Columbia Journalism Review, the uptown Manhattan-based periodical that purports to stimulate excellence in journalism, today announced that it has hired Cathryn Cronin Cranston as its new publisher.

This isn’t Cranston’s first Review. She is the former publisher of the Harvard Business Review. She has also done time at The New York Times and other publishing outfits, and currently serves on the board for American Media.

“At this moment of significant and problematic changes in journalism, our vision is to amplify CJR’s voice as both the media watchdog and thought-leader for new business models for journalism,” said CJR chairman Victor Navasky in a statement. “We are fortunate to have someone with Cathy’s experience and ability to lead the business side of CJR.”

CJR has a Q&A with its new publisher over here.

Press release, via Romenesko, after the jump.

New York, NY (August 9, 2010) — The Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) announced today that Cathryn Cronin Cranston, former publisher of the Harvard Business Review, has been named its publisher.

Cranston was publisher of the Harvard Business Review from 2002 to 2006, and has also worked for The New York Times, and Mansueto Ventures, the owner of the Inc. and Fast Company media brands. She is the immediate past chair of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and has been a consultant to the world’s leading publisher of scientific journals, a global business-to-business publisher, and a leading business school.

“At this moment of significant and problematic changes in journalism, our vision is to amplify CJR’s voice as both the media watchdog and thought-leader for new business models for journalism,” said Victor Navasky, Chairman of CJR, and Delacorte Professor of Journalism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. “We are fortunate to have someone with Cathy’s experience and ability to lead the business side of CJR.”

Cranston’s mandate at CJR is to expand its audience across all platforms, grow earned revenue, and build partnerships that will support CJR’s editorial and business goals.

“I am honored to be selected as publisher and to be joining the talented team at CJR and cjr.org,” Cranston said. “As a globally recognized brand that is part of a world-class school of journalism, CJR is poised to lead the conversations and debate about the practice and economics of journalism in the 21st century. These are issues that I’ve cared deeply about throughout my career, and they are part of the framework of a democratic society.”

Under Cranston’s leadership, the Harvard Business Review reorganized its global sales and marketing efforts, resulting in a 27% revenue increase, and repositioned the brand across print and digital as a global thought leader for readers, authors, advertisers, and the broader business community.

“I am thrilled that the Columbia Journalism Review has been able to attract someone of Cathy Cranston’s stature as its publisher,” said Nicholas Lemann, Dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. “CJR, as it approaches its 50th birthday, is on a roll; its audience and its impact are greater than they have ever been. These momentous times in journalism represent an enormous opportunity for CJR to continue its growth of the past few years, and Cathy is the ideal person to lead that effort.”

Cranston serves on the Board of Directors of American Media Inc. (AMI). She is on the Visiting Committee of the Division of Physical Sciences at the University of Chicago, and serves on the advisory boards of two digital content companies, www.hercampus.com and www.techlicious.com. She is a graduate of Harvard College.