Palisadian-Post Sold to Local Businessman

The local newspaper for Pacific Palisades, the Palisadian-Post, was sold last week to a 32-year-old businessman and Pali High graduate, and says he plans to own the newspaper "for as long as I live."

The 84-year-old newspaper reported on Dec. 7 the Small Newspaper Group (SNG) of Kankakee, IL sold its office building at 839 Via de la Paz and its commerical printing space to longtime resident Alan Smolinisky.

The paper began as The Palisadian in 1928 as an eight-page weekly tabloid after being founded by Telford Work, a journalism major from the University of Southern California. In 1934, Work sold the paper to one of Pacific Palisades' earliest settlers, Clifford D. Clearwater, and remained the publisher until his death in 1956, and then his widow reportedly ran the paper. In 1960, she sold the paper to the Brown brothers, who then merged The Palisadian with its rival newspaper the Pacific Palisades Post, which was founded in 1950. 

SNG reportedly bought the newspaper in 1981 and the space on Via de la Paz, as well as a Goss community press, which prints the newspaper every Wednesday to be delivered to homes every Thursday.

"My plan is to continue the journalistic excellence the paper has maintained for the last 84 years, delivering vital and entertaining news about our incredible community," Smolinisky said.

Smolinisky worked in the student housing business at USC, where he went to school for music, and with his business partner, it expanded rapidly. Smolinisky reportedly sold the business and moved back to a small office to work on his investment portfolio, and at that point he began reading more and more newspapers before arriving at his decision to purchase the Palisadian Post, his favorite newspaper.

In an editorial by Smolinisky, he describes planning his future with his girlfriend, Caroline, and that he wanted to remain in the community for the rest of his life. Luckily, she agreed and they got married. 

"While the newspaper business faces many challenges, and knowing full well that I will have to make difficult decisions, I promise you that this must-read paper will continue to arrive in your mailbox every Thursday," Smolinisky noted in his editorial.

Calls requesting an interview with Smolinisky were not returned by the time of publication.

When asking Pacific Palisades Patch users on Facebook about the paper's change in ownership, here's one response received:

Ritchie Saunders Lived here 45 years...seen lots of changes and imagine this will be one of the nicer ones to happen! It's been a special hometown newspaper! Glad it will be continuing. Wishing the best to the new owners.