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.