Anschutz publication loses publisher

The publisher of billionaire Phil Anschutz's San Francisco City Star has resigned a month after the new paper started. The reason for John Gollin's departure wasn't given. Gollin was apparently the driving force behind the new paper. No replacement has been named.

In 2004, Anschutz bought the San Francisco Examiner after it had been converted from a paid broadsheet to a free tabloid by a previous owner. In May 2006, former Palo Alto (Calif.) Daily News publishers Dave Price and Jim Pavelich launched the San Francisco Daily, which had steadily grown from eight pages to 32 per day. In November, the Examiner started the City Star, which bears a striking resemblance to the San Francisco Daily though it hasn't grown from its initial 12-page size. The San Francisco Daily has complained publicly that the Star has been using its news racks for distribution, a claim that has drawn coverage from other media.

Gollin is the second Anschutz publisher to step down in a month. On Nov. 22, Herbert W. Moloney III resigned as publsher of the Washington Examiner after 19 months in the post. Like Gollin, Moloney gave no reason for his departure.