Sabin exiting Oxford American job

1/8/13
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. THORNTON
Warwick Sabin in his favorite location in his Little Rock home for a Personal Space column. WITH PLUS VIDEO
1/8/13 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. THORNTON Warwick Sabin in his favorite location in his Little Rock home for a Personal Space column. WITH PLUS VIDEO

Correction: The Oxford American is a quarterly publication. Its frequency of publication was incorrect in this article.

Warwick Sabin, publisher of the Oxford American for more than five years, resigned Thursday to become executive director of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, a new nonprofit organization that will promote entrepreneurship.

Ray Wittenberg, who preceded Sabin as publisher of the Oxford American, will be interim publisher of the magazine, Sabin said.

“I think everything is in place for a very easy transition from my leadership,” Sabin said.

Sabin will remain with the magazine for the remainder of the month and begin work withthe innovation hub on Sept. 1.

“Ray is very familiar with the job and that will ensure continuity,” Sabin said. “I’ve offered my services and time on an unlimited basis to make sure the transition is smooth.”

Wittenberg did not return a call seeking comment about the change.

The nonprofit magazine has had a history of editorial acclaim and financial troubles since it was formed in 1992 in Oxford, Miss.

Last year, the publication’s board of directors fired editor Marc Smirnoff and managing editor Carol Ann Fitzgerald over allegations of wrongdoing, including sexual harassment. Roger Hodge, a former editor of Harper’s Magazine, was hired as Smirnoff’s replacement.

The monthly magazine explores the South through literature, music, art, cuisine and film. Its circulation ranges from 35,000 to 38,000 for a typical issue and about 55,000 for its annual music edition.

Circulation was as low as 15,000 when Sabin became publisher. He worked for about a year and a half as an unpaid volunteer for the magazine, he said.

“When I inherited the magazine it was bankrupt and in debt,” Sabin said. “Now I think we’ve made tremendous progress in the last 5 ½ years, and stabilized our circulation and advertising sales.”

In recent weeks, the magazine opened a restaurant, South on Main, in Little Rock where Juanita’s sat previously.

Barry Hyde, a board member for the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, said Sabin approached the organization about the job.

Last month, the Argenta Innovation Center, the first phase of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, announced its opening.

Sabin was a featured speaker at the announcement ceremony in North Little Rock.

“We were pleasantly surprised after the news conference when Warwick approached John Gaudin [a board member], and asked him what he had in mind for the director,” Hyde said. “John told him we had interviewed a couple of people already and were talking with individuals from other cities who had done this before.And Warwick popped up and said, ‘I’m interested in that job. How would I apply?” It looks like this is going to be a great partnership.”

Sabin said he is “very motivated” to take a role in the entrepreneurial economy in central Arkansas.

“I think the timing is right and the talent and resources exist for central Arkansas to leverage all of its assets and create an atmosphere that is ripe for that kind of business development,” Sabin said.

Sabin served his first term as a Democratic state representative from Little Rock this year. He plans to retain that position as he works for the innovation hub, Sabin said.

Business, Pages 27 on 08/16/2013

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