Chuck Leishman, the former general manager and publisher of the North Coast Journal, died Thursday. He was 72.
Leishman spent more than 40 years in the newspaper business, almost all of it working for alternative weeklies, doing everything from writing and selling ads to serving as owner-publisher.
It was a job offer from the Journal that brought Leishman back to California in 2012. Hired as the company’s general manager and tasked with running day-to-day operations, Leishman was instrumental in launching two new publications — the tourist magazine Humboldt Insider and Humboldt Cannabis Magazine — both of which helped the company diversify its revenue streams and sustain the newspaper through lean financial years. Leishman also spearheaded the Journal’s efforts to build an in-house advertising agency, helped the company launch a SmartCard program and sometimes wrote features about topics from backpacking to cannabis.
He was promoted publisher of North Coast Journal Inc. and all its publications in January of 2019, though health issues would force him from the job after just eight months. Always one to love sharing the Humboldt County area with others, Leishman then went to work as the executive director of the Humboldt Lodging Alliance, then as a marketing consultant for the organization.
A standout baseball star at shortstop in high school, Leishman was drafted by the New York Mets but elected to go to then Chico State College, where he majored in communications. Drawn to journalism, Leishman then worked as a sales rep for the Chico News & Review, then joined the Sacramento News & Review after its launch. He later became the general manager of The Pitch in Kansas City. In 1999, he took an offer to become the general manager at Birmingham Weekly, then in just its second year, and later took over as the paper’s owner and publisher.
Leishman is survived by his wife of 36 years, Lynn, who previously worked as publisher of North Coast Journal Inc.’s special publications, and his son Sam. The family is planning to hold a memorial or celebration of life in the spring.
Condolences and remembrances can be sent to LAT 40 Collective, 3351 Nevada St., Eureka, CA 95503.
The family expressed its gratitude for Providence Humboldt County Home Health and the Palliative Care Services of Hospice of Humboldt.
This article appears in Top 10 Stories of 2024.
May Chuck rest in peace. He was a good man that did a lot of good in the Humboldt community. Great editorial ideas. Consummate professional. Easy going. He will be missed.