The Acorn names John Loesing editor

John Loesing

Two editors at The Acorn Newspapers swapped positions this week. Steve Holt, a resident of Thousand Oaks, became editor of the Thousand Oaks Acorn, and John Loesing of Calabasas became editor of The Acorn.

"It was an easy decision," said Jim Rule, publisher of The Acorn Newspapers. "Both editors will now work for the newspapers that cover their own hometowns," Rule said.

Loesing, who graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Missouri, has been with The Acorn Newspapers as a reporter and editor since 1997. He’s won writing awards from both the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the California Teachers Association.

"Responding to the reader’s desire for expanded local coverage remains this newspaper’s primary mission," Loesing said. "The Acorn will continue to be the area’s leader in pure community news."

Among the top stories of 2005 that the The Acorn will be keeping an eye on include the massive construction that’s about to get underway on the Kanan Road interchange, elections to the Calabasas City Council in which seven candidates will compete for three seats, and growing concerns about the increased traffic and lack of affordable housing in the area, Loesing said.

Loesing, who is also president of his local homeowners association, moved to Calabasas in 1998 after living in Oak Park and Agoura Hills for 11 years. He began his career in journalism as a television news and sports reporter in Miami, Cincinnati and Los Angeles.

Loesing is married to Joanna Andrews, a local real estate agent.

Holt, who graduated from Pepperdine University in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, has been with the company since 1989. He was editor of the Thousand Oaks Acorn when it was launched in 1998.

Holt also will be editor of the Simi Valley Acorn.

There are four editions of The Acorn Newspapers. The Acorn serves Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, North Ranch, Oak Park and the city of Westlake Village. The Thousand Oaks Acorn serves T.O., Newbury Park and Westlake. Moorpark and Simi Valley are served by separate editions. Steve Carlson is editor of the Moopark Acorn.

The combined circulation of all four newspapers is 110,511.

The Acorn Newspapers are owned by Jim and Lisa Rule.

Contact Loesing at (818) 706-0266 ext. 20, or by e-mail at newstip@theacorn.com.