November 6, 2024 #1 Local News, Forum, Information and Event Source for Venice Beach, California.

Yo! Venice – From The President Of Mirror Media Group

By TJ Montemer/Mirror Media Group President

What’s up Venice residents and readers? A year ago Thursday, Bret Haller, the founder of Yo!, moved on from this life to the next – a very sad time for Venice and the community.

When I acquired Yo! Venice from Bret’s brother Eric in August 2014, I knew that Yo! Venice was a solid asset, however, I didn’t realize how truly special and unique it was – and not because of the site – but because of the community it served, Venice.

I remember Bret coming into my office one day just for a meet and greet since we were both media people in the same area. I still remember him telling me about his passion for Yo! Venice and how Venice had really embraced his site. That was in 2011 – you could just tell that Bret was totally stoked on this thing – it wasn’t just his job or hobby – it was his passion.

I politely smiled and said, “Yes, seems like a really cool site.” Back then I never gave it much thought, as I hadn’t ever experienced it as a publisher or a reader.

Now that I’ve been fortunate enough to acquire Yo! Venice and be in the driver seat since last summer – I understand what he said to me a few years back more than ever.

Mirror Media Group owns multiple local media assets in the Westside of Los Angeles – the Santa Monica Mirror is our stronghold. However, the community of Venice, the people that make it unique, and the issues that are present in the 90291 fueled with the passion that Venetians have is something unparalleled in other communities that Mirror Media Group has the opportunity to serve.

I noticed this immediately when my team and I took over and we got called out by a few people for not knowing the recent history of Venice from RV dumping to the homelessness issues – I knew immediately that the Venice community and Yo! Venice was a completely different beast.

So, hopefully if you are a consistent reader on yovenicenew.wpengine.com you will see that we have made improvements by hiring a local, Melanie Camp, who is helping us bring yovenicenew.wpengine.com back to life with a local voice and yes, printing a bi-weekly newspaper called, Yo! Venice.

Why a newspaper you ask? In 2015 when digital is taking over our world and hurting metro newspapers everywhere – why be insane and go from web to print? Please note, I’m 30 years old so a baby by standards to most folks in my business.

The answer is simple, local media is the most important media to all of us. As the world gets more digital and information becomes more abundant and immediate – the need for niche information becomes more important then ever. We are living in an interesting time – where the world gets bigger yet our interests become more specific.

Print is still a major revenue component for marketing. Yes, digital is growing, and yes, digital is awesome, but print still takes on a significant percentage of the overall advertising spend in the U.S. – even in 2015.

But more importantly, not having a print asset within a local media company is like buying a Ferrari and leaving it in third gear. You just don’t do it, you find an open road and you take it to 200 mph – and hope you don’t get pulled over.

To be successful, to keep growing, to be the best media asset we can be for the community of Venice – Mirror Media Group needs to unleash all of its assets – and print is one of the missing assets to this equation. The other is video, which Mirror Media Group does a whole lot of in Santa Monica and elsewhere – Venetians will start seeing a whole lot more video on yovenicenew.wpengine.com than ever before. So with the advance of the most traditional media, we will also bring to the game new media.

We appreciates your support – we appreciate our readers, our advertisers who make this mission possible – I personally appreciate the opportunity to do what I do, I absolutely love it – I really do.

Please let us know what’s on your mind (email me at tj@yovenice.com), please tell us if you think we can do better, tell us we are great – whatever – just stay informed and keep reading, watching, learning, and living.

All my best to you, Venice, and here is to a great future!

Related Posts

10 Reasons Why Players Prefer to Use Crypto When iGaming in California

September 1, 2024

September 1, 2024

As online gaming continues to evolve, players are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies as their payment method of choice. In California,...

Is California Going to Legalize Gambling in 2024/2025?

June 5, 2024

June 5, 2024

The issue of gambling legalization in California has been a topic of debate for many years. As the largest state...

Los Angeles Experience Gifts for People Who Don’t Want More Clutter

May 15, 2024

May 15, 2024

Just like you, most gift recipients in Los Angeles don’t want more stuff. The Los Angeles experience gifts on this...

California: Pioneering the Future of Online and Digital Payments

January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

In the fast-paced digital economy of the 21st century, California has emerged as a powerhouse in the realm of online...

A Guide to the Current Gambling Situation in Canada

January 1, 2024

January 1, 2024

For centuries, gambling has woven itself into the fabric of human culture; in recent years–marking an era where evolution pervades...

Smart Strategies to Save Money in Your Entertainment Budget

December 30, 2023

December 30, 2023

Many individuals and families in today’s fast-paced world share a common goal: finding ways to save money. The entertainment budget...

California’s top sports teams.

December 1, 2023

December 1, 2023

California is known worldwide for a multitude of exciting things. They’re known for their incredible beaches, glorious sunshine, and fabulous...

Your Lucky Numbers: Six Tips Towards Lottery Success

November 30, 2023

November 30, 2023

Have you ever wondered how people win money from the lottery? They may not always hit the jackpot, but they...

Five different ways to unwind.

October 1, 2023

October 1, 2023

Modern life is always busy and it can feel like your to-do list is never ending. When you’re not working,...

Over Half of Short-Term Rentals Advertised in LA Don’t Comply With City’s Home Sharing Ordinance

April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023

Better Neighbors LA report highlights the inadequacies of enforcement measures for short-term rentals in Los Angeles, calling for increased regulation...

Venice Beach Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested in West Virginia

December 22, 2022

December 22, 2022 1

Brandon Manyo Dixon arrest in West Virginia By Sam Catanzaro A man has been arrested for the attempted murder of...

The Current Gambling Situation in California

December 1, 2022

December 1, 2022

Here’s what to know about everything from online casinos to betting in the state. In the U.S., gambling is a...

Cancer Cartel Provides Financial Help To Cancer Patients

November 16, 2022

November 16, 2022 2

Cancer Cartel is helping cancer patients focus on their treatment, not the financial stress of living with a diagnosis. Learn...

100 Miles of Bus-Only Lanes Within Five Years on City Council Plans

October 17, 2022

October 17, 2022

L.A’s public transportation network is known for being slow due to traffic congestion. A new motion by L.A. City Council...