L.A.-based publications such as the L.A. Times Magazine, Robb Report, Angeleno and the Advocate are riding a big jump in ad pages over last year, the L.A. Business Journal says. The LAT mag was up 69% in March over a year ago, but most of the gainers are niche publications, the LABJ's Pat Maio reports. Maio also has a story on the the free weekly Beverly Hills Courier being bought by Clifton Stanwood Smith Jr., publisher of the San Marino Tribune. The Courier's Olympic Boulevard offices are being sold separately to real estate magnate Stanley Black.

The Business Journal also has a couple of items on its briefs page that will sound familiar to L.A. Observed readers. First are a couple of grafs on LAVoice.org's Mack Reed giving a favorable review to LA.com, back on April 5. There's also an item on Distinction magazine's acting editor, Gary Walther, leaving for New York.