Tech Magazine Adjusts Expansion Plans, Cuts Staff
City Access, San Diego’s government cable television channel, recently debuted a new magazine show, “Cityscape.”
The show is hosted by former KUSI-TV anchor Cathy Clark.
“Cityscape” is expected to include interviews with San Diego’s elected officials, reports from various city operations and will feature personal stories about people who affect the community.
The first show offered information about the city’s services for seniors, a story about literacy program READ San Diego and its volunteers. It also had a segment called “In The Works,” which will regularly profile the city’s public works department.
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Changes: A couple of top-level staffers were among those laid off last week at The T Sector, a local high-tech magazine launched last fall.
Publisher Katherine Harrington confirmed that among those leaving are group editor Kevin Brass and creative director Michelle Moore. Controller Christine Mone, who worked part-time, was also laid off, and features editor Kate Callen will become a freelance contributing editor, Harrington said.
Managing editor Rachel Laing has been named the magazine’s new editor, and art director Paul Ruiz will become creative director. Before the T Sector, Laing had been copy editor and then managing editor at the San Diego Daily Transcript, a local business newspaper.
When asked if the layoffs signal financial problems, Harrington said they instead reflect a slowing of T Sector’s expansion plans, prompted in part by the economy, she said.
Brass’ title of group editor, for instance, reflected the more aggressive original concept of launching T Sector magazines in other cities, she said. For now, Harrington said, look for the T Sector to be more focused on San Diego.
Within the layoffs, Harrington also announced a new hire: Transcript reporter Tim Ingersoll, who will join the magazine as a staff writer.
Moving Billboards: Locally based Trykor Rolling Media, Inc. was part of a recent campaign for TelecomClick.com, which is owned by New York City-based media company Primedia, Inc.
No details were given on the account spending, but Trykor ran wrapped ads around trucks that were 15 to 24 feet long, in Seattle, Denver and New Jersey. The company leases the trucks’ sides.
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Sound Bites: Last month, Karen Rostodha debuted as morning anchor, reporter and Web editor for KPBS-FM. Before KPBS, Rostodha had worked as a reporter and anchor at various television stations in California and Texas, including KRCR in Redding. Wirestone, which is based in Emeryville, Calif., but has a local office, ranked 38th on Adweek’s list of top Interactive agencies. Doug Cooper, who co-founded PR firm Cooper/Iverson Marketing, recently joined local high-tech firm EndGame as a executive vice president and partner.
Status Chart: Fleishman-Hillard San Diego recently signed locally based e.Digital Corp. for media relations. Stoorza Communications recently signed the San Diego Software & Internet Council. LJ Black Consulting Group, the Steve Alexander Group and Southwest Strategies, all of which are locally based, have joined together in an alliance for communications consulting work. Downtown-based matthews/mark recently signed locally based high-tech company Jabra Corp. Spear/Hall & Associates has already done some repositioning work for locally based client Quake Global, Inc. which manufactures communication products.
The deadline for the next Media & Marketing column is March 1. Rodrigues can be reached at (858) 277-6359, ext. 107, or via e-mail at (trodrigues@sdbj.com).
