Orange County Business Journal

I was flattered to be a part of the articles in the Sunday business section regarding the Orange County Business Journal ("Orange County Business Paper Is Latest Link in Growing Chain," Sept. 24). There were, however, a few remarks that seemed off the mark. Insofar as the brains behind the business goes, my partner, Paul Marengo, was indispensable to the success of our business. He was in charge of sales and marketing since he joined the paper. However, whatever brains there may have been behind our business were probably possessed by the founder, owner and publisher of the paper.

Staffers from the Orange County Edition of the Los Angeles Times swept the Orange County Press Club's two most prestigious prizes, along with 50 other awards, at the group's 40th annual awards ceremony Sunday night. Among the paper's honors were 18 first places. Also collecting awards at the ceremony in the Doubletree Hotel were six public-relations firms and 10 local publications, including the Orange County Register, which won 21 prizes, six of them first places.

It is (Mississippi civil rights leader) Fannie Lou Hamer who taught us that there are two things we should all care about: never to forget where we came from and always praise the bridges that carried us over. In practicing this morality of remembering, we reaffirm our location in the rich, varied and most ancient human tradition, the African tradition. And we give appropriate thanks and honor to those who gave their lives so that we might live fuller and more meaningful ones.

Plugging Iowa: The Orange County Business Journal, which has positioned itself as a booster of local businesses, ran a four-page advertising supplement in this week's issue from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. The supplement promotes Iowa as a better place to do business. Business Journal Publisher Richard Reisman said he sees no conflict in accepting such advertising. "Orange County isn't going to keep its business by silencing discussion of other places to do business," he said.

A year after it was purchased by Kansas City real estate magnate Larry Bridges, the Orange County Business Journal seems to have its act together on the editorial side. But things have been a little more difficult on the business side, and the weekly newspaper is now searching for a publisher to revamp the sales and marketing efforts. The paper has been without a publisher since June, when Charles Heschemeyer left to return to his roots on the editorial side of the business journal world.

Richard S. Reisman, director of market development for The Times Orange County, has been named publisher and chief executive officer of the 5-year-old Orange County Business Journal, effective Sept. 12. Reisman, 36, replaces Charles M. Heschmeyer, who left the weekly in May to become editor of the San Jose Business Journal, an unrelated publication. A former lawyer and special counsel to the House Ethics Committee in the early 1980s, Reisman joined Times Mirror Corp.

Plugging Iowa: The Orange County Business Journal, which has positioned itself as a booster of local businesses, ran a four-page advertising supplement in this week's issue from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. The supplement promotes Iowa as a better place to do business. Business Journal Publisher Richard Reisman said he sees no conflict in accepting such advertising. "Orange County isn't going to keep its business by silencing discussion of other places to do business," he said.

The Orange County Business Journal is about to gain 500 subscribers in one swoop. Beginning March 8, the business publication will add a two-page monthly supplement written and paid for by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Called The Business Agenda, the supplement is intended to serve as the chamber's newsletter. The chamber will also pay to have the Business Journal delivered each week to about 500 of its members who do not already subscribe.

Reporters, editors, graphics designers and photographers from The Times Orange County Edition earned a record 60 awards, including 20 first-place honors, Saturday night in the 37th annual Orange County Press Club competition, held at the Waterfront Hilton. The Orange County Register took 13 awards, six of which were first-place honors.

Richard S. Reisman, director of market development for The Times Orange County, has been named publisher and chief executive officer of the 5-year-old Orange County Business Journal, effective Sept. 12. Reisman, 36, replaces Charles M. Heschmeyer, who left the weekly in May to become editor of the San Jose Business Journal, an unrelated publication. A former lawyer and special counsel to the House Ethics Committee in the early 1980s, Reisman joined Times Mirror Corp.

A year after it was purchased by Kansas City real estate magnate Larry Bridges, the Orange County Business Journal seems to have its act together on the editorial side. But things have been a little more difficult on the business side, and the weekly newspaper is now searching for a publisher to revamp the sales and marketing efforts. The paper has been without a publisher since June, when Charles Heschemeyer left to return to his roots on the editorial side of the business journal world.

Donald L. Keough, publisher of the Los Angeles Business Journal and senior publisher of the Orange County Business Journal and the San Diego Business Journal, has resigned those posts to head a publishing venture in Australia.

A veteran Orange County journalist has acquired Metropolitan Journal, a twice-monthly business newspaper serving central Orange County, from founder Drew Lawler for an undisclosed sum. Steven R. Churm, a former Times Orange County reporter, said the acquisition was made with backing from his father, Peter Churm, who is chairman of Furon Co., a large Laguna Niguel industrial products manufacturer.