King Features Signs Advice Columnist

By: Dave Astor The post-Ann Landers landscape continues to evolve as another major syndicate enters the general-advice-column arena.

King Features Syndicate signed Harlan Cohen, and will distribute his feature starting Aug. 19. Cohen had been self-syndicating "Help Me, Harlan!" since early 1996, and now has about 75 clients -- including many college newspapers.

"I'm so excited to be able to get my column out to more readers," said Cohen, who will now write two features -- a twice-weekly one for King, and a separate column for college clients.

King Managing Editor Glenn Mott told E&P Online that "Help Me, Harlan!" appeals to young adults but also has a following among older readers. He added that the Chicago-based Cohen brings a rare male perspective to the mostly female syndicated advice field.

"He's a good writer with a sense of humor and a style that is very punchy," said Mott.

Cohen, 29, told E&P Online that not having to handle his own sales will give him more time to devote to his column and to speaking engagements that enable him to meet readers around the country.

Mott reported that King has also been syndicating "Ask CosmoGIRL!" since shortly before Landers died on June 22. The weekly advice column, primarily aimed at girls 10 to 18, is written exclusively for King by CosmoGIRL! Editor in Chief Atoosa Rubenstein. Her popular magazine is published by the Hearst Corp., which also owns King.

The advice-column category has definitely been changing this summer. Columns already syndicated before Landers' death -- including the daily "Dear Abby" by Jeanne Phillips of Universal Press Syndicate and the now-thrice-weekly "Tell Me About It" by Carolyn Hax of the Washington Post Writers Group -- added to their client lists. Creators Syndicate -- which distributed Landers -- introduced the daily "Annie's Mailbox" by former Landers assistants Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, signed the twice-weekly "Dear Prudence" that Landers' daughter Margo Howard writes for Slate.com, and signed the weekly "Ask the Advice Goddess" formerly self-syndicated by Amy Alkon. Also, United Media started syndicating the thrice-weekly "Sense and Sensitivity" by Harriette Cole.