The former editor and others from Santa Ana’s OC Weekly are starting an alternative weekly covering Long Beach.
Will Swaim, who helped start OC Weekly in 1995 and left as editor and publisher earlier this year over differences with the paper’s owner, plans to launch The District on April 11.
The paper plans to put out 30,000 copies distributed freely at coffeehouses, boutiques and other places. For now, The District’s circulation is focused on downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shores and other coastal areas.
The goal is to expand into North Long Beach and other areas, Swaim said. Coverage could touch on neighboring San Pedro and the South Bay, he said.
Several others from OC Weekly are joining Swaim at The District. They include Steve Lowery, Swaim’s interim replacement as OC Weekly editor, as well as the Santa Ana weekly’s former art director, sales director and sales manager.
Rebecca Schoenkopf, OC Weekly’s former Commie Girl columnist, is set to be a contributing writer, Swaim said.
The paper will look like OC Weekly in its heyday, Swaim said. The startup is working to line up advertisers, he said.
Swaim is an investor in the venture. Employees are set to get shares, he said. The main backer is a “Republican Orange County lawyer” who Swaim said approached him after he left OC Weekly.
He declined to name the investor.
Swaim left OC Weekly in January, citing “philosophical differences” with owner Village Voice Media of Phoenix.
The company, formerly New Times Media, bought the Santa Ana paper in early 2006.
Swaim, who lives in Irvine, said he’s not worried about being seen as an outsider in Long Beach. Lowery, who’ll be editor, and several other staffers live in Long Beach, he said.
“We mean this as a gift to Long Beach,” Swaim said.
There’s no plans to cover Orange County, except for some music and arts events here, said Swain, who added he doesn’t have a non-compete deal with OC Weekly.
