Letter from Duane St. Clair
Original editor and current contributing editor for The Publishing Group, Ltd.

Much happens in a decade. CityScene is a perfect example.

Late in 1998, owner Fred Zimmerman envisioned enlightening and assisting visitors to Columbus with a magazine similar to those he had found in other cities’ hotel rooms.

Working with the organization then named the Greater Columbus Hotel & Motel Association, Fred struck a deal to publish Columbus CityScene each quarter and place it in every hotel room in the Columbus area, both daunting tasks.

It was my privilege to be hired as editor, a role that continued for more than five years. The first magazine appeared three months after the agreement was signed.

Early editions carried feature stories about fun and interesting shows and events at arts and entertainment venues, plus items about other enjoyable places, particularly restaurants. It was also a directory. Listings included hospitals and emergency care centers; transportation modes, including airlines and car rental agencies; hotels and motels; golf courses; and other pastime centers.

While Art Director Dave Prosser designed colorful and attractive magazines, Fred stressed making them informative, readable and enjoyable. Topics and themes changed with the seasons. Gradually more stories were included as advertising grew, making it possible to afford placing the magazine in all hotel rooms.

CityScene’s reach soon grew beyond visitors and a mailed distribution began to Columbus arts patrons and more than 80,000 of Central Ohio’s top-priced homes.

After a couple of years, Luxury Living, another Publishing Group Ltd. magazine that focuses on upscale housing in the Columbus area, was inserted into CityScene, further enhancing the publication. Fred pushed and promoted upgrades in both story scope and circulation right up until his untimely death in March 2003. Competent staffers kept the magazine alive and well as management changed and Fred’s ambitions were polished, pursued and eventually realized.

One such advance was a working agreement with WBNS 10TV and the inclusion of articles by news anchors Jerry Revish and Andrea Cambern. Gradually, the provincial approach of writing stories only about the Columbus area and Franklin County was altered: CityScene stories are now more diverse and wider-ranging than ever.

Since it first appeared in mid-1999, CityScene has grown and matured dramatically, especially online, with Web exclusive editorial, a comprehensive event calendar, photo gallery, ticket giveaways and more. An enthusiastic and dynamic Publishing Group management team, led by CEO Chuck Stein and President Kathy Gill, expects to stay on the path of success as it continues to develop content for an ever-growing audience.