ST. GEORGE -- The company that owns St. George's daily newspaper has purchased the city's local magazine.
The Spectrum, which publishes The Color Country Spectrum, has purchased St. George Magazine for an undisclosed price, owners of the two publications have announced."This is a positive thing for The Spectrum from an image standpoint and from a business standpoint," said Spectrum Publisher Brent Low. "It will improve The Spectrum's ability to offer high-quality, magazine-style advertising."
He said the paper plans to publish the magazine six times a year and double its distribution to 10,000 copies. The publication will get a new focus and look while retaining many of the same writers. Low said he also plans to increase distribution in Salt Lake City to draw people to St. George.
"We want to preserve the editorial content that looks at the imagery, history and topography of the area," Low said. "But we also want to take a step toward being a city magazine by publishing thought-provoking articles and photographs on life in St. George."
Longtime St. George Magazine owners Lyle and Katherine Hurd said the sale will give the magazine the resources it needs to grow.
"As tough as it was to sell after nine years, I'm confident The Spectrum, with its resources and the support of advertisers, can take St. George Magazine to the next level," Lyle Hurd said.
In addition, he said it will free him to pursue work with a company called Total Health Communications, which runs seminars and publications for the health industry.
"About six months ago, I realized it wasn't possible to do both Total Health and St. George Magazine," Hurd said. "I had to make a decision, one or the other."
The first issue of the new St. George Magazine will appear in June and will be available by subscription and on newsstands from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City with a cover price of $4.
Marilyn Raburn will lead The Spectrum's St. George Magazine division as general manager and editor.
The Spectrum is owned by Thompson Corp., with U.S. headquarters in Stamford, Conn. The company's stock trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TTC.