain sufficient advertising commitments for the next fiscal year, executives confirmed. The decision follows the recent shutdown of its Special Report Network, which involved video programs, magazines, posters and brochures that helped advertisers reach people in medical waiting rooms. Both closures reflect the Knoxville, Tenn.-based company’s decision to focus on electronic rather than print media. Whittle’s main properties are its Channel One TV news program for schools and a Medical News Network TV service for physicians, to premiere this fall.