DOWNEY - Six months after purchasing DowneyBeat.com, Downey mayor Mario Guerra is leaving the publishing business, announcing Monday he has sold the online newspaper to managing editor John Zander.Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Guerra purchased the Beat from Ben Baeder last December. Guerra cited an increasingly busy schedule as the reason for selling. "I do not have the time needed to devote to it," he said. "I want to continue to concentrate my energies and time towards my service to others through other venues." Under Guerra's ownership, the Downey Beat changed its journalistic model to report "only positive news and stories on Downey's events, residents and businesses." "It was intended to have writers and youth involved in helping to write about all good things Downey related," Guerra said. "It was intended to help non-profits and other groups announce and report about their events and all the good things happening in Downey." Zander, a former film director and producer, will continue as managing editor.

********** Published: June 6, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 08