Good job Decherd hurting your paper

Look at this little bit of news: about Belo's CEO giving himself a raise. Are you kidding me? This is dispicable and everyone working for the paper should be up in arms.

Lay Offs announcement

Here is a snippet that ran on the NcTimes Web site:

The North County Times laid off 10 percent of its staff Tuesday amid declining advertising revenue, a consequence of an economic slump that has crippled local real estate and automobile companies.

Most of the layoffs came in the newsroom, where the staff of reporters and editors was reduced by 20 percent, or 25 employees. Across the rest of the newspaper, including advertising and circulation staff, nine employees were laid off.

"Advertising is our revenue generator," said Peter York, publisher of the North County Times. "The newsroom, while critical to our mission ... it is the biggest individual department."

Fewer advertisements have diminished the newspaper's revenues, and layoffs were needed so that the newspaper would remain viable, York said.

"We're not losing money, but we're not doing as well as we ought to," he said.

Last week, Lee Enterprises, a Davenport, Iowa, company that owns the North County Times, reported that preliminary earnings had plummeted 73 percent in the fiscal fourth quarter. York said the layoffs were a decision by the North County Times, not Lee Enterprises.

How was the Cal hit?
I heard from the rumor mill five people: Temecula reporter Nicole Sack, Community Editor Craig Schultz, photographer Steve Thornton, and two others, including one in sports.

What the hell does this mean? No more funny ledes from Sack and apparently no photos in the Cal.

More Lay OFFS

Rumor has it that the ax fell at the Cal and NC Times yesterday. I have been out sick but I thought readers might want to know. I will post any names that pop up but this hasn't been confirmed. Rumor has it that nearly 25 news people got their walking papers.

Story of the Day

Mr. John Asbury pat yourself on the back.
This story should become a national talker.
While I don't write this blog to profess my opinions in regards to these matters, I will say this Beaumont City Council man sums up the ignorance of some Prop. 8 supporters.
Look at some of these comments from Roger Berg ( who actually admitted to saying these things):

"You dykes get out of my face. I don't agree with your queer views."

Why did he say that you ask?

"It's not homophobia," he said. "They are queer. I believe it is an immoral lifestyle. They do not want tolerance, they want acceptance. I am not going to accept their lifestyle."

Ohh wait there is more. The 'Berg as he will now be known for his icy coolness then threatened to sue the woman for filing a police report.

Murder update and election madness

We have murder updates in French Valley and we look at election coverage for the southwest. Check it out here.

Halloween

Quick blurb about stories here. Now go and eat some candy.

The Newbie Returns

What do the PE and Cal have in common? Click here to find out. Oh yeah newbie counted local stories. Are you shocked who has more in today's paper?

Hump Day

The PE stirs with two decent dead people stories and the Cal -- well it acts Cal-Like. See the reviews.

Begin anew

A new review is in and let me know how my new partner in crime is doing.

Go check out the quick review.

Also look at the poll on that web page. It appears the Valley News hijacked the polls. Either that or the Cal and the PE has some enemies.

Starting next week

A new blogger will join me in making observations of the papers.
I will set up a poll so you can let me know if the newbie is any good, should get canned, or should replace me.

Quick hits

Nelsy Rodriguez had a good story about another delay in the Warnie Enochs case. I’m sure many residents are wondering when this will go to court.

Good story by Aaron Burgin about a lack of funding costing residents a fire station. Read it here.

Weekend fun

Rani Gupta did a good job in revisiting a new cell phone policy at Temecula schools. But I do have an issue with the lede:

You won't see Great Oak High School senior Tyler Harrington give a ringing endorsement to a new policy barring the use of cell phones and iPods from district campuses during the school day.

Ringing endorsement huh. Did that get spit out of the cliché machine?

Nice Job Aaron Claverie. Interesting read on illegal vendors in Lake Elsinore. 'nuff said.

Claverie also did the story on a Vista Murrieta High School student suspended for wearing an anti-obama shirt. Regardless of how I feel about this, this was plain and simple terrible journalism. If you can’t get the parents to give their names or the student to use their name then you shouldn’t be writing this story. This isn’t Watergate here. This violates the reader’s trust. DO NOT USE ANONYMOUS SOURCES for school stories. Maybe I’m wrong but I think the editor should never have allowed this. What’s next using an anonymous source for a school board meeting? Wait the Cal has already done that when quoting John Hunneman.

Over at the PE it’s rehash time.

Do these reporters even check what has been written in the past?

Jeff Horseman did a story about the local hospitals expanding and does it like it’s new news. It’s not. Anyone driving past Rancho Springs for the past two years could have seen the construction. Check your clips PE reporters.

Story here.

Anything with ties to the Zodiac is interesting. Doug Quan and Sonja Bjelland do this nice piece on an Inland victim.

IS there a newcomer to the area?

The double homicide in French Valley had everyone in the area on edge. Let's break down how the two papers reported -- wait I mean, the three papers. In a surprise twist, the Valley News appeared to report on this.

The bleeding continues at the PE. Today the newsroom was once again thrown into turmoil with the news of a round of layoffs. People knew they were coming but it still is shocking that they expect to get a paper out daily.

The ax has dropped at the PE once more.

Lay offs hit Thursday morning and the list saddens me. I debated whether to post these names out of respect for those who are affected. But I was convinced by friends that people need to know what is happening in “The Inland Empire’s” paper.

Here is a list of who was laid off:

I am told several others were laid off but I don't have names.

Hemet editor and former Temecula editor Jim Rothgeb

Long time Photographer Carrie Rosema

Graphic Artist Maggie Delbon

Business Reporter Rodd Cayton

Tony Ruiz

Features reporter Mark Benoit

Auto Reporter Peter Bohr

UPDATE*****

I'm told two designers were fired and one more is expected to be let go.

For now there will be no more lay offs. The rest will head south to the Dallas Morning News.

Kudos to the southwest

I would have to say both papers were strong today. Find out why click here.

Fires are starting and stores are closing

Is it coincidence that both papers are not really doing anything newsworthy and then the fires pop up? Interesting. Here is a little recap of today's southwest papers.
And you need to read the comment from the day before because that is a classic comment. They should be writing this blog.

I'm back

Hogbacks and no-duh reporting. Find my southwest recap here

Ethical Question

I have been sick with that flu going around. I'm sure some of you have cheered my recent demise but I will be back. In fact I have a journalism ethics questions..please answer this:
John Hall quotes two women who were forced to testify that they were teenage prostitutes. Both papers will not quote underaged minors in sex cases. Isn’t this the same thing? Why is the name of the girl who was targeted for snitching and forced to be a prostitute have her name splashed in the paper? Here is the story. I don’t know the ethics of this so if someone could enlighten me.

Sorry

I left you without my snarky comments. But the newspapers seem to be getting a little boring aren't they?
Here is a little recap about power boxing, graffitis and gun shipping.

And The Pe Shrinks

Three more reporters are leaving the paper.
LA Lakers reporter Broderick Turner, who scooped the world on the whole Shaq-Kobe feud and trade, is going to the LA Times to cover the Lakers.
Prep sports reporter Gerald Tang is also taking off.
Finally, features reporter turned news reporter Amanda Strindberg is going, going, gone.

Who Will buy the UT?

The UT had this story about who will buy newspapers?
That's a great question. Maybe I should step up and take over. In all reality, it's amazing that no one would pick up the UT because it really has not competition and recently scored a Pulitzer.
A friend of a friend of a friend (good sourcing right?) said the UT has had some visits from your typical groups -- Singleton and NY Times. Would the paper change if either of these people bought the paper?
The next question is whether the PE is cleaning house to help bring in a buyer? That's the rumor and concern from PE employees.
(originally posted Sept. 21, I moved it back up at request of people who missed it)

Ants in the IE's pants

Ants, Fisher, and more southwest oh my.

SHAME ON YOU PE

The CAL completely destroyed the Press-Enterprise in today's paper and this reader is disgusted by the lack of journalism going on at the PE. Want to learn about my anger then read my review. Apparently the PE wants people to believe that if a murder happens in Temecula and they cover it with a paltry nine paragraphs quoting a PIO who isn't at the scene that's great journalism.
IT IS NOT.

Sunday writing football

Some highlights from the papers across the Inland area as a I sip my coffee. For the Riverside edition. For the southwest Edition.

Saturday quick hit

The man with one of the coolest names, Fielding Buck, did some hard hitting journalism. Yep, it’s a movie about a Chihuahua. And the little scamp is from Moreno Valley. I bet Rosco is really from Rancho Belago. No one that cool comes from true MoVal.

Good story Julia Glick on this tower of power. It’s Saturday, I had my pirate ale, I won’t go into details.

Did the PE really have to take the trend story here. A story about stay at home dads. This was over killed by all other trendy papers a year ago but the PE quoted an expert so that makes up for it.

Aaron Burgin you finally got one. All your relentless commission meetings and you came up with a nice story about Dr. Amy Bhutta. I am a bit ashamed to say I got my doctorate from the same diploma mill. You ask what my doctorate is in…Chihuahuas. I’m sure Burgin’s opponents tipped him off about this stuff but it still is funny stuff. Good job Burgin. Take a bow. A much better story than the hodgepodge thrown together by Aaron Claverie.

The NC Times Mark Walker has this story about a new review on the Marine who threw himself on a grenade to save someone. He was given the second highest medal and many believe he deserves the Medal of Honor.

In Honor

of Talk Like a Pirate Day I am not going to post since I plan to get some ale.

Thursdays

Do you care about marines, the metrolink, and budgets? Well the papers do so read up on the Southwest Riverside County mischief here.

The Times, The Sun oh my

Care to find out what I thought about the past two days?

The beginning of the week

The PE has lost staff and it's immediately showing. The Cal has started the week off hot and is devastating the PE in the Southwest Riverside County bureau. Come and see the review.

A quick take

I finally had time to read over Sunday and Monday's papers. I came across a few interesting reads spanning the PE, the LA Times and the Sun. Click here for the Riverside edition or here for the southwest.

Sunday Edition

Claudia Bustamante leaves us with her last story and some Jurupa woman is trying to censor the world. Read the reviews.

Saturday of Fun

Southwest Riverside County saw education turn to water, suicide memorials and a stolen Olympian shotgun. If you dare to care read more.

It's Final

A city official told me that Murrieta has a new reporter. Perris reporter Julissa McKinnon is moving to fill Rocky Salmon's shoes and Michelle Klampe is going to cover education. McKinnon is a bright, up-and-comer who should do fine. I have not seen enough of Klampe's work to make a guess on how she will do.

Business Press Editor fires off with Letter

Read this story on Gawker about Bob Dixon getting his buy-out a little early.
http://gawker.com/5048909/newsman-whining-about-editorial-integrity-promptly-fired

Mistake on Memorial page

I forgot to set the settings to allow anonymous comments on the Memorial Page. That has been lifted so everyone can post anonymously to their hearts content.

The Compare Game

Today the Cal and PE had some matching stories. Let me compare them and let’s see which ones we enjoyed most.
First off, Lake Elsinore is going to lay off employees.

The Cal’s Aaron Claverie ledes off with this:
A dearth of new home construction starts, falling home values and slumping sales tax revenue have forced the city to take the rare step of adjusting its $32 million budget for the year less than three months after it was adopted.
The adjustment, which could include laying off 10 or 11 city employees, is being proposed to help the city patch a $1.9 million revenue shortfall, city officials said Wednesday.
City Financial Director Matt Pressey said the shortfall is directly tied to the subprime mortgage collapse, which has dotted Lake Elsinore with foreclosed homes and saturated the housing market to the point where new home construction doesn't pencil out for many developers.
This lede makes the city look really dumb for failing to see this shaping up. But did Claverie miss the boat? see the rest of the story here

Mr. Aaron Burgin talked about the economy but then had a stunning revelation that Claverie totally avoided or missed.
The stormy economy and a "serious" $759,000 budget error may cost some Lake Elsinore city employees their jobs.
Lake Elsinore officials announced Wednesday they may lay off workers but initially said it was solely because of the sharp economic downturn.
City officials later revealed that on top of the economic woes, the city mistakenly underbudgeted its police services by $1.15 million, which was partially offset by $395,000 in grant funding.
Yep it appears the city made a nearly $1 million budget error. That my friends is horrendous and thanks to Mr. Burgin for throwing that up high. Good job Mr. Burgin. Take in his whole story here


In Showdown two we pit John Hunneman with John Asbury in the battle over the Hemet Ryan Airport expansion story.
Let’s start with Mr. Asbury.
Southern California firefighters will be able to use military air attackers for the first time once $19 million in improvements are completed to the Hemet-Ryan Air-Attack Base.
Plans were announced Wednesday to add 1,300 feet to the runaway at the Hemet-Ryan Airport and sink millions of state dollars into new barracks, aircraft and other firefighting airport improvements.
The lede is succinct and tells me why I am reading the story. Firefighters can use military air support because of this expansion. For the whole story click here

Let’s look at Hunneman.
For several days in October while fires scorched the Southern California landscape, tiny Hemet-Ryan Airport had the second busiest runway of any airport in America, fire officials say.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's air attack base for the region was overwhelmed, Calfire Director Ruben Grijalva said.
"We didn't have the ability to house all the firefighters, feed them and take care of the crews," he said.
With that experience in mind, state and county leaders met Wednesday at the airport on the southwest side of tow to announce a major upgrade to the facility.

I still lack that defining sentence. It’s long winded and still doesn’t explain to me why I should care. That’s too many paragraphs to get to the point. Hunneman you have been burned…by Asbury.

A new Page

I have set up a semi memorial site for those who are leaving the paper.
You can list their favorite stories, what you liked about them or what you hated.
Click to get there

Riverside Direct

LBJ ghosts, puppy love and skateboarding fools. Get the reviews here.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Southwest Riverside was busy. A new hospital was approved in Murrieta, Mr. Pennypickle came out of his elusive hiding in Temecula and skaters are taking over Perris. We also got closure on the terrible tragedy of two dogs locked in an animal shelter...without further ado.

The LIST

I have a list of rumored persons to be taking the buy outs.
Out of the main office -- Environmental reporter Jennifer Bowles, Higher Education Elaine Regus, Crime Reporter Jose Arballo, GA Gregor McGavin, military reporter Joe Vargo, and Arts department head Marilynn Odello.
Corona Office -- Jerry Soifer, reporter Paige Austin.
Temecula Office -- Murrieta reporter Rocky Salmon, Schools reporter Claudia Bustamante and editor Linda Woodbury.
Fast Food Dude Jeff Girod, Angels reporter Matt Hurst, Arts reporter Pat O'Brien, and business reporter Joe Ascenzi.
San Bernardino reporter Mary Bender, Desert reporter Steve Moore, photographers Amanda Lucidon, Ramon Owens, and Steve Medd.
These will all be confirmed tomorrow.

Weekend Wrap Up

Cargo trucks, tubers, and electronic gizmos Oh my. The PE had a lot on it's plate and most of it was a tad stale. The Cal was a Rani Gupta show. Time for my view.

Memo to PE Staff

My former colleague shipped this off to me over the weekend. The first part was omitted because it's typical corporate speak and the rest is excerpts.

...the VSO did not fully achieve the workforce reduction goal that was set to meet our business objectives at any of the operating companies. In order to reduce our workforce to the necessary levels we will implement an involuntary reduction in force in specific departments or work groups to be completed in mid-to-late October.

The reduction in force will be limited to the following departments or work groups:
· News, Production, the Customer Retention Cal Center and Al Dia at The Dallas Morning News (approximately 50 positions)
· News, Consumer Sales, Packaging and Production (excluding Pressroom) at The Press-Enterprise (approximately 30 positions)

These are challenging times that call for difficult decisions. Over the coming months we will work together to address the challenges ahead and focus on making a smooth transition to our newly-aligned organization. As we move forward, it is important that we all continue to focus on the areas that we each can control – our role in supporting the production of outstanding news and information publications and websites and serving our customers.

Thank you for your commitment and contributions to our organization.

Jim

Update on Breaking News

The Temecula Bureau will lose three people, two of which are reporters, according to a source. The names of which I will reveal after Tuesday when the names become public. Reporters are still bracing for a round of lay-offs. Thirty people from the Press Enterprise need to be pared down to get within the company guidelines. Good luck reporters.

Riverside and San Bernardino Saturday

Sean Nealon gets to the heart of the decrease in love for the sweet keys, Alicia Robinson writes about an unforgettable love between two dogs and Dug Begley writes about telecommuters. At the Sun it was all about cursing at a school board meeting and the writer even got to put "prick" in the paper. If the smog isn't smashing your soul then come read the observations.

September 6

The Southwest Riverside County papers unwind with a soft local section after dealing with school test scores a day before. Burgin wrote about an Elsinore Council man who was renting a car with campaign funds, Gupta updates readers about good news in the school district world, and the UT tells me where to go buy a home.
If you haven't been eaten by those bobcats in Canyon Lake then you can read more about my observations.

BREAKING NEWS

A former colleague called me about a memo sent out. So I went to the corporate Web site and lo and behold this is here.
From my understanding this isn't enough and the news section of some of these papers are going to get hit with lay-offs. That's the rumor I hear.

Voluntary Severance Program Is Completed
DALLAS, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A. H. Belo Corporation (NYSE: AHC) said today that the voluntary severance offer (VSO) extended to the Company's newspaper employees in July has been completed. Overall, 413 employees will leave the company under the VSO -- 270 at The Dallas Morning News, 23 at The Providence Journal, and 120 at The Press-Enterprise. The total cost of the VSO is approximately $11.2 million, the majority of which will be expensed in the third quarter.
In addition, an involuntary reduction in force will be completed by mid-to-late October to achieve the necessary remaining workforce reductions. The expense related to the reduction in force is estimated at $2.4 million and will be recorded in the fourth quarter. The reduction in force is limited to the news, production, customer retention call center, and Al Dia departments at The Dallas Morning News; the news, consumer sales, packaging and production departments (excluding pressroom) at The Press-Enterprise; and, the news, editorial, advertising and promotion departments, subject to contractual obligations, at The Providence Journal.
The combined workforce reductions are expected to result in a savings of more than $29 million on an annualized basis.
Robert W. Decherd, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer, said, "These job actions are part of a restructuring of our newspaper operations that accelerates the allocation of resources to promising new print and online products while focusing our workforce on A. H. Belo's local content creation and sales capabilities. We greatly appreciate the dedication and service of all A. H. Belo employees who are leaving the Company under the voluntary severance program. I'm confident that we're taking the right steps to realign our resources to meet consumer and advertiser needs while maintaining the exceptional quality of A. H. Belo's journalistic products."
A copy of the letter sent to operating company employees today by Jim Moroney, executive vice president of A. H. Belo and Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of The Dallas Morning News is available at http://www.ahbelo.com/invest.

Look for a new lay out soon.

I am currently negotiating to bring on someone to also critique Riverside proper and the San Bernardino papers. These will link to another blog. I also will link the southwest riverside county and san diego blogs to another section to make reading a little easier.

Bloodletting

As someone who was once in the business I still maintain my contacts. Per conversations with one of them over some beers this reporter let it slip that the Press Enterprise should be paring its staffing back by next week.
I have some of the names of people who streamed into the office to meet with the el jefes. I will hold onto those a few days although some of them will be shocking and some will make us newspaper readers sad.
In other news, don't go drinking with someone if you start telling secrets while drunk.

Sept. 3

The CAL
A pretty bland section today.
Nelsy Rodriguez had the vote on the initiatives in Murrieta. The PE didn’t even staff it. The PE forgot to do a few things, including the Temecula bicyclist killed.
The Cal had it. While it’s not shaking news both stories needed to run.
Okay I ran across the PE’s story on the bicyclist but its on the Web site not in the paper. Big Snafu there. Doesn’t that seem to happen more and more these days? As a writer who uses the Internet a lot I think most papers are using Web sites the wrong way but I’m not here to pontificate – nope, my job is to be a journalism teacher.

The sole story I found interesting was Rani Gupta’s on how much Temecula school district pays for sports.
It’s ridiculous how much parents are required to pay. After all, these teams usually do bring in a profit. The entire school funding system is broken. I say blow it up and let monkeys redo it. They can’t do any worse than our politicians.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/09/02/news/californian/temecula/zca512e6d366fd0f2882574b90013bc18.txt

Oh yeah. How many times is the Cal going to write about Tap Dancing Dads? Over and under at 10. Place your bets.

On a better note, I forgot to give Aaron Claverie much kudos for his panhandle story. Here Mr. Aaron Burgin here is your butt. Claverie just handed it to you.
I griped about how Burgin’s story lacked any actual person who would be affected. I think Mr. Claverie reads my site because he went out and did actual journalism. You are to be commended sir.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/29/news/californian/lake_elsinore/z1836853c4bc25dc8882574ac006bc1e2.txt

The PE

Not much difference from the PE. The local section has a nice picture from a non-staff photographer. The story is short and funny – bobcats are in town. And who else wrote this little brite that put a smile on my face: Sarah Burge.
People reading this must think I favor Burge. You can’t favor brilliance.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_sbobcat03.3df7b63.html

Sonja Bjelland and Gene Ghiotto continued on with a story about Nazario asking for his job back with the Riverside Police Department. The lede should be way better than it is. It reads like a copy editor got his/her hands on it.
A former Riverside police officer acquitted of war crimes can apply to be an officer again, officials say.
But the city is in a hiring freeze, so it is unclear when he could actually start, said Chris Lanzillo, president of the Riverside Police Officers Association.
Why not lede with this guy’s walk to the police department? Isn’t that more exciting? More thrilling? Instead we get the words “Officials say” in the lede.
Newspapers are losing readers because good writing is disappearing. Reporters need to fight for better ledes and editors need to let them run.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_N_nazario03.49fcf85.html

The rest of the PE is relatively boring on the Local section. Jeff Horseman wrote about an upcoming fundraiser and a Pechanga Council guy dying in Denver. John Asbury continues his good work covering the Chris Kanton case.

The UT
The UT wrote a story where a state investigator slammed SDG&E for failing to take care of their powerlines leading to the Fallbrook Fire. Will the PUC act on this? Beats me but don’t the utility companies look slimy.
Intably recommended the utilities commission make special note of SDG&E's lack of cooperation and issue a separate order clarifying that utilities must “provide immediate access to witnesses, sites or any other evidence requested” by regulators.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080903-9999-1n3puc.html

Might Be Moving

The site might be shifting to another page for technical reasons. I will provide information and the link on here if it happens.

Weekend Wrap Up

Nice weekend to pick up your local newspaper
Let’s start with the PE, which does better regional news than local news on the weekends.
First off – Kudos to Leslie Berkman who writes the most important article of the region and one that other papers have been too ditzy to do. It’s about house cheaters. These are the people who buy homes although they own a home, so they can get a newer home at a cheaper price. Then they let that first home go into foreclosure. There is also another scam using relatives to buy a short sale home then handing over the deed to the original owner. Amazing stuff. She has people and realtors saying they understand and that they are just taking advantage of the market. This cop who is doing this should be fired. It’s illegal and it’s cheaters like this who got us into the foreclosure crisis in the first place because it seems the motto continues to be: everyone else is doing it why can’t I.
http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_News_Local_S_cheaters31.45b183a.html

Tammy McCoy sifted through some court documents to come up with another nugget of information on this alleged Murrieta murderer.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_E_jarka02.49205d9.html
Do these murderers not watch Law & Order? I don’t see how people can still back this guy. As the French would say “He is as guilty as sin.” Wait. He is allegedly as guilty as sin.

Gail Wesson covers an issue I find interesting – those animal hoarders. I can never get enough stories of reporters trying to describe what the reasoning is behind hoarding. I still would have like Ms. Wesson to interview that cat throwing lady from The Simpsons. That would also make great video.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_W_hoarding02.4920b45.html

Aaron Burgin redeemed himself a bit. Anytime you can get dwarves in the lede you got yourself a reader. Nice to see what out of the box ideas candidates are doing for publicity.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/lakeelsinore/stories/PE_News_Local_S_playdate30.476a1f2.html

There were some other good stories but alas there are too many to jot down.
Saturday was a great day for the PE in beating the CAL. Julissa McKinnon had a great centerpiece of dogs in Menifee. Jeff Horseman broke news that a power plant is being proposed near French Valley.

The CAL
John Hall wrote an interesting story about Murrieta residents helping out with foreclosed lawns. The real question I have is why is John Hall doing this? http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/30/news/californian/murrieta/z64ef6febb449abf8882574b4000727e7.txt

The Cal also did a story about summer season. It made for a nice photo even though a story wasn’t needed with it.

Please don’t get me started on the Cal’s Cyberbullying press release. First off, this issue is as old as camera phones so why continue to harp on it. Second off, this little package makes for a nice spread advertisement for the cyberalert software. I wonder how much cut the paper gets for subscriptions to this software? What went through the minds of the editors to think that this really was a good idea. Because it’s not. It makes newspapers seem biased and unprofessional.
Thanks for the black eye on the industry. I won’t even link the stories because the Web Site doesn’t deserve the hits.

Let us now play a game called compare two simple stories from Cal Reporter Nelsy Rodriguez to one from PE reporter Rocky Salmon.
This is a story basically on a report to City Council about three initiatives to limit spending and term limits. It’s amazing how these two come up with differing points on what’s the most important issue.
The Cal’s Lede (rest of the story is here)
A city-commissioned report on the possible effects of three initiatives that have qualified to go before the public for a vote indicated that one ordinance would put the city at a great disadvantage to employ qualified staff members and another could prevent lower-income residents from running for office.
The report, produced by Management Partners Inc., a San Jose consulting firm, will be the focus of a discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting. After the three initiatives qualified for a public vote by receiving more than 3,700 signatures of Murrieta registered voters, the council voted to spend nearly $22,000 on the report before deciding how to proceed with the initiatives.

I am not a fan of big words. And Nelsy’s story is littered with words and phrases that she should have been changed to her own voice: “market share”, “it would not be a financially sound practice to base a salary or compensation package on an arbitrary income that fluctuates with the market,” Electorate, “Cap”…it goes on and on. Tip to reporters. Use your own words please because we are simple-minded readers who didn’t become lawyers for a reason.

The PE’s story is here
The lede is: Two initiatives aimed at limiting pay for Murrieta City Council members and higher-ranking city officials are littered with enough legal problems that, if they passed, could end up in court, the city attorney said.
On Tuesday night, the City Council will decide whether to adopt three initiatives without an election or send all three to a November 2010 general election. Council members had voted for further studies by city staff and a legal consultant after questions were raised about the legality of two of the initiatives.
The legal concerns were raised in a city attorney's letter and a consultant's study of the three initiatives.

Which story do you like better? While Mr. Salmon’s story was much more terrible than Ms. Rodriguez’s last week I’m giving the leg up to Mr. Salmon. The story is way shorter, complex words and legalese have been taken out and paraphrased and the first graf actually tells me why I care. Because those initiatives if passed would cost us taxpayers more money in more court fees.
That’s not saying Mr. Salmon’s story was the cream of the crop or Pulitzer material. But it’s definitely the lesser of two evils.

The UT
Why run this story about cities cutting services? Isn’t Tanya Mannes a little behind the 8-ball here? This information came out months ago and to run it now is silly. Way to be about 10 months behind your news Mannes.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080902-9999-1m2sales.html

Good take on the lights that appear during concerts. And by lights I mean Pineapple Express.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080901-9999-1m1weed.html?imw=Y&lid=mostpopular

August 29

The CAL
I have to be honest. It has been an extremely tough week for the Cal. I partially blame those useless candidate profiles because it takes time away from reporters to do actual news reporting.
The Local section was basically a follow up to everything the PE did earlier in the week.
Rani Gupta covered the fun painting guy. Ms. Bustamante from the PE easily outdid her. While Gupta paints a beautiful picture, it took 7 grafs to get to the point. After reading Gupta’s story I still don’t know why the district would pay for this guy to do his show? Can someone answer that? I believe I know but it’s never spelled out.
What gives the PE the easy win in the battle of the paint guy is Frank Bellino’s photo over Steve Thornton’s. Bellino’s picture popped then caused the reader to linger and stare at it. It was intriguing. Thornton’s is blurry and you brush right over it. He also has it cropped so there are what appears to be speakers hanging down over the MLK painting.
Link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/28/news/californian/murrieta/zdc6d7d1682d36491882574b300684314.txt
John Hall followed up Sarah Burge’s story about people pretending nurses to scam the elderly. While they did get beat on the story I take my hat off to the editors and Mr. Hall. It was a story that needed to be done and every reporter knows – to follow a story you have to suck up a lot of pride. Not shocking or beautiful prose but a much needed warning for the community.
Link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/28/news/californian/murrieta/zc06f8507b88fbb5b882574b300835e87.txt
The PE
I do not want to reap such praise upon the PE – but boy, oh boy are they having a helluva week.
Today’s A-1 has THE defining story on the ex-marine found not guilty by Sonja Bjelland. This reporter weaves in the appropriate amount of intricate details, color and backstory. She even talked to the police officer Jose Nazario has been staying with and painted a picture of what happened the night before as he had to wait for the verdict.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_S_nazario29.448c9e5.html

Okay Okay I jumped the gun on today. The PE local for Friday is blah.
Aaron Burgin needs to take a step back or have his editors make him slow down. It’s constant meeting coverage and petty stuff that no more than 5 people in the city care about.
Voluntary green liens by a water district for foreclosed homes.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_E_sgreenlien29.49fca1c.html
Boring. He also uses the phrase “Green liens are a go.” A go—huh.
Mr. Burgin then proceeds to write a barn burning Mayor’s address story. Bore me once shame on you. Bore me twice – still shame on you.

Sarah Burge you dastardly devil of great stories and scoops. You got another one today.
She updates the Chad Huber case. This is the twat who killed a Winchester family, including a 4-year-old, then fled to Mexico. She uses court records to detail the night, the accident and what proceeded. http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_huber29.4768dbd.html

Carl Love’s column once again has a few nice lines in it about Menifee planning a city hood party.
A city that built a program around Halloween is not a place to be taken seriously, given how some people are already frightened by the prospect of higher taxes when towns incorporate. Trick or treat -- we just doubled your property taxes!
By comparison, Wildomar, a new city that started July 1, knows how to time things. Not only did it happen when school was out, but Wildomarians had July Fourth to connect to. Independence from the shackles of county government; that's a battle cry!
Funny stuff Mr. Love.
http://www.pe.com/columns/carllove/stories/PE_News_Local_S_slove29.47694c4.html

Other Papers
Terrible terrible tragedy in SD. I’m glad both the PE and the Cal put the story in their A-1s. People here really connect to the city and it was such a freak accident. Good reporting by the UT to uncover past violations.
Link:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080829/news_1n29collapse.html

The LA Times has a scary story about a serial killer who has come out of hiding to start work again.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-killer29-2008aug29,0,334507.story

Here is why people get the Times and why this paper still matters. This is why journalism will never die. I am still wiping away tears. The Column 1 stories are sometimes freaking unbelievable. This one is beautifully written and takes a different look at Obama’s speech and the convention.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-bertha29-2008aug29,0,2952712.story
I also love these Southern California Chronicle stories. So well written and it takes you directly to that neighborhood.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-outthere29-2008aug29,0,1431651.story
I could have done without the first sentence. Sometimes color is used solely for color. It does not advance the story but it does messes with the flow.

I'm still looking for someone to do the week-end reviews and Monday morning quarterbacking. It's too much work for me.

August 28

Before you begin reading glimpse to the right and see a new poll. Please respond.
It’s over whose lede was worse about Murrieta’s hospital:
Mr Salmon’s – Residents near a proposed 46-acre full-service hospital campus near Interstate 215 can expect more noise and traffic. But the benefit of more hospital beds in the area and the introduction of nearly(It's official Mr. Salmon must be in debt to the word Near) 700 new jobs outweigh those problems, Murrieta officials said.
On Wednesday night, the Murrieta Planning Commission unanimously recommended to the City Council that it approve the environmental reports and plan changes to the proposed Physicians Hospital of Murrieta. Only the City Council can approve a change to a land-use plan.

Or Ms. Rodriguez’s – One Murrieta resident told planning commissioners Wednesday she couldn't wait for the day her commute to San Diego for specialty medical attention for her daughter is cut down to 10 minutes.
Another speaker said she wants more assurance that health care is readily available now that she's in her "bonus years." (what are bonus years)
A third said there's no question about the need for expanded hospital services in Southwest Riverside County.
So it was no surprise that light applause accompanied the Planning Commission's unanimous vote to approve(according to Salmon it was a recommendation not an approval) a conditional use permit and a tentative tract map for the construction of the proposed $256 million Physicians Hospital of Murrieta.

Now on to the games.

The PE
Yeah for Jennifer Bowles. Good story on water cops. I spend my days walking through my neighborhood shaking my head. Some gutters have had so much water algae is growing. Hey people don’t water your lawn at 2 p.m. in the afternoon. It defeats the purpose. Bowles stories tend to take complicated environmental issues and spell it out so people like me can understand it. Story of the day.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_watercop28.47b28b7.html
Good picture by Frank Bellino too.

The local centerpiece was surprisingly catchy and the story worked perfectly. The photo by Bellino of the painter is awesome. Check out Mr. Einstein peering over the shoulder and the paint that is on the wall appears to rising like a water fountain. While it’s not going to change my world I also get the paper for fun stories and plain good reads. This is one of them. And Ms. Bustamante knew what I wanted.
Kicks. Flying paintbrushes. Then, in minutes, finished portraits.
All good active words and great description. I kind of wanted to be there. And good idea to use the beats of Kanye West. You can just hear the song and operatic vibe.

The Cal
Cathy Redfern buried her lede three grafs into her story on the dangerous parking situation at Paloma Valley High School. Instead she led with this:
Paloma Valley High School seniors might be cramming for finals next year, but school officials have a fix in mind that will allow them to avoid cramming into the campus parking lot.
Reporting Tip #50 – please don’t use might in a lede. Seniors might be cramming. It also could read: Dinosaurs might be walking the earth. Or. Penguins might drive cars if they had opposable thumbs.
Reporting Tip #36 – Don’t refer to something that happens next year. Why right the story then? Cramming for finals next year. Well that immediately changes my frame of reference to think of next year and I think “Well I don’t have to care it’s next year.”
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/27/news/californian/menifee/zc84c0015c237cb20882574ac00669158.txt
I did like the photo of the two people on the motorcycle.

The editors get a win today for playing up the Ronald Reagan charter issue on the front page. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/27/news/californian/wildomar/z78b0bc3b40457891882574b200821138.txt
Did Bustamante totally miss this to cover a paint party? Nope. Her story was banished to the back of the local section. Since when did local stories end up there? Weird. So Rani Gupta and her editor get a pat on the back. Both stories sounded almost the same, which is fine. Sometimes you have to suck it up and keep it simple. Give me the news and give it fast. Don’t pretty it up with might haves, would haves.

Other Papers
The LA Times has taken a real hit with lay-offs. Today’s paper is boring.
The A-1 is nice and the simple illustration of Obama is simple yet stunning. The Local section puts me to sleep.

At the UT:
Put down that bag of chips, maggot, and give me 50!
Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, didn't say those exact words when he issued a shape-up-or-ship-out message to all Marines, but he might as well have.
Craig Gustafson writes a semi-humorous take on a new call to make sure Marines are in fit shape. This article busts me up because a week earlier I saw a bumper sticker in San Diego that basically said he was still a marine just a little fatter than his other marines. That gave me a good chuckle. Now I’m not Mr. Universe and admit I have a love for the ice cream but these are Marines. Just like cops they need to be in shape.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080828/news_1n28marines.html

I found this column from Logan Jenkins well written and certainly interesting. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080828/news_1mc28jenkins.html
We might not have these problems at Temecula and Murrieta parks but I know of certain parks in Elsinore that have this feel. Just a nice slice of life type of column. I wish more of this work could go into actual news stories rather than columns. I think Gregor McGavin is the sole guy in the area to do this work. Too bad he writes about Riverside and San Bernardino.

August 27

Let's be honest tuesday was a boring day for all.

The Cal

I picked up the Cal and thought they had a scoop of the day when I saw Aaron Claverie's story about immigration protests. Then I read the story. I'm still trying to figure out what the point is. People get up and gripe at every Council meeting. Rather than continue to talk about this story I will highlight a little editing note. Here is his story text:
The protest followed marches and other types of demonstrations targeting City Hall and the city's police station that attempt to call attention to what the protesters contend is a crackdown on undocumented immigrants that is breaking up families.
Well Claverie it's a call to attention is the same as an attempt to call attention. In fact, by you writing the story you just got rid of the attempt word --you did give them attention. Oy Vey.
Link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/26/news/californian/lake_elsinore/zc0244b9d96e297cc882574b200142e12.txt

Nelsy Rodriguez did a profile on Warnie Enochs. I was waiting to see this. Wow. Shocked. There is no mention of his myriad of felonies until the 8th graf. Yep the 8th. She even talks about term limits before bringing up that he is charged with some pretty bad stuff. Then again this is typical of the Cal so it makes you wonder is it the reporter? Or the editors?
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/26/news/californian/murrieta/z4524989c9a54e20c882574ac00730238.txt

Catch up of the day award goes to John Hall as he follows Burge's story about another car arson to another political candidate's car. And he pegs the lede on Chris Hyland who just went out and had a panic room put in her house and had her cars towed by the police so they could be safe in the impound yard. Poor Ms. Hyland is, "scared. I'm really frightened for my life."
Thanks Mr. Hall for going this poor lady publicity now every person running for office is going to be calling the papers with claims of a fire torching boogeyman hiding under their neighbor's rusting Camaro. Or those candidates might start lighting their own cars on fire.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/26/news/californian/lake_elsinore/z9cb8ef69d30b1c42882574b2000763ce.txt

The PE
This paper had a lot of meeting coverage. An update on a freeway interchange and information about Cal State San Marcos in Temecula. I guess you could make the claim the stories provide information to readers. They still were kind of boring.

Julissa McKinnon did a story on Menifee working to get a public safety contract. Wasn't that spelled out in the cityhood finance reports? Those aren't varying much and the only new news I got was this shocker: The police cars will, "be emblazoned" with Menifee on them. Yep. Emblazoned. Hey maybe the Menifee police are torching them Elsinore cars. Why don't reporters turn down these stories to work on bigger picture more important stories? Don't ask me I'm just emblazoned with disbelief.

Sarah Burge follows up the story of the dog left to die with a follow up.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_yahoodog.12c4928.html

In more regional news, why was this John Asbury story buried in my paper: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_E_tooth27.4a45822.html
This story scares the hell out of me. I hate dentists. I hate teeth. I hate death. Now a report comes out detailing how this thing happened and includes a quote from a firefighter who was there and I have to sift through the paper to find it. Editor Error of the Day.

Paige Austin. Take a bow. Your coverage of the off-duty office shooting was good. The quotes near the end were amazing. The top of the story probably turned off a lot of readers because it's nothing new to anyone who follows a shooting. Of course agencies are investigating. That's not news. But the real life description from those who saw it was amazing.
Joe Varela, a salesman at the Seven Oaks Nursery, watched the incident unfold.
"A truck came into the parking lot at a high rate of speed with screeching tires, and I started to walk over there to tell him to slow down," Varela said.
But then the Hummer pulled into the parking lot and a man jumped out with a gun, Varela said.
"I didn't know he was a cop," Varela added. "(Mendez) kept telling him to get down on the ground two or three times, but he wouldn't listen. He just kept walking forward aggressively like he wanted to fight."
As the driver of the truck closed the distance, Mendez shot him in the chest at close range, Varela said.
"I didn't hear him identify himself and I didn't see his badge at all," Varela said. "At the time, he just seemed like some guy to me, but given the warnings, I don't know why the other guy didn't get down on the ground. It was obvious that the next thing that was going to happen was that he was going to get shot."
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_shoot27.496a623.html

That's good cop reporting there Paige Austin. Getting out of that seat and hitting the streets. An amazing string of quotes.

And the winner for today -- tied.

August 26

A little late but better than never.

The CAL
Not a strong front page.
But Aaron Claverie gets a scoop of the year for Wildomar opening a new City Hall. That is sarcasm folks. Who cares? Also, is Claverie went to the typical easy way out lede and is he going to use this line for every story:
"It's one more first for the city of Wildomar."
Future story: It’s one more first for Wildomar. The Clerk got a stapler.
It’s one more first for Wildomar. Wendy’s opened.
Link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/25/news/californian/wildomar/z55236e2395729949882574ac006ead3e.txt

Nelsy Rodriguez played catch up to The PE with her Ice Rink story. Give her credit, she did try to spin it with a lot of comments from the city. The comments from the city officials make them look like putz’s. Let the people build the arena. Let them fast track it. I did find the lede a bit dry and boring. To any future reporters out there, please never start a story with "Proponents". Could there be a more boring word in the English lexicon?
Link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/25/news/californian/murrieta/zd8c4f0ebb0624ff2882574b0007a06b1.txt

Cathy Redfern did a centerpiece story on a Menifee man who holds Civil War events. The PE’s Sean Nealon did this story quite a long time ago. The lede is too much and it takes to long to get to the point. And also when did it become okay to run a 2005 file photo as a centerpiece?

The PE
Why PE? Why stick Andy Dick on the Local cover again? I’m sure that story had the most reads because people care about this clown for some reason. But on to real stories.
Sarah Burge does it again. Super Reporter scoops the Cal on the fact that another political candidate in Elsinore had their vehicle torched. Is it the work of faulty wiring or have those amoebas in the lake climbed into engines? Harold Knapp tells us in what I find an amusing, but sad, quote: "It's obvious that it was a torch job," Knapp said.
Link: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_W_sarson26.488fad7.html

Photographer Terry Pierson got creative for the Centerpiece of the local section. He shoots a picture on Saturday of a car show. He gets a reflection of some souped up rides in the background with a dad and his two kids taking it in. Creative, artsy and cute. The story itself – I would rather the lede be less boring.
“Two groups”, might as well have said “Proponents”. How about painting a scene of what this car show is?
Link: http://www.pe.com/localnews/lakeelsinore/stories/PE_News_Local_S_scarshow26.4768ea9.html

I will also briefly mentioned Julia Glick’s story on the DA’s office getting a building of their own. Really? Is that needed? Oh I guess so since the department is such a nice money making machine.

Other Papers
Here is an interesting story (and my pick for story of the day) from the UT’s Sacramento bureau about lost fishing gear floating in the waters. I have never heard of Mike Gardener but the writing is tight through-out, the quotes are serviceable and it is something I never knew about. Kudos to you.
Great lede:
The state is preparing to launch a fishing expedition, but it's not angling for tuna, squid or flounder.
In this case, the catch is tons of fishing equipment lost or discarded in the ocean every season, posing serious danger to marine life.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080826/news_1n26fishgear.html


Ornell Soto did a story on a lawsuit involving Viejas. It’s basically a he said/she said pissing contest. What’s the need for this story? It seems like Soto thought maybe he could allude to a giant cover up by the Indian Reservation. But it’s pretty much boring. Blah.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080826/news_1m26viejas.html

The LA Times had a nice approach to the housing crisis with this story on low income families who are being affected even though they weren’t the greedy people who maxed out the equity on their home or bought a home they couldn’t afford:
Link: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-section26-2008aug26,0,3965437.story

Monday Morning Quarterbacking

In the IE it was an eventful weekend with a Perris fire at a home for disabled adults, a Temecula shooting and abduction, and a Perris Ultralight crash. So without further ado here is my look at the competing papers.

The PE
This weekend kind of showed us why the PE still is a pretty darn good paper. You had breaking news, great local stories that analyze facts, and great service stories. I can’t write about them all but here are some:

Thanks Duane Gang. As one of those people who got my property value lowered I had heard that I could get whiplashed on the way back. This answers my questions.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/murrieta/stories/PE_News_Local_S_taxes25.2bab324.html

Murrieta reporter Rocky Salmon has been around for awhile and he uses that knowledge for this story on what it means that Councilman Warnie Enochs is running again. http://www.pe.com/localnews/murrieta/stories/PE_News_Local_S_senochs24.48d8d90.html
The story does have some holes but mostly it answers that question of Why. Mr. Enochs answers it. We are still waiting Nelsy Rodriguez on a story about why this election is important. So far we have nothing at the Cal.

Aaron Burgin -Not a brilliant beautiful flowing article by Mr. Burgin about Elsinore campaign finance disclosure forms – but one that residents should find intriguing.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/lakeelsinore/stories/PE_News_Local_S_developer24.26835e7.html

Julie Farren reported a story about a surge of usage to public libraries. I have noticed this myself when I went to the Murrieta library to check out “An Idiots Guide to Blogging.” So the idea is good but the lede is confusing and completely unnecessary. There is no reason to introduce Wayne Disher so high when this is obviously a story about increase in library usage not layoffs and budget cuts. Good idea, bad result.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_library25.3d1c2be.html

I feel sorry for those who have to report on fires, murders, any of that junk on weekends. The PE had a lot to do. Starting with a fire at a home for disabled adults in Perris. It’s obvious Tammy McCoy really tried to follow it up but I don’t think there is much you can do on a Sunday. She tried to answer all the questions most of us had but I’m guessing a bigger look follow up is in the works. If there isn’t then I should be working at these papers as a freelance editor. Call me.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_fire25.451f6ad.html

Sarah Burge did her typical magic making sure important stories get into the paper. I could not find anything about this in The Cal, but this is a great public service piece on thieves posing as nurses to scam the elderly
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_S_selder23.4a8fd6b.html
Someone remind the Cal. Papers are supposed to serve as a service to those who get them. If someone is ripping people off posing as nurses. That’s something people in the community need to know about.

John Asbury brought an interesting story about the stretch of freeways heading to vegas and Phoenix. As someone who has driven them both its nice to see him tie together a series of accidents for a take out piece. This is why people get papers. Tie everything together for us. I don’t want to work too hard when I’m eating my bagels (shout out to Brueggers Cinamon Sugar Bagels).

The CAL
This was not a stellar weekend for The Cal. Weekends, especially Mondays are tough for The Cal. When reporters are asked for stories everyday, which I feel must be the case at The Cal, it affects stories on the most important day of the week – Sundays. Both papers competed to get the Temecula abduction story in.

John Hunneman took the reigns – unfortunately. Just thought it lacked that special oomph. Also it was too long. John Hall would have done a much better job.

Hunneman also had a great idea for a story but it did not pan out well. The lede tried to be wayyy wayyy wayyy too cutesy. He tried to build suspense by not answering whether Temecula Valley made it to the World Series, instead he just ticked me off. Great idea though pegged to the Little League World Series. Let me know if you agree with me. I thought the story could have been way better for such great material. But it shows what having veteran reporters can do for a paper. I’m sure most reporters in the area didn’t even know Temecula existed 20 years ago.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/23/news/californian/temecula/zf293b3ab1e94eaed882574a3007307ba.txt

Honestly Hunneman wrote the only stories that stood out. Otherwise it was extremely painful. Also I am shocked there were no Murrieta or Wildomar city stories at all.

Other Papers:
Interesting little read about those stupid converter boxes for our televisions. Jonathan Sidener tells me about 34,000 are gonna be screwed when analog goes ghost.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/tech/20080825-9999-1n25digital.html

Also another foreclosure story: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080824/news_1n24repo.html
I would say good job but umm, hasn't this been going along far too long to be considered kind of a trend story. What's next a story talking about the rise in iPhones?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080824/news_1m24brandon.html
Sad story about another child welfare system failing the children. The PE has done a few of these gems and this is one in SD is as heartbreaking. Thanks Government.

Weekends

Like many of you I have a weekend life so I usually will not post any paper updates on the weekends. Those will just get posted Monday mornings.
If someone is interested in writing those for me I would be willing to post those. I don't have the time on the weekends. Contact me.

As for Saturday Aug. 23, I have a problem with the Cal's election coverage. I hate these take out profiles on every single City Council and school district candidate. It's too much. It's overkill. It's silly and it makes the writer turn to gimmicks just to get a story out. The candidate coverage of the Wildomar election was intolerable. Who decided that these stories were needed? They aren't.
They answer no questions that people might have about the candidate. So Cal you get my Raspberry Award.

I would like to give Kudos to John Berry and those San Bernardino folks for their coverage of that horrible Bullwinkle trial.

Paul LaRocco does a tremendous job with all those SB murders. Here he writes a story on 40 Glocc -- who signed to G-Unit records. Not a bad rapper but he ain't Mozart -- that's if Mozart rapped.

See everyone Monday.

August 22

A rather boring day for papers if I don't say so myself. I will lead this post off looking at the UT.

The UT today has ANOTHER story about foreclosures and homes and they rose in July. Any person with a pair of eyes would have known those problems jumped up.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080822-9999-1b22foreclos.html
How about all these reporters writing about the housing sky falling actually take some time to come up with a new and interesting angle. Emmett Pierce what does this information mean to me? I know foreclosures are taking place and home prices are dropping but what is new to me.

Oh also check out Kristina Davis' story about the man who was killed when a portion of Torrey Pines Bluff fell on him. As someone who has visited this area I always pondered if these cliffs gave way. Looks like they do and Davis is able to get behind the story of who this man was.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080822-9999-1m22torrey.html

Also a good analysis piece in the sports section by Kevin Acee about Shawne Merriman.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080822-9999-1s22chargers.html
Knowing that news of the injury would be old when the paper got out, Acee rolled it all together in a nice comprehensive piece that helps readers understand how it all goes together.

And Now On to The PE and The Cal

The PE

ARTS PROGRAM The Local CP on an Arts Program in French Valley at Lisa J. Mails has a wonderful picture by photog Frank Bellino. Please compare it to the NCTimes CP. Steve Thornton for The Californian shows two kids playing with a potato with no emotion and no action.

Bellino has a 4-year-old with a maraca and her face is priceless. I always said graphics and photos were the most important part of a paper. Because of the photo I actually read Claudia Bustamate's piece: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_sadopt22.4969c35.html
The lede itself could have been much clearer on what the story was about. But she ends up grabbing great color, voices and quotes. Overall, a better package than the Cal, but I will get to those Tubers later.

Columnist Carl Love wrote an interesting column. He talks about what most of us have experienced -- traffic gridlock. I nearly fell out of my seat laughing when i read this from his column:

The jerks are kids (I guess they haven't learned that courtesy applies to them), parents who should know better and even a school bus driver. One woman who almost rammed me as she cut in front last week sported Christian bumper stickers on her SUV. Can't you practice what you preach?

Those of use who deal with this traffic nonsense daily knows exactly his feelings. Great column. Good laughs.

Wildomar Finance Reporter Rocky Salmon really fell flat with his Wildomar budget story. A day after scooping the Cal on a story about a new hockey arena in Murrieta contract, he blows it here. I won't even link the story -- it will hurt you too much. Mr. Salmon typically does better than this but it appears as if he plopped something into the paper for the sake of filling space. The question that needs to be answered is how the loss of a Wal-Mart and the upcoming reassessment of homes is coming. Mr. Salmon typically includes regular people in his stories. He choked big time here.

Story of the Day The PE does get story of the day. That award goes to Alicia Robinson and Sonja Bjelland for this gem:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_W_corson22.49b34dd.html

Its everything news should be. It takes a look back at an issue that came about in 2005 when these men had their property cleaned up. Man was that property filled with junk. It pits city issues with the issues of these men. The quotes and the color is priceless. The lede also flows. The pictures are superb. Good job ladies. I tip my Internet hat.

This description paints a beautiful picture from the PE story. The Jack Daniels hat tells you who Corson is without spelling it:

Paul Corson, with a Jack Daniels ball cap on his head and a bushy mustache on his weathered face, said a structural engineer said the house was fine.
They're still unhappy that the sheep and geese they kept on the property were taken, and they said some of David's gardening equipment was hauled away in the cleanup.
They want to build a house like the one that was knocked down, they said, but even the rocks their parents originally used from the property to build the fireplace are no longer there.

The CAL

Ugh the Californian did not have a good day. Not even average. I could say the Cal existed today. Nicole Sack's A1 story on the quarry was necessary but not thrilling. It was needed.

But the local section. Ouch.

Tubers Like I said earlier a CP on potato olympics is really stretching it. Thats B-3 material.

Rani Gupta tries to lighten it up: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/21/news/californian/lake_elsinore/z28fbcde7f708308d882574ab0072eed9.txt

The "Killer hashed browns" line is actually pretty darn funny. But come on its a bunch of potatos. What has the newspaper world come to when this qualifies as CP news.

Then again it's not like there was much competition.

Corky Jennifer Kabbany does a story on a former "Silver Spoons" actor doing a workshop in Canyon Lake. Really. That's all you have. At least his name rules -- Corky Pigeon. And who was he in the show. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/21/news/californian/lake_elsinore/zd2ffc908daf2d801882574ab0077ca48.txt

Please also take note of Steve Thornton's photos. The one of Corky holding the People's magazine is so bad its great. And the Tuber Olympics. I know it's not much to work with but Bellino showed Thornton how to do it.

The Winner of Today

The PE