David Johnson, associate publisher/editorial director of Entertainment Design/Lighting Dimensions magazines, has named Marian Sandberg-Dierson editor of Lighting Dimensions magazine. In addition, Mark Newman has been named managing editor of Lighting Dimensions and Entertainment Design, and Lauren Thompson has been named editorial coordinator. All three will report to Johnson.
The addition of Sandberg-Dierson, Newman, and Thompson represents the first steps in the overall plan to refocus Lighting Dimensions as a hands-on technical journal dedicated to the new generation of lighting professionals.
“Having Marian, Mark, and Lauren on staff brings much needed new editorial blood to both the magazines and the industry,” says Johnson. “I'm confident we now have the team in place to re-create Lighting Dimensions in a manner that both reflects where the industry is heading in the next 10 years, and one that's fitting for a 25-year-old institution and the only magazine in the market dedicated exclusively to entertainment lighting.”
Sandberg-Dierson has been involved in the pro audio and lighting industries since 1996. She handled publicity and marketing communications for lighting and audio distributor Group One Ltd., where she gained valuable experience as the US media contact for such high-profile clients as Clay Paky and XTA Electronics. Most recently, she provided public relations and recruiting consulting services to the lighting and audio industries on a freelance basis through her own company, The Mass Communications Group. She is married to Emmy-nominated lighting designer Patrick Dierson.
“I am truly pleased to join the talented team of veteran professionals and new personnel at Lighting Dimensions,” says Sandberg-Dierson. “With David Johnson's exceptional skill and leadership, we look to refocus the magazine to feature more content, deeper technical issues and a wider variety of projects. Our goal at Lighting Dimensions is to produce a publication of the highest standard that appeals to all professionals in the industry.”
Newman spent four years as editor of Lighting Design + Application, the official publication of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, where he spearheaded the effort to bring more entertainment lighting into the book. He has extensive experience in magazine publishing as a reporter, editor, and managing editor. Thompson comes to ED/LD from the jewelry industry; where she worked as editorial assistant, project editor, and Web archive editor. Industry vets will be pleased to learn she also served a stint as bartender in a pub in England during her studies abroad.
These new additions to the ED/LD staff join associate publisher/editorial director David Johnson, consulting editor Ellen Lampert-Greaux, art director John Scott, East Coast sales rep Aimee Eckert, West Coast/International sales rep Holly O'Hair, and group publisher Bob MacArthur.
“I'm very excited to be working with this restructured and reinvigorated team,” says MacArthur. “As a manager I couldn't be more pleased to have the team assembled that David has brought together. We have in place a fresh group of people with a fresh point of view who are excited about the marketplace and ready to take on all challenges.”