Sacramento Magazine

Last updated

Sacramento Magazine
EditorKrista Minard
FrequencyMonthly
FounderGary H. Brown
Martin Cracchiolo
First issueJanuary 1975
Final issueAugust 2023
CompanyHour Media
Country United States
Based in Sacramento, California
LanguageEnglish
Website sacmag.com

Sacramento Magazine was a monthly regional magazine based in Sacramento, California, published from 1975 to 2023. The magazine had 25,000 monthly subscribers and 7,500 newsstand copies as of 2010. [1] It was a member of the City and Regional Magazine Association. [2]

Contents

History

In January 1975, the first issue of Lifestyle magazine was published. It was a bimonthly publication billing itself as "a showcase for Sacramento." The first issue was 64-pages with articles on travel, sports, interior decorating, gardening, food, and entertainment along with a community events calendar. A 100,000 free copies were distributed at banks, hotels, motels, colleges and military bases. Following issues were $1, with an annual subscription for $4.98. The magazine's first publisher was Gary H. Brown, former real estate editor at The Sacramento Union. [3]

The magazine was owned by Lifestyle Publishing Co., owned by Brown and Martin Cracchiolo, the company's executive vice president. It was funded by $125,000 in stock sales to a dozen family members and friends. After six issues the publication's name was changed to Sacramento Magazine. In March 1978, it expanded to a monthly and the press run was reduced to 50,000 copies. It was initially funded by real estate ads but the change in frequency helped attract general-retail advertisers. [4]

In September 1978, multi-millionaire Ken Jonsson, of Santa Monica, bought Sacramento Magazine. [5] He was the son of J. Erik Jonsson, a co-founder of Texas Instruments. [6] At the time Jonsson recently bought two Sacramento radio stations, KROI-FM and its affiliate KROY-AM, along with Reno magazine. [5] A year later Sacramento Magazine was no longer allowed to distribute free copies at 45 branches of Bank of America, which accounted for 40% of its circulation. Around that time Jonsson initiated a drive for more subscribers. [7] The extra copies were distributed at shopping centers and businesses. It was rumored Jonsson was an absentee owner who bought media outlets as a tax shelter and Sacramento Magazine would soon close due to a drop in advertisements related to the B of A situation. Jonsson denied the gossip. He claimed he bought radio stations in Sacramento because he loved the city and then acquired Sacramento Magazine because it was exempt from Federal Communications Commission anti-monopoly rules. [8]

Jonsson wanted to build a network of media outlets but his plans never materialized and Reno magazine folded. By 1984, the media company never realized a net profit for any fiscal year of operation. After a decade, Sacramento Magazine had never been profitable. It had an average press run of 30,000 copies, with 18,316 copies sold with 7,200 in newsstand sales. [9] Under Jonsson, the publication's layout became more orderly, it printed on higher quality paper, added a bimontlhy business section and directories for entertainment and dinning and had fewer local features. Each issue had a single article on a serious subjects but most stories had a light tone. Jonsson rarely interfere in editorial decisions. [9]

In 1986, Jonsson sold a 90% interest in Sacramento Magazine to Norman B. Tomlinson Jr., owner of the Daily Record. Publisher Mike O'Brien owned the remaining 10% stake. [6] In 1993, O'Brien bought out Micromedia Affiliates, of Morristown, New Jersey, to become the magazine's sole owner. [10] [11] In 2005, Joe Chiodo was promoted to co-publisher. At that time the magazine's audited circulation was 53,591. [12] In 2009, the company's revenue was down 20% due to the Great Recession. Six employees were laid off, amounting to 16% of its workforce. [13] In 2015, Hour Media LLC, based in Michigan, acquired the Sacramento Magazines Corporation from O'Brien. [14] [15] In August 2023, Sacramento Magazine ceased publication after 48 years in business. [16] Its assets were acquired by the publishers of rival Sactown Magazine owned by Metropolis Publishing LLC. [17]

References

  1. ↑ "Sacramento Press / Local Journalists Lead "Paying for Content" Panel". Sacramento Press. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ "CRMA Magazines". City and Regional Magazine Association. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  3. ↑ "'Sacramento Showcase' Lifestyle Magazine Debuts". The Sacramento Bee. January 21, 1975. p. 12.
  4. ↑ Burns, John (January 18, 1978). "It's Your Business | The City Magazine". The Sacramento Bee. p. 24.
  5. 1 2 "Magazine Sale is Confirmed". The Sacramento Bee. September 17, 1978. p. 3.
  6. 1 2 "N.J. Monthly buys Calif. magazine". Daily Record. December 19, 1986. p. 39.
  7. ↑ Peterson, Marguaret (August 4, 1979). "At B Of A Branches | Capital Magazine Barred". The Sacramento Bee. p. 13.
  8. ↑ Peterson, Marguaret (September 7, 1979). "Broadcaster, Publisher | Ken Jonsson: Capital 'Mystery' Executive". The Sacramento Bee. p. 84.
  9. 1 2 Dunne, Mike (October 14, 1984). "The right fluff | Sacramento magazine is the city slicker with a soft heart". The Sacramento Bee. p. 65.
  10. ↑ "Sacramento Magazine goes local". The Sacramento Bee. March 2, 1993. p. 23.
  11. ↑ Mark Glover (January 20, 2015). "Michigan media company acquires Sacramento Magazine". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  12. ↑ Ortiz, Jon (December 22, 2005). "Sacramento Magazine names a co-publisher". The Sacramento Bee. p. 51.
  13. ↑ Kasler, Dale (May 6, 2009). "Downturn is bad news for capital media". The Sacramento Bee. pp. A1.
  14. ↑ Sorich, Sonya (January 28, 2015). "Publisher confirms Sacramento magazine has new owner". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Sacramento Magazine under new ownership". The Sacramento Bee. January 28, 2015. pp. B6.
  16. ↑ Diamond, Randy (September 1, 2023). "Sacramento Magazine has closed after 48 years. Here's why and what it means for readers". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  17. ↑ Anderson, Mark (July 21, 2023). "Sactown Magazine buys assets of Sacramento Magazine". The Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
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