Monday, September 17, 2007
Monday Media Links
Pressman Larry Washington with Blogger Nubia
Newspaper Stocks Hit 10-Year Lows - Forbes
Hoy Increases Distribution by 40% - PR Newswire
The Gray Lady's Bones Are Showing - The Motley Fool
Madison Dearborn Chairman Eyes Tribune’s Chicago Cubs - News Visual
Cubs Auction May Get Complicated - New York Times
Brownstein Quits Los Angeles Times - Poynter Forums
Dow Jones, WSJ Union OK Tentative Deal - Associated Press
Old-World Media Start to Feel the Pain - Advertising Age
Newspapers Are Going 'Widget'-Happy - Associated Press
Economist leaves news fluff to others - Chicago Tribune
Tribune may throw MLB a curveball - Los Angeles Times
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The Novel In The Freezer ---HELP!
I'm hoping someone at the Times can help me with this... because I'm sure about two years ago I read about it, but I can't find any mention about it on google or even in your archives. I'm looking for the name of the author and also the book, which was supposed to be published within the last two years.
In the 1960's or maybe it was the 50's, there was a novelist who wrote a very good book. I think she lived in the Palisades, but I'm not sure.
She had a family, and got busy. I also think she might have suffered from depression. Anyway, she wrote another book, and given the demands of the family, stored it away until she could get back to it for the edits.
She never did.
When she died, a notice was run in the paper. Someone came... maybe it was an agent and asked her now adult children if the mother had ever written anything else. At first they couldn't think of anything, but then they remembered the manuscript in the freezer.
Seems the mother had taken the pages and wrapped them in saran wrap, the foil, and stored them in a tupperware in the deep freeze for 30 years. After the agent read them, he/ she pronounced it the finest novel ever written.
Does anyone know the name of the author? Let me know. I hope I wasn't dreaming this up.
In the 1960's or maybe it was the 50's, there was a novelist who wrote a very good book. I think she lived in the Palisades, but I'm not sure.
She had a family, and got busy. I also think she might have suffered from depression. Anyway, she wrote another book, and given the demands of the family, stored it away until she could get back to it for the edits.
She never did.
When she died, a notice was run in the paper. Someone came... maybe it was an agent and asked her now adult children if the mother had ever written anything else. At first they couldn't think of anything, but then they remembered the manuscript in the freezer.
Seems the mother had taken the pages and wrapped them in saran wrap, the foil, and stored them in a tupperware in the deep freeze for 30 years. After the agent read them, he/ she pronounced it the finest novel ever written.
Does anyone know the name of the author? Let me know. I hope I wasn't dreaming this up.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Our Next Dinner Date
Our usual mid October dinner will be postponed till November 17th, 2007 at Luminarias Restaurant because I failed to call in our reservation to secure our room in a timely manner. I apologize to everyone for my lapse in memory, had something on my mind other than the dinner last month.
Yesterday I called Luminarias banquet staff, and was informed they could supply a room with a maximum seating capacity of fifty guests on the last Saturday of October. With forty-five to sixty-five guests at each dinner, this could be a problem if more than fifty attended.
I was left with three options, move the dinner to either Taix Restaurant or Stevens Steak House. The third option was to move the date to November 17th, at Luminarias Restaurant. After contacting the president of our club, Tony Specht with our options, I was given the green light by Tony to move forward with the November 17th date at Luminarias Restaurant.
Yesterday I called Luminarias banquet staff, and was informed they could supply a room with a maximum seating capacity of fifty guests on the last Saturday of October. With forty-five to sixty-five guests at each dinner, this could be a problem if more than fifty attended.
I was left with three options, move the dinner to either Taix Restaurant or Stevens Steak House. The third option was to move the date to November 17th, at Luminarias Restaurant. After contacting the president of our club, Tony Specht with our options, I was given the green light by Tony to move forward with the November 17th date at Luminarias Restaurant.
Since Eaamon Dignan has retired from hosting the golf tournaments, that coincided with our dinners, it would be nice if someone stepped forward and started hosting golf tournaments once again.
I strongly urge all pressmen and press women to attend our next dinner, we may have a special guest speaker you would not want to miss meeting.
I strongly urge all pressmen and press women to attend our next dinner, we may have a special guest speaker you would not want to miss meeting.
Thank You Tribune Company
I'm at a loss for words, and that doesn't occur too often for myself. Yesterday during our pre-shift meeting, I was presented with a Canon Power Shot A550 digital camera for thirty-five years of service at the Los Angeles Times.
The gift from the Tribune Company came as a complete surprise, and brought a large smile to my face yesterday. Being the shutterbug that I am, this was probably the best gift I could receive, since my current digital camera is out of order and in the junkyard of my closet.
Thank you Tribune Company, I will use it wisely and often.
Friday, September 14, 2007
TGIF Media News
Bill Conover with John Miner
Union Says Contract Is Near at Dow Jones - New York Times
Transcontinental Talking to Other Newspapers - SF Peninsula Press Club
David Lazarus Emerging As A Potent LAT Columnist - Ken Reich
Veto Power In The Sale Of The Cubs - Journal of the Business Society
NRLB rules against MediaNews in email case - SF Peninsula Press Club
8% Interest Payment Due to Tribune Shareholders - Seeking Alpha
San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Farley creator Phil Frank dies
The Chron reports that Farley cartoon creator Phil Frank, whose retirement was announced a few days ago, died this morning. He was 64. Frank, a longtime resident of Sausalito, had been ill for months with a brain tumor, the Chron says.
The obit notes that when Frank announced his retirement, cards, letters and e-mails poured in, wishing him well, complimenting him on his work, and offering prayers for his recovery. Before he died, Frank wrote this thank-you note to readers. And here are some comments readers left after word of his death was posted at SFGate.com.
His alter ego was a newspaper reporter and sometime park ranger named Farley (left), the central character in his "Farley" comic strip that he once described as "really a horizontal column, documenting the life and times of the characters in the Bay Area." The Chronicle says it was the only local comic strip in the country.
Farley creator Phil Frank dies
The obit notes that when Frank announced his retirement, cards, letters and e-mails poured in, wishing him well, complimenting him on his work, and offering prayers for his recovery. Before he died, Frank wrote this thank-you note to readers. And here are some comments readers left after word of his death was posted at SFGate.com.
His alter ego was a newspaper reporter and sometime park ranger named Farley (left), the central character in his "Farley" comic strip that he once described as "really a horizontal column, documenting the life and times of the characters in the Bay Area." The Chronicle says it was the only local comic strip in the country.
Farley creator Phil Frank dies
Thursday, September 13, 2007
For the weekend...
I could write tons about my disappointment and disgust over the way our politicians are playing and have been playing flavor of the month. I could go on about how hypocritical the democrats have been by not taking their #1 contributor the moveon.org group for running a clearly slanderous campaign against a four star general who has done more for his country than they. And I could also go on about how the right keeps nipping at everyone. But instead... I'll just leave you all with this.
Message from John Arthur Managing Editor
I'm pleased to announce that David Lauter will become the California editor.
David, who has experience in Metro as well as across the country and abroad, is one of the Times’ most accomplished editors. He is well versed in Metro's many issues — local, state, regional and political coverage and the specialist area. He is known as a thoughtful and well-informed editor with strong relationships all over the paper. He is a terrific choice to replace Janet Clayton, who plans to leave sometime this fall.
David joined the Times’ Washington Bureau in 1987 after working at the National Law Journal as its Washington bureau chief, editor and Supreme Court reporter. At The Times he covered the White House and the 1988 and 1992 presidential campaigns as well as other assignments. In 1989, he was sent to Europe briefly to cover the end of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia and Romania.
David came to Los Angeles as National political editor in 1995 to run coverage of the 1996 presidential campaign. After that, he stayed on as state political editor in 1997, went back to Washington as a national correspondent and then returned to L.A. in 1998, first as specialist editor and then as deputy metro editor. For a few months after the infamous OC plant flood he directed the Orange County staff. Since early 2006 he has been deputy foreign editor.
David has won three significant Times’ Editorial Awards. He was honored in 1991 with an award as part of his role in team coverage for a special section on the Persian Gulf War, "Witness To War.” He also won the Times Publisher’s Prize that year for sustained excellence in reporting. And he won an award for sustained excellence in 1992.
David graduated from Yale and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
He will report to me and will assume his new duties in early October. Please join me in congratulating David.
John Arthur
Managing Editor
David, who has experience in Metro as well as across the country and abroad, is one of the Times’ most accomplished editors. He is well versed in Metro's many issues — local, state, regional and political coverage and the specialist area. He is known as a thoughtful and well-informed editor with strong relationships all over the paper. He is a terrific choice to replace Janet Clayton, who plans to leave sometime this fall.
David joined the Times’ Washington Bureau in 1987 after working at the National Law Journal as its Washington bureau chief, editor and Supreme Court reporter. At The Times he covered the White House and the 1988 and 1992 presidential campaigns as well as other assignments. In 1989, he was sent to Europe briefly to cover the end of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia and Romania.
David came to Los Angeles as National political editor in 1995 to run coverage of the 1996 presidential campaign. After that, he stayed on as state political editor in 1997, went back to Washington as a national correspondent and then returned to L.A. in 1998, first as specialist editor and then as deputy metro editor. For a few months after the infamous OC plant flood he directed the Orange County staff. Since early 2006 he has been deputy foreign editor.
David has won three significant Times’ Editorial Awards. He was honored in 1991 with an award as part of his role in team coverage for a special section on the Persian Gulf War, "Witness To War.” He also won the Times Publisher’s Prize that year for sustained excellence in reporting. And he won an award for sustained excellence in 1992.
David graduated from Yale and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
He will report to me and will assume his new duties in early October. Please join me in congratulating David.
John Arthur
Managing Editor
Thursday Morning Media News
Second Colorman Raul Compos
Sept 12th Portfolio Holdings & Performance - The Motley Fool
Free paper distributors sue Tribune over low wages - 2nd Ave. Sagas
American papers skewing conservative; Trib writer says yup - Scholars & Rogues
Twenty years in a dying industry - Market Watch
LA Times Scorecard: Online Up, Circ. Down - Kate Coe
Murdoch makes first visit to WSJ newsroom - Reuters
The top 10 big stories the US news media missed - San Francisco Bay Guardian
California Editor at Los Angeles Times - Kevin Roderick
The Heart—and Humor—of the News-Press Matter - Santa Barbara Independent
Yahoo reaches out for ad partners - Los Angeles Times
Mercer Verification of Dependents Update
Seems Mercer is not as inept as I was led to believe last week, after speaking with many of my colleagues I have discovered what the problem is. Three of my co-workers have told me they simply mailed in the form that requires a yes or no answer, and omitted the required proof of dependents from the envelope they returned to Mercer.
As of January 1st, 2008 those individuals that did not read the paperwork, and did not include the needed proof of dependents, will be shocked to find their family members are no longer covered by the medical plan they assumed they were covered by. Mercer will not inform you of this, they will simply cancel your dependents health insurance, saving the Tribune Company money.
As of January 1st, 2008 those individuals that did not read the paperwork, and did not include the needed proof of dependents, will be shocked to find their family members are no longer covered by the medical plan they assumed they were covered by. Mercer will not inform you of this, they will simply cancel your dependents health insurance, saving the Tribune Company money.
This is most likely just the tip of the iceberg, I wonder how many also just checked off the yes or no, and returned the form to Mercer in this manner?
6 Arrested, Charged in Woman's Weeklong Torture
Yet another case of man's inhumanity to man.
I'm not surprised this hasn't hit the news media en masse!
I'm not surprised this hasn't hit the news media en masse!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
In A Disaster: You Need A Kit
During National Preparedness Month, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department ask you to...
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet the needs of you and your family for at least three days. Build an emergency supply kit to take with you in an evacuation.
The basics to stock in your portable kit include: water, food, battery-powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries, first aid supplies, change of clothing, blanket or sleeping bag, wrench or pliers, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, trash bags, map, a manual can opener for canned food and special items for pets, infants, elderly, the sick or people with disabilities.
Keep these items in an easy to carry container such as a covered trash container, a large backpack or a duffle bag. Visit www.ready.gov for more information about what to include in your kit.
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
In A Disaster: You Need A Kit
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet the needs of you and your family for at least three days. Build an emergency supply kit to take with you in an evacuation.
The basics to stock in your portable kit include: water, food, battery-powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries, first aid supplies, change of clothing, blanket or sleeping bag, wrench or pliers, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, trash bags, map, a manual can opener for canned food and special items for pets, infants, elderly, the sick or people with disabilities.
Keep these items in an easy to carry container such as a covered trash container, a large backpack or a duffle bag. Visit www.ready.gov for more information about what to include in your kit.
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
In A Disaster: You Need A Kit
Southern Writing: Did Flannery and Faulkner Get It Right?
Over on The Writerly Pause
John Yelverton tries to reconcile what he remembers of the old South with what was written by the contemporaries of the time. John, the retired asssstant director of the University of Georgia library is a walking encyclopedia of literature.
San Francisco Peninsula Press Club: Register now for First Amendment assembly
Registration is being accepted online for the California First Amendment Coalition's 12th annual Free Speech and Open Government Assembly, Oct. 25 and 26 at the USC Annenberg School for Communication in Los Angeles. The assembly will bring together the best and brightest of law, journalism and public policy. New Yorker Magazine writer and book author Jeffrey Toobin will be there to talk about secrecy and the U.S. Supreme Court. Journalists Judith Miller, Josh Wolf and Earl Caldwell will discuss going to jail to protect the secrecy of confidential sources. Panel discussions will cover the following topics: Student speech, citizen media, access law, sources and shields, tribal secrecy, personal privacy vs. public access, national security and government access, police secrecy, immigration reporting, geographic information system-assisted reporting and information technology. Awards will also be presented to leaders in First Amendment advocacy. Registration is $25 before Oct. 1 and $50 after
Register now for First Amendment assembly
Register now for First Amendment assembly
Wednesday Morning Links
Supervisor Kevin Kissleberg
Analyst Predicts Further Decline for Newspapers - Associated Press
Reduce Ink Usage To Maintain/ Minimize Costs - Newspaper Blog
TV ad market takes a tumble - Variety
City vs blog in Claremont - LAObserved
The Times It is a' Changin - Stop, Look, Listen, Hope
NY Times August Ad Sales Slip 3.2 Percent - Associated Press
Erika Hayasaki Recycles for LA Times--Again - Kate Coe
Coming surge inlocal web advertising - Media Life
The Next Day: Thoughts on September 11
The left and the right will continue to disparage and fight.
But that's not what we're about on this blog.
Some of us thought about loved ones in the military. Some of us thought about suffering and war. Some of us thought about the softness of God.
And so, here is the most fitting statement I could find on September 11. It was written last year, but is fitting today.
Listen
But that's not what we're about on this blog.
Some of us thought about loved ones in the military. Some of us thought about suffering and war. Some of us thought about the softness of God.
And so, here is the most fitting statement I could find on September 11. It was written last year, but is fitting today.
Listen
Tribune Company Dependent Verification
As I quickly read through the enrolled dependents form from Mercer, I scanned what documentation was needed to prove my dependents are actually my legal dependents. In my haste I read I would need my divorce decree and custody agreement, and legal guardianship, and thought to myself, here’s another hassle.
After reading the four pages of what I needed to supply, I’m relieved all I need to send in will be a copy of my 2005 or 2006 tax returns, not a problem. But many of my colleagues are not as fortunate, and will be going through the hassle of locating the needed paperwork.
Still, I’m left wondering why the Olympic Pressroom staff was singled out when I was informed only three percent of Tribune employees have been audited? I’m not very good at math, so my figures could be completely in left field, but I’m coming up with seventy percent of the Olympic Pressroom being audited by the Tribune Company.
Why am I upset regarding this someone asked? Seems if you don’t send in the form with the proof required by certified mail by October 5th, 2007, Mercer will have your dependents taken off your health insurance, sure sounds fishy to me. I say certified mail, because some employees have had dependents removed from their health insurance when Mercer claimed the form and proof of dependents did not arrive.
And I suggest not calling Mercer, as Fred Kirby’s wife did, or you could be met with some rather unpleasant people on the other side of the phone. Mr. Kirby filed a complaint with the Los Angeles Times Human Resources, but we all know you can’t complain about the Tribune Company to the Tribune Company.
After reading the four pages of what I needed to supply, I’m relieved all I need to send in will be a copy of my 2005 or 2006 tax returns, not a problem. But many of my colleagues are not as fortunate, and will be going through the hassle of locating the needed paperwork.
Still, I’m left wondering why the Olympic Pressroom staff was singled out when I was informed only three percent of Tribune employees have been audited? I’m not very good at math, so my figures could be completely in left field, but I’m coming up with seventy percent of the Olympic Pressroom being audited by the Tribune Company.
Why am I upset regarding this someone asked? Seems if you don’t send in the form with the proof required by certified mail by October 5th, 2007, Mercer will have your dependents taken off your health insurance, sure sounds fishy to me. I say certified mail, because some employees have had dependents removed from their health insurance when Mercer claimed the form and proof of dependents did not arrive.
And I suggest not calling Mercer, as Fred Kirby’s wife did, or you could be met with some rather unpleasant people on the other side of the phone. Mr. Kirby filed a complaint with the Los Angeles Times Human Resources, but we all know you can’t complain about the Tribune Company to the Tribune Company.
Thanks Ed!
I want to thank Ed for offering me a TV when mine went out. This was so thoughtful during a time that he was in shock and mourning. As it was, we counted all the extra money we'd stashed and had enough for a new one.
We bought a 32" Sony Bravia this weekend. It was at Target on sale. Seems Target is carrying higher end TV's now.
If only I could figure out how to use it!
It is HDTV ready, which is funny since we don't even get cable. So hey... the news still looks like the news, and Seinfeld episodes are all the same as well!
We bought a 32" Sony Bravia this weekend. It was at Target on sale. Seems Target is carrying higher end TV's now.
If only I could figure out how to use it!
It is HDTV ready, which is funny since we don't even get cable. So hey... the news still looks like the news, and Seinfeld episodes are all the same as well!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Kevin Roderick is Back
Edward with Kevin Roderick
I forgot to mention that my favorite blogger returned from a much needed two week break yesterday. Kevin Roderick has returned to LAObserved with a bang, now lets hope Kevin can get a hold of the much coveted Sam Zell speech at the Los Angeles Times for all of us too see.
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