Earlier this week, the company sold four of its trade publications to Los Angeles-based Canon Communications.

In December 2009, RBI unloaded Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and TWICE.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

This year, those companies were imperiled, struggling to survive like many other companies around the world. But as print media disputed declarations that its days were numbered, these once-great companies that made their money from print pubs were fighting hard to keep their heads above water. In order to do that they made some decisions — like bringing in new investors, closing publications and selling them off. It was in no way a big year for media deals, but there were a few. Below, our list of the biggest business stories to come out of the New York media world this year.

Bloomberg LP Buys BusinessWeek

After seeking a buyer for BusinessWeek for most of the fall, publisher McGraw-Hill finally cut a deal with Bloomberg LP, which snapped up the magazine in October. The result? Bloomberg BusinessWeek, a new vision of the mag that has a new editor and a smaller staff.

After the jump, Carlos Slim invests in the Times, classical music and the Comcast-NBCU deal.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Ian Smith has spent the last year trying to sell off RBI titles such as Mutichannel News, Tradeshow Week, Professional Builder, Broadcasting & Cable and Publishers Weekly, and though Elsevier released a statement saying the split was amicable, it also mentioned that the company was “not immune from late cycle pressures given the subscription nature of much of the revenue.” Sounds like Smith couldn’t save the company enough money to justify keeping him on.

In the interim, Reed Elsevier’s CEO position will be filled by Erik Engstrom, previously CEO of the Elsevier portion of the publishing house.

Chief Executive Out at Reed Elsevier –Folio

Previously: Breaking: Reed Elsevier To Sell Part Of U.S. Business

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

“We have decided to focus our efforts and investments on a narrower range of brands and markets, and with this in mind we are announcing today our intention to divest a significant part of the RBI US business,” Jones said in his memo. “This has been a difficult decision to reach as there are many strong brands here, with very experienced and professional teams running them, but we have concluded that they are less well suited to RBI’s strategy going forward.”

Jones also added that Tad Smith, CEO of RBI’s U.S. business, has resigned “to pursue a new job challenge.” He will be replaced by EVP and CFO John Poulin, who has been appointed acting CEO.

Jones’ memo is below. We will keep you posted as news develops. And, as always, your tips are welcome.

Update: RBI’s parent Reed Elsevier has put out a statement and a full list of those properties that have been put on the block — nearly 50 publications plus their related international editions and online products. “We have had to contend with a far harsher advertising environment than any of us have experienced before and, in such a climate, we have to focus not just on innovation and efficiency, but also on ensuring that our portfolio is well-matched with our long-term ambitions,” Jones said.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.