PORT OF LOS ANGELES HIRES NEWSPAPER EDITOR TO LEAD MEDIA RELATIONS

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Aug. 19, 2009 — The Port of Los Angeles has hired veteran newspaper editor Phillip Sanfield as its director of media relations.

Sanfield, who began his duties this week, serves as the media spokesperson for the Port and is responsible for media inquiries. His role includes establishing and maintaining relationships with local, national and international media, and strives for accuracy in Port messaging. He also coordinates press conferences, media tours, interviews, editorial submissions, photography and video shoots.
   
Prior to his appointment at the Port, Sanfield had a journalism career spanning more than two decades in Southern California. From 2006 through his recent departure, he was the editor of The Daily Breeze, an award-winning newspaper covering more than 15 communities in the South Bay and Harbor Area of Southern California. From 1991 to 1998, Sanfield was the managing editor of The News-Pilot, a daily newspaper in San Pedro focusing on the Harbor Area and Port issues.

A Chicago native, Sanfield earned a journalism degree from the University of Illinois. He received a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from Sangamon State University in Springfield, Ill. During his master’s program, he served as a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times in the newspaper’s Springfield bureau covering state government and legislative affairs.

Sanfield resides in Torrance with his wife Judy and their three children. He serves as a board member of The Volunteer Center, South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach. Sanfield can be reached at psanfield@portla.org or 310-732-3568.

The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves.  As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues.  A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars. The Port of Los Angeles – A cleaner port.  A brighter future.