Southland Publishing, Inc. was founded in 1998 converting from the former name Ventura Newspaper, Inc. This was done to reflect the vision of building a multi-media company throughout Southern California. The first publication for Southland was the Ventura County Reporter, a newsweekly serving Ventura County, California. In January 2001, Southland purchased the Pasadena Weeklyin 2001 from Tribune Company. Southland Publishing then purchased SLAMMmagazine, a music biweekly, from publisher Kevin Hellman in 2002, changing the name to San Diego CityBeat. Southland then purchased The Argonaut in 2013. The Argonaut, founded in 1971, was initially focused on the new Marina del Rey and has since expanded its coverage to include West Los Angeles: Santa Monica, Venice, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, Westchester, and Marina del Rey. In 2017, Southland purchased the Los AngelesDowntown News from Sue Laris, who founded the publication in 1972.
''Los Angeles Downtown News''
The Los Angeles Downtown News was launched to serve the downtown commuter crowd of the 1970s. Since that time, Downtown Los Angeles has blossomed into a 24/7 live work urban city with thousands of htel rooms and condos built to accommodate the workforce. In addition, the area is now home to world class entertainment facilities, museums, and restaurants.
''Pasadena Weekly''
Pasadena Weekly was launched in 1984 and it covers community news on Pasadena, such as city government, public safety, and events, along with opinion, arts, entertainment and dining listings, and an 8-days listing with events scheduled for the Pasadena community. It is published on Thursdays and it is available only on newsstands located in the downtown area for free. It also publishes "Happy Birthday, Pasadena" to celebrate the city's anniversary of incorporation in June, the "Best of Pasadena" edition in October, and a "Welcome Pasadena" edition in December during Christmas involving the Rose Parade.
''San Diego CityBeat''
San Diego CityBeat was bought by Southland in 2002, which converted it into an alternative newsweekly seeking to target young, educated readers in San Diego, an audience whose needs, Southland's owners felt, were not being met by the other two major publications in San Diego, The San Diego Union-Tribune and the San Diego Reader.
''Ventura County Reporter''
The Ventura County Reporter was founded in 1976 in Oxnard, California. Purchased from Nancy Cloutier in 1997, the paper was then known as the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, officed in the Ventura Harbor Village. The weekly was renamed the Ventura County Reporter and David Comden was brought in to be publisher in 1998. The VC Reporter is now located at 700 E. Main Street in downtown Ventura.
