I want to start this yearend report from the newsroom by describing several exciting developments for next year. Then we’ll take a brief look back at what we accomplished in 2011.

• Beginning with the Jan. 6, 2012 issue, the Business Times will be growing in size! We are leaving behind the “shopper” format that dates back to our founding in 2000. In the New Year we will begin printing on larger pages that are the national standard for business journals. Now here’s the really good news: For subscribers who renew in 2012 our basic rates will not change. And for advertisers who sign new contracts by the end of January, our 2011 rate card will remain in effect — in other words no additional price increase for ads that will be roughly 10 percent larger than our current size.

• Our successful new special report, Champions in Health Care, launched last May, will become an evening awards reception next June. We will be holding the event at the Ventura Beach Marriott hotel and we’ll be honoring our 2011 and 2012 champions at this inaugural reception. Stay tuned for details via email and on our website at www.pacbiztimes.com.

• Latino Business Awards, a new special report, will make its debut next year  in June. During the past decade we’ve seen tremendous growth in Hispanic-owned businesses, and we’ve also seen members of the Hispanic community advance to senior executive levels in banking, professional services, agribusiness and higher education. We think its time for the region’s leading business publication to recognize their efforts and accomplishments.

• Our highly successful Giving Guide, which made a smashing debut in September, will be expanded next year. Our family of Who’s Who sections, 101 One Hundred, Top Women in Business, Spirit of Small Business, 40 Under 40 and, yes, Region’s Richest, will be back in 2012.
In addition to all of the special reports and awards programs I’ve already described, we’ve had some truly significant accomplishments this year:

• Our news team won two Los Angeles Press Club awards and a national Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. All of these awards were for breaking news stories that required fast-paced, in-depth reporting.

• In August, we launched a number of major upgrades to our website, including a digital enhancement to our print subscription that allows desktop and mobile access to our main news stories. The digital option has been extremely popular, and it’s one reason why overall subscribers have grown in 2011 while other publications continue to see declines in readership.

• On Dec. 30, the last issue of 2011, we’ll publish our 12th annual Book of Lists, the region’s most comprehensive business guide, chock full of information you can use to grow your business, grow your investments or advance your career in the New Year. The Book of Lists is included in your subscription at the end of every year.

If you have a news story or tip you can reach us at newsroom@pacbiztimes.com. If you would like to subscribe you can reach Maria Daniel in our circulation department at circulation@pacbiztimes.com, and if you would like to know more about advertising or event sponsorship, you can reach Publisher Linda le Brock at llebrock@pacbiztimes.com.

Finally, from the Pacific Coast Business Times family to your family, best wishes for a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holiday seasons.