The nation’s oldest LGBT newspaper is no more but it appears its sister publications in Florida will survive.
Window Media LLC, which publishes Southern Voice, Washington Blade, South Florida Blade, 411 Magazine, Houston Voice and David Magazine, ceased operations of all publications today. The Washington Blade is the oldest LGBT newspaper in the nation.
According to the Associated Press, Laura Douglas-Brown, editor of Southern Voice newspaper in Atlanta, said she arrived at work Monday to find the locks changed and a note saying parent company Window Media LLC had closed down. All of the publications web sites are also currently down.
However, there are two phoenixes arising from the company’s ashes: South Florida Blade and 411 magazine.
According to posting by 411 editor Sheri Elfman on the Mark’s List web site, Multimedia Platforms, LLC purchased 50 percent of Mark’s List in October, and Multimedia Platforms now owns 411 and the South Florida Blade.
“The whole team is very excited about this transition,” said Elfman.
Mark’s List founder Mark Haines also posted information about the transition, saying the staff is locked out of their office building but the magazine will continue to publish. One last edition of 411 will appear on newsstands before it becomes Mark’s List Magazine. Haines said as of right now, the staff will keep their jobs and all of 411’s features will move to the new publication.
According to Elfman’s web posting, the newspaper will become a bi-weekly publication (it was formerly weekly) and its new name will be announced in a few days.
