LA Names New Publisher and Associate Publisher
LOS ANGELES, November 25, 2008 The Los Angeles Times today announced the hiring of Penn Jones as Publisher of LA, Los Angeles Times Magazine. In addition, Nora Gervais has been promoted to Associate Publisher.
As Publisher, Jones will be responsible for managing LA’s business operations, including oversight of advertising, marketing and promotional events. His expertise spans 20 years in media, publishing and magazine advertising sales. He was most recently a principal at Virtus Media Sales and spent several years with major publishing companies, including Time, Inc. as VP West Coast Corporate Sales and National Sales Director of InStyle, and Hearst Magazines, where he managed west coast sales efforts for Cosmopolitan and served as account manager for Popular Mechanics.
“LA is flying. The magazine is successfully connecting with The Times influential Southern California audience and with advertisers who feel LA’s editorial environment is one they need to be part of,” said Jones. “That connectivity is key and we intend to build LA’s brand as the city’s bright, distinctive voice.”
LA showcases a unique editorial vision of the city, its residents and its diverse culture from a rich cast of top magazine veterans and its breathtaking photography and story-rich issues are coffee-table keepsakes. With a readership of over 3 million and subscriber circulation of over 850,000, LA has already experienced great success and has seen demand for ad space grow, with major new advertisers that include AEG, AT&T, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Fred Leighton, Giorgio Armani, Jordache, Montblanc, Nina Ricci, Rock & Republic, Timberland and Tumi.
Gervais’ promotion to Associate Publisher of LA will find her supporting the strategic business direction of the magazine with specific attention to sales and marketing. Gervais has been a key member of LA’s team, having served as the publication’s advertising director since its conception. Gervais has worked in ad sales for The Times since 1990 and previously served as the advertising manager for the former West magazine.
“The reaction to LA has been tremendous, with readers embracing and celebrating the magazine’s unique look and storytelling,” said Annie Gilbar, editor-in-chief of LA. “With Penn and Nora on board to lead our advertising, business and marketing efforts, we have the perfect team in place.”
Expanding upon the success of the first two issues, LA is touting a strong editorial calendar that will be highlighted by two double issues: the upcoming November/December 2008 holiday issue, and the January/February 2009 special Oscar issue. LA’s Holiday Gift Guide will feature ten pages of gifts and products personally chosen by LA’s editors ranging from home, beauty, eco-friendly to charity-minded offerings. The Oscar issue is poised to kick-off the most exciting time in Hollywood with features on fashion, Oscar history and exclusive photos and interviews of Hollywood’s elite.
The 2009 editorial calendar also includes:
March: Spring Fashion issue
April: LA Noir issue, with Las Vegas special insert
May: Weddings issue
June: Travel issue
July: Food and Entertaining issue
August: Architecture issue
September: Fall Fashion issue
October: Angelenos at Home issue
November: LA’s Best
December: Holiday Entertaining & Gifts
About the Los Angeles Times:
The Pulitzer Prize winning Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 2 million, and 3 million on Sunday. The Times has been covering Southern California for 127 years and reaches a combined print and interactive local weekly audience of 4.5 million. The fast-growing latimes.com now draws 10 million unique visitors monthly.
The Los Angeles Times Media Group portfolio of products also includes LA, Los Angeles Times Magazine; The Envelope; Metromix; Times Community Newspapers; Hoy and California Community News, with an overall reach of approximately 5.3 million, or 40 percent of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. It is part of Tribune Company, one of the country’s leading media companies, with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information is available at latimes.com/mediacenter.