Light Reading Expands Optics Coverage

Posted on September 18, 2000

Light Reading has announced the appointment of new editorial talent to allow for an expansion of its website covering optical networking developments. The new appointments include Scott Clavenna, Paul Kapustka and Phil Harvey.

Scott Clavenna, an analyst in the optical networking industry, has joined Light Reading as director of research. Previously, Clavenna was co-founder and principal analyst at Pioneer Consulting (Cambridge, Mass.). Paul Kapustka has joined Light Reading as managing editor. Until recently, Kapustka was technology editor at Redherring.com, the online news service of Red Herring. Phil Harvey has joined Light Reading as senior editor. Previously, Harvey worked with Kapustka at Redherring.com, where he covered technology and authored two columns, ``Lab Rat'' and ``Cisco Watch.''

``We're on a roll,'' said Stephen Saunders, CEO and a founding editor of Light Reading. ``Four hundred thousand people (unique users) visit the site every month. There's a reason for that: Light Reading is the first publication to combine aggressive technology news analysis with top-flight financial journalism. We're the only publication to cover the people behind the optical networking industry.''

On the technology front, Clavenna will contribute columns and produce surveys that define emerging markets, identify leading players and products, and cast light on key issues. On the financial side, Light Reading plans to launch a new section of its site that provides more in-depth information for investors. This will include a Light Reading index of optical stocks, online quotes, and portfolio tracking tools. It will also include columns from leading analysts in the financial community. R. Scott Raynovich, executive editor and previous investment editor at Redherring.com, is heading up this expansion. Light Reading also plans to launch a new section covering employment issues. This will include the site's existing online recruitment database together with columns from experts, surveys of compensation packages, and more.

``All of this builds on our existing success,'' said Peter Heywood, COO and co-founder of Light Reading. ``Traffic has rocketed since Light Reading's launch on February 1 of this year. We now have 13 staff and, unlike most dot-coms, we're profitable.''