'Marin Independent Journal' President/Publisher Resigns

By: E&P Staff Kenneth A. Svanum, the president and publisher of the Marin Independent Journal of Novato, Calif., has announced his resignation.

After serving as president and publisher for less than a year, Svanum told employees in a released statement that "pressing family medical issues" precipitated his departure.

Svanum, 57, first joined the Journal in 1969 and worked in the paper's advertising department. In 1978, he was appointed national advertising manager, and three years later, he became advertising director.

When the New York Times Co. bought the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa, Calif. in 1985, Svanum left the Journal to work at the Democrat as an advertising director. After working there for 14 years, Svanum became publisher of the Santa Barbara News Press, and subsequently publisher of the Star-News of Wilmington, N.C. in 2001. Svanum returned to the Journal in September 2005.