FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2002

A new weekly newspaper is getting ready to launch in San Diego. San Diego CityBeat, a new alternative newsweekly, is scheduled to begin publishing on Wednesday, August 21, 2002.

This month, Southland Publishing, Inc., bought SLAMM Magazine, an eight-year-old biweekly music publication with the intent of redesigning and re-launching it as an alternative weekly newspaper.

The new newspaper will be geared to a younger, better-educated San Diegan between the ages of 21 and 45. “San Diego has a strong daily newspaper and a very respected weekly newspaper, but neither is written with this target audience in mind,” said David Comden, Southland’s group publisher.

Leading the new newspaper will be Charles Gerencser, publisher, David Rolland, editor, and Kevin Hellman, entertainment/promotions manager

Gerencser, most recently publisher of the Pasadena Weekly newspaper and former publisher of New Times Los Angeles, is excited about the prospects of this new venture. “San Diego is a great city and it’s our goal to provide businesses throughout the area a solid marketing opportunity at a great value,” he said.

Rolland, most recently editor of the Ventura County Reporter, has been a journalist and editor for the past 10 years, including stints with the Chico News & Review and Point Reyes Light newspapers. “Going into such a large and vibrant market will be exciting for us. We’ll hit the challenge of providing a fun, compelling, vital newspaper with everything we have,” he said.

Hellman, founder of SLAMM and producer of the San Diego Music Awards (SDMA), is a longtime promoter and supporter of music. SDMA is an event which has raised over $150,000 for area schools.

Southland Publishing, Inc., is parent company of the Ventura County Reporter and Pasadena Weekly, both members of AAN, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.

Contact Information:
David Comden (805) 658-2244
Charles Gerencser (619) 281-7526 ext. 101