Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
OK, more on CityBEAT now that I've seen the print copy. The first picture by photog-around-town Gary Leonard is of former mayor Richard Riordan, posing outside The Pantry with the prototype of his Los Angeles Examiner. It's not such a subtle dig, considering that CityBEAT arrives (today) before Riordan's long-delayed weekly and earlier had snatched up the assets of the shuttered New Times L.A. Also the listed contributors to CityBEAT include Catherine Seipp, who appears in that Examiner prototype and is a friend and cohort of the Examiner team. Meanwhile, Ken Layne at LA Examiner the website wishes them luck.
The CityBEAT masthead shows Dean Kuipers as deputy editor (he also interviews Frank Gehry in the first issue), Natalie Nichols as arts editor, Kevin Uhrich as senior editor and Andy Klein as film editor. Other contributors include David L. Ulin, Kirk Silsbee, Samantha Dunn and cartoonist Ted Rall. At least one other writer's name had been on the list but since she never agreed to write for them, it was hastily removed this week. I don't know the truth of reports that CityBEAT is being frugal with writers, but this can't be a good sign: the top photo on the contents page was shot by editor in chief Steve Appleford.
Our previous items on CityBEAT are here today and earlier here and here. [And Luke Ford reports on tonight's launch party.]