Talking heads. Beginning the first week of February PBS will debut its new monthly series, CEO Exchange. The hour-long program, hosted by CNN's Jeff Greenfield, will feature nationally recognized CEOs discussing newsworthy business and social issues. To book a CEO call Lisa Yapp, the show's senior producer, at 212/243-0099.
CEOs with improvisational skills will have an edge. Each program will end with audience questions, and the show's guests will host a chat room on the PBS and Yahoo Web site near the time the broadcast airs.
The show targets business school students and the general public. Sixty percent of PBS stations have already slated the program for broadcast.
CEOs slotted for February's program include Netscape founder Jim Clark and Tom Jermoluk, CEO of Excite@Home to discuss the Internet explosion. In April, Amazon.com CEO Jeffrey Bezos and David Dyer, CEO of Lands' End, will compare retail to etail.
(Kelli Stich, Fern Communications, 212/983-9898.)
News travels fast. Ziff-Davis Inc. and travel Web site Expedia Inc. are launching a yet-to-be named travel magazine.
The publication will be introduced as a bimonthly and increase to monthly within a year. Its initial circulation is expected to be around 200,000 and will be sold on newsstands, by subscription and through Expedia.com. Stay tuned for more pitching information.
New Boss. EMMIS Communication has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Magazine from the Walt Disney Co. Sixty days from the date of signing (Jan. 22) the deal will be official.
Staffing changes and adjustments to the magazine's focus by EMMIS are not yet known as the company waits to take control of the publication.
Kate Healy, a spokesperson for the EMMIS, said company CEO and chairman Jeff Smulyan was so far impressed by the staff at the magazine and also thought the content was very good.
(EMMIS Communication, 317/684-6576.)