Of course, the economics of print magazines are increasingly problematic. And technology titles are a particular challenge, because they've been the first to face competition from low-cost blogs and meme tracking sites. But a magazine publisher, such as Red Herring's Alex Vieux, who took over the storied tech business title in 2003, should surely present the image, at least, of financial stability. It does not help when three marketing agencies hired by the tech news publisher, Right Brain Marketing, Richard Espinosa and Pentagram Design, have to sue to get payment. The details:

• Right Brain Marketing won $5,000 in Small Claims Court, filed October 2006
• Richard Espinosa awarded over $4,000 for unpaid marketing plan, filed August 2006
• Red Herring was registered as being in default in November 2006 after design firm Pentagram sued in civil court