Hearst Newspapers Names Executive Vice President of Multi-Market Advertising

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Aug 28, 2012) - Hearst Newspapers announced today that Michael C. LaBonia has been named executive vice president of multi-market advertising for the company. LaBonia will lead sales efforts for national accounts for the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News.

In this new role, LaBonia will direct a sales team focused on the top 100 multi-market retail and national accounts and agencies. His base of operations will be out of the Houston offices and he will report jointly to Houston Chronicle President John T. O'Loughlin, San Francisco Chronicle Executive Vice President of Advertising Jeff Bergin and Express-News Executive Vice President of Advertising Ray McCutcheon.

"We are pleased to welcome Mike back to Hearst Newspapers and this vital sales team," Hearst Newspapers President Mark Aldam said. "Under Mike's direction, our company is putting additional effort and skill against growing share in our top markets, some of the fastest growing in the nation."

LaBonia is an award-winning media executive whose career spans sales, strategy and management in the broadcast and newspaper sectors. Previous posts include SVP of advertising at the San Francisco Chronicle, SVP of sales and strategic development at the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune and vice president at the (Ft. Lauderdale) Sun Sentinel. He began his career in television at Tribune Company, where he managed WGNO-TV, the ABC affiliate in New Orleans.

"I am thrilled to be representing Hearst's biggest newspapers to the top agencies and retailers in the country," LaBonia said. "Joining together all of Hearst's top properties and platforms will provide both expansive and in-depth targeting and increased engagement opportunities for marketers looking to reach our combined audience of over 5 million consumers."

LaBonia holds a bachelor's in communications from Loyola University in New Orleans.

About Hearst Newspapers
Hearst Newspapers is the operating group responsible for Hearst Corporation's newspapers, local digital marketing services businesses and directories. With more than 4,700 employees across the nation, Hearst Newspapers publishes 15 dailies and 36 weeklies in cities including Houston, San Francisco, San Antonio and Albany. It also operates digital marketing services and directories businesses under the LocalEdge brand.

About Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com) is one of the nation's largest diversified media and information companies. Its major interests include ownership of 15 daily and 36 weekly newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union; hundreds of magazines around the world, including Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, ELLE and O, The Oprah Magazine; 29 television stations, which reach a combined 18 percent of U.S. viewers; ownership in leading cable networks, including Lifetime, A&E, History and ESPN; significant holdings in the automotive, electronic, medical/pharmaceutical and financial information industries; Internet and marketing services businesses; television production; newspaper features distribution; and real estate. Follow us on Twitter @HearstCorp.