BUSINESS: "San Diego Metropolitan" Magazine Sold To Veteran Newspaperman

JUNE 4, 2009 -- The troubled, monthly business magazine “San Diego Metropolitan” was sold this week by publisher Gary Shaw to Bob Page of Rancho Santa Fe. Page, a former newspaperman, also took over the “North Park News,” which is reportedly on solid financial footing.

Shaw and his staff put out the June issue of the downtown-based “Metropolitan” under the guidance of veteran editor Tim McClain. Page will bring in his own team. His wife, Rebeca Page, will be publisher. Chris Grant, who has published and edited Coronado-based magazines, will be the new editor.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “This was a great opportunity for me,” says Page. “This was a troubled company that was not in good shape financially—Gary was ready to shut it down—and the editorial product was a little tired.”

“The Metropolitan” will stay monthly and be out on time for the July issue, says Page. “But we’re going to make some changes,” he says. “Look for us to be a more urban book, and not as much of a business monthly.”

Page, who is on the board of the news Web site VoiceofSanDiego.org, started in newspapers as a reporter for UPI, where he worked his way up to chief operating officer. He had stints as publisher at the "Boston Herald" and the "Chicago Sun-Times," and purchased the latter from Rupert Murdock in the late 1980s. Locally, Page has owned the “Rancho Santa Fe Review” and the “Carmel Valley News.”