Publisher names Pilot’s new general manager

S.J. Cahn

Daily Pilot publisher Thomas Johnson has named the director of the

Los Angles Times’ interactive division to the new position of general

manager, overseeing all day-to-day operations at the Pilot and its

sister weeklies in Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach.

Bringing in Elaine Zinngrabe, who holds a bachelor’s degree and an

MBA from USC, will allow Johnson to focus on overall development of

Times Community News, a division of the Los Angeles Times that

publishes the Pilot and seven other papers. He will continue in his

role as publisher.

“I’m really excited about having her aboard,” Johnson said. “She

fits in with our Daily Pilot style, and she’ll be a good addition to

the community.”

As head of L.A. Times Interactive, which includes latimes.com,

calendarlive.com and other Times websites, Zinngrabe oversaw sales,

marketing and operations. She was also assistant general manager and

executive producer from 2000 to 2004, online deputy editor from 1999

to 2000 and online business editor from 1998 to 1999.

“It’s a great privilege for me to help build upon the past

successes of the Daily Pilot, Huntington Beach Independent and Laguna

Coastline Pilot,” Zinngrabe said. “This is an opportunity for us to

continue our strong journalistic traditions and find additional ways

to connect our newspapers to the communities they serve.”

Before coming to The Times, Zinngrabe, 31, worked as a copy editor

at the Seattle Times and at USC as new media manager for its news

service.

“She’s a bright, innovative manager who will bring fresh ideas and

great leadership to the Daily Pilot,” Editor Tony Dodero said. “I’m

looking forward to working with her.”

Pilot advertising director Lisa Cosenza echoed Dodero.

“I am looking forward to the new ideas she brings, her website

knowledge especially,” Cosenza said. “What struck me about her is

she’s excited about the job. She’ll be a great asset to our company.”

Johnson said that creating the general manager position was a move

he’d been thinking about for some time.

Zinngrabe is a member of the Asian American Journalists Assn. and

a former president of the Los Angeles chapter.

She will begin her new job next month.