NewsBeat

22 NewsBeat June 2018 Ocean Gold Media, LLC acquires Queens Tribune and The Press of Southeast Queens, announces new hires and promotions ribCo, LLC — publishers of weekly newspapers the Queens Tribune and The Press of Southeast Queens — has been purchased by Ocean Gold Media, a newly formed media group owned and operated by Chairman William Ruggiero, Chief Executive Officer Andrew Holt and Counsel Michael Tobman. The Queens Tribune, the corporation's flagship publication, was founded in 1970 by former Congressman Gary Ackerman. William Ruggiero, the Chairman of Ocean Gold Media, LLC, started his professional career in community service, and nonprofit housing and urban development. Ruggiero has since been involved in boutique and large-scale construction projects from Staten Island to DUMBO. Ruggiero has tasked Andrew Holt with day-to-day operations and growth strategy, with his capacity as Chairman focusing on areas of expansion involving construction and finance. Andrew Holt, the former Publisher of City & State magazine, joins Ocean Gold Media as President and Chief Executive Officer. T Michael Nussbaum will retain the title of Publisher under the new ownership. Nussbaum has had a long career in public service and media and is a lifelong resident of the borough. As part of this acquisition Jasmin Freeman, formerly the Vice President of Strategy at City & State, will assume the role of Publisher and majority owner of The Press of the Southeast Queens — which will be expanding into a revamped and rebranded citywide newsmagazine in the coming months. Michael Johnson, the former Executive Producer of Capital Tonight, and Editorial Director of City & State, will be joining Ocean Gold Media as Executive Director of News. Gerson Borrero, the former Editor-in- Chief of El Diario la Prensa, current NY1 and NY1 Noticias political commentator and the political editor and host of Estudio DC at HITN, a Spanish language outlet connecting 100 million people in the United States, will assume the role of Editor-at-Large. In this role Gerson will be bring his popular "Bochinche & Buzz" column into the fold with the best news and gossip ranging from politics to culture, social issues and beyond. Borrero will also assist in a larger effort to bring on experienced and diverse voices on editorial boards for Ocean Gold Media's publications. By VICTOR OCASIO — NewsDay In addition to being the Publisher of New York Jewish Life, which is now part of the Ocean Gold Media family of publications, Michael Tobman will assume the role of Counsel to Ocean Gold Media, as well as being a shareholder focusing on operations, expansion, and acquisitions. Guillaume Federighi will be joining as Executive Creative Director of Ocean Gold Media, LLC. In this role, Gui will manage the creative and production processes across all the Ocean Gold brands. Dylan Forsberg, a prominent fashion and lifestyle photographer and founder of Transmission Magazine will be signing on as Photo Editor for Ocean Gold Media and Tribune Studios. Shanie Persaud-Adeen, previously the Associate Publisher at TribCo, LLC, will now be elevated into the role of Vice President of Advertising and Events across Ocean Gold Media, LLC. A long-time Queens resident, Shanie cut her teeth in news at the largest newspaper in her native Guyana. After several years as an on-air news presenter, she left to head expansion efforts for the state media company in Guyana. Persaud-Adeen has worked for TribCo since 2002, taking breaks over the past two decades to form her own Guyanese weekly newspaper and expand her work for community and charitable causes in the borough.

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