Great State Publishing Launches Maryland Life

Posted on September 17, 2004

Great State Publishing, LLC, announced that the inaugural issue of Maryland Life magazine will be available in December 2004. Maryland Life will be a bi-monthly publication that explores the destinations, dining, home styles, and people that make Maryland a great place to live. Maryland has been without a statewide magazine for nearly a decade.

The new magazine is backed by a major private investment, led by longtime Maryland newspaper publisher George B. Delaplaine, Jr. of Great Southern Enterprises. Other investors include Marlene B. Young, Vice President of Great Southern Enterprises; Philip W. Hammond, Chief Financial Officer of Great Southern Enterprises; Bond Street - GSP, LLC; Karin DeFrancis of the Maryland Jockey Club; former Harford County newspaper publisher Peter A. Jay; and Great State Publishing's three managing principals: Dan Patrell, Ross Peddicord, and Scott Runkles. The management team of Great Southern Enterprises comprised of Mr. Delaplaine, Ms. Young and Mr. Hammond will be assisting the principals in an advisory capacity.

"Statewide magazines are some of the most profitable and longest running publications in the U.S., especially within the Mid-Atlantic, and yet Maryland has been underserved for years. We plan to change that trend," said Dan Patrell, Editor of Maryland Life and President of Great State Publishing, LLC. "Maryland Life will fill this void by celebrating life and living in Maryland for our state's citizens, as well as the many people that come to the state each year for business or pleasure."

Each issue of Maryland Life will provide articles and photography that span the state's 23 counties, Baltimore City, and Ocean City. The centerpiece of each issue will be a multi-paged photo essay, which focuses on a visually compelling aspect of Maryland. The front end of the magazine will feature reports from all regions of the state, "Maryland Select" events, products that are uniquely Maryland, slices of Maryland history, and stories about interesting Marylanders. The back end will host regular departments that focus on destinations for families and adults, interior and exterior style, dining, and other topics.

Maryland Life will have an initial controlled circulation of 50,000 copies and will be available on newsstands. Great State Publishing, LLC, publisher of Maryland Life magazine, was founded in August 2004.