Over at The Beat, Heidi MacDonald is reporting that Shojo Beat magazine will cease production with the July 2009 issue. She quotes from the VIZ website:

Yes, the final issue of Shojo Beat magazine will be the July 2009 issue which is on newsstands June 16th. We are very proud of the past issues of Shojo Beat magazine and the efforts of the entire team. The magazine developed quite a fan base but unfortunately in today’s difficult economic climate we felt the need to place our resources elsewhere at this time.

Of course all of our great shojo manga titles previously serialized in Shojo Beat magazine will still be published and available as graphic novels under the Shojo Beat imprint from VIZ Media.

Each Shojo Beat Subscriber will be receiving a free copy of the August issue of Shonen Jump magazine with the pertinent information on what their subscription/refund options will be.

Subscribers and fans of shojo manga can get the latest information on all new Shojo Beat titles and news by visiting www.shojobeat.com.

Though I was never a regular subscriber, I’m sad to see Shojo Beat get the axe. Shojo Beat was my favorite manga magazine, offering just the right mixture of new stories, continuing series, and articles — something that’s in painfully short supply in other manga mags. Shojo Beat introduced me to some terrific series — Crimson Hero, NANA — as well as the joy of reading manga in shorter installments.

More importantly, Shojo Beat was the kind of magazine that I wish had been available to me as a teen, not only for its great stories, but also for its funky, DIY vibe. Shojo Beat was one of the few teen rags that didn’t read like Cosmo, Jr. or Vogue High; its how-to articles were practical, its fashion column featured clothing priced under $75 (a real rarity, as any devotee of Elle, Vogue, or Seventeen will tell you), and its stories focused on the inner lives of girls, not just their shopping and grooming habits. Even their contests demanded more of readers than simply sending a postcard, as girls were asked to compose poems, draw pictures, and write essays, activities that other teen magazines stopped encouraging years ago.

Shojo Beat, you’ll be sorely missed.