Jay Levin's magazine

Jay Levin founded the LA Weekly more than 25 years ago. Lately he has been busy trying to recruit staff and writers around Los Angeles for a new magazine: RealTalk LA. The focus is on multicultural Los Angeles, but naturally with columns on fashion, design, Hollywood and driving. Launch is scheduled for April. From the press kit:

Editorial Content

An innovative focus on the diversity and creativity of the region’s "peoplescape.” Amazingly candid and entertaining interviews, which, like the target readers, are both sophisticated and street smart. Accompanied by features and columns capturing the Now reality of LA and by a special in-depth User’s Guide to opportunities and enhanced living in the region.

We intend to have a major positive impact by giving voices and recognition to individuals, groups and forces now neglected by media and who shape the community’s life. Coverage reflects LA’s true cultural and lifestyle diversity, including players in the emerging Latino majority (51% in LA City and 44.6% in LA County) and in the large African American (9.8% Countywide) and Asian Pacific (11.3 %) communities and growing Mideast American community (1.4%). We also address the desire of our educated audience for local relevant information and insight, for personal and career growth, and for sheer fun. We provide inti mate eyes on the sectors that make up LA: the creative, business, social change, health, political, academic, psychological, spiritual, scientific, philanthropic and others, including lifestyle and sexual preference communities.

[snip]

RealTalk LA was born to serve ALL of LA. There is an obvious need for a quality magazine with a multicultural focus and relevant editorial for individuals who want to know and share in the larger community they are inhabiting. These individuals, of all backgrounds, define themselves very differently from the audience of most city publications.

Half the circulation will be mailed free to homes in selected areas. An ad went up on Craigslist today looking for unpaid interns eager to work on the magazine's website and attend "special social events." Levin's This Next profile says: "I create media as my avocation, my passion, my social contribution and my love and fun."