Tribune Taps New Distinction Editor

By MATT MYERHOFF

Staff Reporter

Holly Palance, former editor of Santa Barbara magazine, has been named editor of Distinction, a glossy lifestyle magazine published by Tribune Co.’s Angeles Publications division.

Palance is the third editor in the magazine’s rocky 13-month history. The publication, a bi-monthly covering the art, fashion, design and cultural worlds of L.A.’s wealthiest residents, went through its first two editors within six months of rolling out in August 2003.

Start-up editor Laurie Pike left shortly after the magazine’s launch to become editor of Web site La.com. Her successor, Gary Walther, left in April 2004 after directing the first makeover.

Since then, Distinction has been run by its executive editor, Emili Vasilind, and two other senior editors. Palance did not return a call.

Jane Kahn, Distinction’s publisher, said Palance will bring significant editorial and layout changes when she starts in late October.

“Like any editor, Holly will want to put her own signature touch on the magazine,” Kahn said. “We have not yet formulated what that would be, but suffice it to say, we love the work she did at Santa Barbara. She was our first choice.”

Distinction has a controlled circulation of about 65,000, of which 50,000 are mailed to L.A. Times subscribers with an average household income of $250,000. Another 6,000 are sold at newsstands, with the remainder distributed free at luxury hotels and high-end retailers.

Angeles Publications initially fell under the purview of the Los Angeles Times’ advertising and marketing department. It was shifted to the parent company last year to avoid questions about Distinction’s editorial independence.

Palance, daughter of actor Jack Palance, will commute to L.A. from Santa Barbara.