Santa Fe, NM – Voice Media Group has engaged Dirks, Van Essen &

Murray and its subsidiary CAL DVM to explore new strategies for its publishing assets,

including the sale or acquisition of alternative publications and other digital businesses.

Dirks, Van Essen & Murray will begin by immediately considering options at the OC

Weekly, which could include the sale of the publication or a local partnership opportunity.

“We’re confident this will represent an extremely attractive opportunity for the right

buyer or strategic partner,” said VMG chief executive officer Scott Tobias. “We’ve been

proud to own the Weekly for the past eight years, and we know it will continue to punch

above its weight in the future.”

Since its founding in 1995, the scrappy Weekly has won dozens of journalism awards and

established itself as the leading alternative voice in Orange County and Long Beach,

serving more than 225,000 young, active readers with the region’s hardest-hitting

investigative reporting and cultural commentary. Its irreverent and intelligent coverage

includes the syndicated “Ask a Mexican” column by editor Gustavo Arellano, as well as

the popular news blog “Navel Gazing” and spirited music, food and arts reporting.

This strategic planning is part of VMG’s long-range vision to fine-tune its portfolio. This

process is likely to result in the diversification of more of its holdings, which include a

fast-growing digital agency business and a national sales arm that serves 56 partner sites

and publications with weekly print distribution of 3 million and 95 million page views

per month.

“We continue to evaluate all of our properties while at the same time looking at new

opportunities,” said Tobias. “We will be making moves that fit our business plan and that

set our business up for the most success today and in the future.”

In addition to its affiliated digital properties, VMG publishes the Village Voice in New

York, LA Weekly, Denver Westword, Miami New Times, the Houston Press, Phoenix New

Times, City Pages in Minneapolis, the Dallas Observer, the Riverfront Times in St. Louis

and New Times Broward-Palm Beach.

Tobias went on to say that all communications regarding potential changes to the VMG

portfolio will be handled by Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, who can be reached at 505-820-

2700.