About Orange Coast Magazine
Orange Coast magazine is the premier local lifestyle magazine of the region, bringing together Southern California's most affluent coastal communities through smart, fun, and timely editorial content, compelling photographs and quality advertising. Each issue features an award-winning blend of celebrity and newsmaker profiles, service journalism, and authoritative articles on dining, fashion, home design, and travel. As Orange County's only paid subscription local lifestyle magazine with circulation figures guaranteed by the Audit Bureau of Circulation, Orange Coast is the definitive guidebook into Orange County's luxury lifestyle.
Orange Coast Magazine began in 1974 as Nieuport, a name dreamed up by publishers Stuart Karl and Ron Guccione, cousin of Penthouse Publisher Bob Guccione. The name was an attempt to set the magazine apart from others on the stands, but by the next year the name had changed to Newport. The title and breadth of coverage expanded a few more times—names included Newport Life and Orange Country, Newport Life—until March 1977, when Orange Coast first appeared in the masthead.
In June of 1976, the magazine was bought by Toni Tuso, who brought with her a modest but talented staff to boost sales and improve editorial content. Staff meetings were held at coffee shops, and the digs were unimposing. Sales that month were $9,000.
By 1981, the magazine had become an information powerhouse, especially with the closing of its two formidable competitors, Orange County Illustrated and New Worlds of Irvine. Offices were moved, and the staff began to grow.
The opulent ‘80s were good to Orange Coast, which published several issues with 400+ pages. Tuso sold the magazine to Bob Hughes and Wayne Stewart in 1986, and by the next year, Stewart had sole ownership. In 1991, executive publisher Ruth Ko purchased the magazine from Stewart after he filed for personal bankruptcy and has owned and operated it ever since.
Since its inception, clearly the most significant change has been its look. Once a home-grown book with a parochial feel, the magazine has kept its commitment to community but now looks—and has the reputation of—a national magazine.
We have won numerous awards for our editorial, artwork and design, and we have been named one of the best city/metropolitan magazines in California by the Western Publications Association. In July 2007, Emmis Publishing purchased Orange Coast. Emmis is an Indianapolis-based diversified media firm with radio broadcasting and magazine publishing operations. Emmis Publishing includes Los Angeles magazine, Tu Ciudad , Orange Coast, Texas Monthly, Indianapolis Monthly, Cincinnati Magazine, Atlanta Magazine and Country Sampler. Emmis owns 21 FM and two AM domestic radio stations serving the nation’s largest markets of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, as well as St. Louis, Austin, Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Ind. Emmis also owns a radio network, international radio stations, an interactive business and ancillary businesses in broadcast sales.