Weekly Sun to shine on Pasadena Friday

The newspaper debuts with a companion website to feature expanded neighborhood coverage.

August 03, 2011|By Mark Kellam, mark.kellam@latimes.com

The Pasadena Sun, a weekly newspaper and companion website, launches Friday as part of the Los Angeles Times Community News’ continued expansion.

The new edition, from the publisher of the Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press and La Cañada Valley Sun, will also cover South Pasadena and San Marino. Also debuting this weekend will be the Sunday Valley Sun, a combined edition with the La Cañada Valley Sun. In addition, the papers’ staff will provide comprehensive 24/7 news, sports and analysis of the area at PasadenaSun.com, which launches Thursday, said Dan Evans, editor of all four papers.

Also launching Thursday is the626now.com, said Evans, a breaking news blog about the wider San Gabriel Valley area. La Cañada, Glendale and Burbank residents will continue to get the great coverage they’re used to both in their respective print and online editions, he said.

“Community news is at the heart of journalism, and over the years [Times Community News] has proven itself to be uniquely qualified to cover local beats,” he said. “The Times covers the world; we cover your neighborhood.” .

The Pasadena Sun will reach 17,500 readers through street news racks and those who already subscribe to the Los Angeles Times. The Sunday Valley Sun will be distributed to 24,000 Times subscribers, with an additional 2,300 copies available in news racks.

Paul Little, president and chief executive of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the addition of another news organization to the city, saying “the more, the merrier.”

“It’s nice to have a focus on what’s happening out here,” Little said. “And having the resources of the L.A. Times is a positive.”

The new Pasadena title is in addition to expansion division wide for Times Community News, which is also boosting circulation in Orange County.

“This expansion is a logical development of our community portfolio and will enable us to deliver a broader spectrum of local advertising opportunities,” said Scott Pompe, senior vice-president of advertising and targeted media for the Los Angeles Times Media Group.

“Marquee” — a new arts and entertainment section with a guide to local restaurants, night life and culture — will also debut Sunday across the two combined editions, the News-Press & Leader and Sunday Valley Sun.

Evans and Bill Kisliuk, city editor of the Pasadena Sun, said they looked forward to interacting with the communities that would be included in the expanded coverage area.

“We are happy to answer any questions people in the community have for us, whether on the phone, online, in person or at gatherings,” Kisliuk said.

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