SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alta, the vibrant new print and online magazine from William R. Hearst III, today announced the hire of award-winning journalist Blaise Zerega as managing editor. Throughout his career, Zerega has helped lead such titles as Wired, Conde Nast Portfolio, and Forbes magazines to circulation increases, online traffic growth, and national honors. He will facilitate and develop story ideas and lead the editorial team at Alta, which the New York Times hailed as “an oversized, well-designed, copiously illustrated general interest magazine aimed at 40 million potential readers.”
“Blaise is a terrific editor, with a wide range of experience, in traditional media, and in new technology, and has worked with many formats,” said Will Hearst, editor and publisher of Alta. “He will make the 'trains run on time' and bring fresh eyes and an expert’s touch to our stories. Most important, he has a great rapport with writers, and other editors.”
“By focusing on the people, issues, and ideas changing California — and consequently, the world, we provide our audience with smart, prescient takes that no one else has,” said Blaise Zerega, managing editor of Alta. “I’m honored to join Will and the incredible Alta team at such a pivotal moment for the West.”
Throughout his career, Zerega has helped build and lead editorial teams at the media industry’s highest levels. He has served as Wired managing editor, on the founding team of Conde Nast Portfolio, news editor at Forbes ASAP, editor in chief of VentureBeat, and most recently as editor in chief for All Turtles, where he created a daily tech site publishing in English, French, and Japanese, as well as a weekly podcast, multiple video series, and a must-read newsletter. His editorial lens has covered arts and culture, science and technology, and business and politics.
Alta provides fresh reporting and analysis of the issues, culture, personalities, politics, lifestyle, culture and history of California and the West, featuring some of today’s best writers, photographers and illustrators. The magazine’s website, altaonline.com, provides a daily guide to the best writing about the West from Alta and other news sources. Its recently launched podcast goes deeper into Alta’s stories in interviews with the journalists, thought-leaders, critics, historians, authors and artists from the magazine’s pages.
Further, Alta aims to contribute to the general cultural life of California by organizing and sponsoring events with partners such as Litquake, Book Passage, Books Inc., Commonwealth Club, Bay Area Book Festival, Mechanic’s Institute, CUESA, Vroman’s and Book Soup, among others.
“Live events are central to the mission of Alta and they’re an important way to connect with our curious, passionate audience,” said Zerega. “I look forward to helping bring the pages of our magazine to life with provocative, can’t miss experiences.”
Launched in October 2017, Alta has been nominated for four Folio Magazine Eddie and Ozzie Awards and was named Winner for Overall Design. The awards ceremony took place in New York on October 17. In addition, noted magazine analyst Samir Husini lauded editor Will Hearst and Alta saying, “He has a penchant for exactness that in this age of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ is greatly appreciated.”
Revolutionary thinkers, radical movements, innovators of our time — these are what California stands for. And throughout history, events in California have shaped our nation. Alta brings these ideas to the fore, providing a fresh take on everything that is California and the west.
Alta is available on newsstands, at book stores and at grocery stores throughout California, with a cover price of $5.99. Subscriptions to the multi-platform Alta also are available for an introductory price of $11.99 per year that includes an oversize quarterly print magazine, website, newsletter, podcast and special events in collaboration with local literary and news organizations throughout the state.
ABOUT THE JOURNAL OF ALTA CALIFORNIA
Based in San Francisco and founded by William R. Hearst III, Alta is a celebration and examination of all things about California and its environs: the lifestyle, the history, the people, the environment, the arts, the culture, the politics. Trends start in California; Alta identifies those trends and brings them to light and into focus. Drawing on inspiration from magazines such as The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, Alta will be smart, witty, literary, informative and newsy. Alta is a multimedia entity: a quarterly magazine, a daily website and social media, and a regular series of events featuring talks by interesting people. Above all, Alta treasures great journalism, great storytelling and beautiful images. For more information, go to altaonline.com.
