Los Angeles Blade
.png) The front page of Los Angeles Blade on March 24, 2017 | |
| Type | Bi-weekly LGBT newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, United States |
| Circulation | 40,000 (as of 2024)* |
| OCLC number | 1456441792 |
| Website | losangelesblade.com |
The Los Angeles Blade is an LGBT newspaper launched in 2017 as an offshoot of the Washington Blade.[1]
History
[edit]The Los Angeles Blade was launched as a biweekly newspaper in 2017 to serve "the second largest market in the country, and one that was underserved by alternative media."[2][3] Production was hastened in response to the election of Donald Trump, with Kevin Naff, co-owner of Blade parent company Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia Inc., remarking in 2017 that "A lot of cities, including L.A., are changing the tones of their parades, from a celebration to more of a protest. We wanted to be part of that, a kind of voice in that process."[4]
In 2018, the Los Angeles Blade announced plans to publish a weekly print edition, thereby becoming first weekly LGBT+ media product serving Los Angeles since the mid-1980s.[5]
During the 2022 mpox outbreak in California, the Los Angeles Blade hosted two town hall meetings — one in West Hollywood and another in Monterey Park — to alert residents to the emerging threat.[6][7]
In August 2024, the newspaper, seeking to address the changing news needs resulting from historic demographic shifts in Southern California, announced a partnership with CALÓ News, a Latinx community-focused news outlet.[8] Soon thereafter, the newspaper announced Gisselle Palomera as the News Editor.[9]
Publisher Troy Masters died unexpectedly on December 11, 2024. The newspaper's management team has announced that the organization will continue under the leadership of local editor Gisselle Palomera.[10]
Circulation and demographics
[edit]News coverage focuses mainly on global and regional political issues concerning LGBT+ persons with additional coverage of entertainment and nightlife in the Los Angeles area. The Blade is distributed throughout Southern California, with a focus on areas with significant LGBT+ populations, such as West Hollywood, Silver Lake, and Los Feliz, and as far as Palm Springs.[11] Distribution points include businesses with a large number of LGBT+ clients, including restaurants, bars, gyms, gay bathhouses and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and home delivery is available in select West Hollywood and Hollywood residential neighborhoods.[12]
Overall, 48% of the Blade's readership holds a college degree.[13]
Awards and recognition
[edit]In 2023, the newspaper received GLAAD’s Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media.[14]
For its coverage of HIV news, the newspaper was the runner-up in the "Health and Health Care" category at the 2024 California Ethnic Media Awards.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Washington Blade to launch newspaper in Los Angeles". Washington Blade. March 10, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2024..
- ^ Kevin Naff (December 28, 2017). "A whirlwind year for the Blade". Washington Blade. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ Harter, Clara (December 13, 2024). "Troy Masters, LGBTQ+ advocate and media trailblazer, dies suddenly at 63". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
- ^ Dianne Haithman (March 23, 2017). "LGBT Paper Sees Unfolding Opportunity in L.A." Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ Troy Masters (March 21, 2018). [hhttps://www.losangelesblade.com/2018/03/21/los-angeles-blade-set-publish-weekly/ "Los Angeles Blade set to publish weekly"]. Los Angeles Blade. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ Schindler, Paul (2024-12-13). "Troy Masters, Gay City News co-founder, LA Blade publisher, dead at 63". Gay City News. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
- ^ Emily Alpert Reyes; August Brown (August 7, 2022). "Sex pods? Long sleeves? Californians try to cut monkeypox risk while waiting for shots". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ "Los Angeles Blade announces strategic partnership with leading SoCal LatinX media CALÓ News". Los Angeles Blade. August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024..
- ^ Troy Masters (September 22, 2024). "A new chapter for Los Angeles Blade: Introducing News Editor Gisselle Palomera". Los Angeles Blade. Retrieved September 24, 2024..
- ^ "Los Angeles Blade publisher Troy Masters dies at 63". Los Angeles Blade. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Dianne Haithman (March 23, 2017). "LGBT Paper Sees Unfolding Opportunity in L.A." Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "Find a Copy". Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "Los Angeles Blade 2024 Media Kit". Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ Ennis, Dawn (April 1, 2023). "GLAAD honors the Los Angeles Blade at annual LA media awards". Los Angeles Blade. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ "Los Angeles Blade among winners at 2024 California Ethnic Media Award". Los Angeles Blade. August 30, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.