Distinction regroups

Distinction magazine has undergone a makeover and been moved further away from the L.A. Times within the Tribune company's structure "to allay any concerns about editorial control," the L.A. Business Journal says. When it launched last year, the upscale lifestyle glossy reported to Angeles Publications. a newly created arm of the Times ad department. Writes Pat Maio in the LABJ:

The magazine now reports to Tribune Los Angeles Inc. – a new business unit that marks Angeles Publications’ separation from the Times. Angeles also has plans to create other publications besides just Distinction – like a weekly geared toward Gen X’ers. “We’ve got some in the works but aren’t ready to announce them at this time,” [publisher Jane Dalea Kahn] said.

The makeover overseen by interim editor Gary Walther includes more photography and focus on Southern California, not just Los Angeles. Kahn says in the piece that the magazine is meeting its financial goals and has 23 new advertisers, including Barneys New York, LaCosta Resort and Spa and Kreiss Furniture. Ex-editor Laurie Pike, now at LA.com, explains her departure this way: "I just got a better job offer to do something more interesting. I’m more interested in arts and culture of Los Angeles, not people over 45. It wasn’t the best fit for me."

The LABJ also has a story on Atomic Ranch, the new Los Angeles-based quarterly about mid-century modern design.

Previously: Publisher replies on Distinction