Jiminy cricket. When does the bleeding in Sarasota’s media world stop? Word I heard from the street earlier today that Jeff Lawenda, former Executive Publisher of Sarasota Magazine and BIZ 941, had been let go — was just confirmed in a telephone conversation with Tiffany Soukhaphaly at the magazines’ offices. “We’ve had a restructuring,” Tiffany told me and indeed, it appears Lawenda is out. I think Lawenda became Exec Publisher over these local publications just two — or maybe three — years ago now.

Here’s the skinny from a press release announcing a “restructuring” issued earlier today:

The position of executive publisher has been eliminated. “Our former executive publisher, Jeff Lawenda, made significant contributions to our magazines and the market we serve, and we thank him for his dedication and service,” Schulz said.

Elsewhere in the release, it states that “Pam Daniel, the longtime editorial director of Gulfshore Media, has been named vice president of editorial and community affairs. Jamie Aymerich, a four-year veteran of the Sarasota team, will expand her role as associate publisher of both magazines, becoming vice president of sales. And Pam Flanagan, who has served as general manager of Gulfshore Media since 1992, has been named vice president of operations.”

I didn’t know Lawenda personally. Think I might have met him in passing once at a party a couple of years back. Sorry to see another individual in the business of putting ink on a page in our local community is out of a job … but they’ve got a solid crew at these local must-reads — Pam Daniels, Susan Burns, Kim Cartlidge, Bob Plunkett, etcetera, et al, and I’m wishing everyone at Sarasota Magazine and BIZ941 all the best in navigating the rough waters of our current economy.