Golden State Lifestyle Media Shake Things Up
April 1, 2016 | By: DCIIt’s no secret that the West Coast is the “Best Coast,” which is why members of the North American Travel Journalists Association (including DCI’s own) are headed to Oxnard for some SoCal sunshine this April. Sticking to the Golden State, Sunset Magazine has relocated to Jack London Square in Oakland, bidding adieu to Menlo Park.
Read on for more of the latest West Coast media updates –
SUNSET RELOCATES TO OAKLAND’S JACK LONDON SQUARE
It’s official: Sunset Magazine has relocated to Oakland, celebrating its arrival to Jack London Square with a housewarming party in February. Sunset recently said goodbye to its legendary home in Menlo Park, known for its expansive gardens and mid-century modern design by iconic architect Cliff May.
Along with a new home, the magazine recently welcomed a new editor in chief, with Irene Edwards, formerly of design and lifestyle publication Lonny, taking the reins in October 2015. In a recent interview with KQED, Edwards praised the innovative spirit of the magazine’s new neighborhood: “I can’t imagine a better city for the modern Sunset. This is its audience.”
Former editor in chief Peggy Northrop has shifted focus to Shebooks, focused on e-book publishing. Senior editor Andrea Minarcek departed in November, joining Airbnb as a writer, while longtime editor at large Peter Fish left the magazine in late December.
OXNARD HOSTS 14TH ANNUAL NATJA CONFERENCE APRIL 4-8
The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) will hold the 14th Annual NATJA Conference in Oxnard, California, from April 4 to 8. Adam Pitluk will serve as keynote at the opening session, discussing “Travel in a Challenging World.” Dennis Britton of TravelWorld International Magazine will moderate an editors’ pitch panel with current and former editors at Celebrated Living and American Way, Private Clubs, Yahoo! Travel and TravelAge West.
DCI’s Naureen Kazi will also host a panel exploring how travel journalists can maximize their relationships with DMOs, from visiting journalist programs to media requests and beyond. Panelists include Sara Copping from Visit Buena Park; Candice Eley from the San Diego Tourism Authority; and Bob Maguglin of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. Stay tuned to News & Views for insights from our panelists.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER AND RIVERSIDE PRESS-ENTERPRISE PURCHASED BY DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA
The Orange County Register and Riverside Press-Enterprise have been purchased from Freedom Communications by publisher Digital First Media, owner of the Los Angeles Daily News and eight other Southern California newspapers. The decision was announced after the US Department of Justice halted a purchase by Los Angeles Times owner Tribune Publishing, citing antitrust concerns. According to the Los Angeles Times, with the sale, Denver-based Digital First now owns 57 daily newspapers nationally — expect to see more syndicated content across their SoCal titles.
TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMBINES NEWSROOM AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AT LOS ANGELES TIMES AND SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
This month, it was announced that San Diego Union-Tribune editor Jeff Light and Los Angeles Times editor in chief Davan Maharaj will also take the helm as the newspapers’ publishers. Tribune Publishing has combined the traditional roles of editor and publisher across the company’s news outlets, combining management of the newsroom and business operations – and further blurring the lines between earned and paid media.
Last May, Tribune Publishing completed its purchase of the U-T San Diego, bringing the newspapers of California’s two largest cities under common ownership and sharing content between the publications. The deal also marked the creation of the California News Group, which oversees the newspapers’ operations.
Which West Coast media moves and news are catching your attention? Let us know @AboutDCI!