MICHAEL BURR LEAVES HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
What a shame – Michael is leaving the Hollywood Reporter (today's his last day) after running the "About Town" page for more years than I can remember. He reports that his replacement is Michelle Grabicki, who can be reached at mgrabicki@hollywoodreporter.com. Good luck, Michael – will miss you!
MUSICAL CHAIRS AT THE LA TIMES
LA Observed has the LA Times' latest internal memo announcing a couple of staffing changes, including Food Editor Leslie Brenner moving to edit the Times magazine (can't remember what they're calling it this month), while Deputy Features Editor Michalene Busico will "continue to guide" Food in the meantime "with the able assistance of Susan La Tempa and Betty Hallock," says the memo.
Add this from Fishbowl L.A.
Sherry Stern is also moving to the magazine, as acting managing editor, but will remain as a deputy editor of Features, so that uninspired dreariness can continue throughout the entire paper, with no interruptions.With regard to that comment, why is the Calendar section constantly filled with unrelated-to-L.A. features by wire service writers? I ask you, is there not enough to cover in this city? By way of an answer to my own question, did you happen to see that lovely story on the Harmony Project, "a nonprofit group in Los Angeles that offers extensive classical musical training to 500 people ages 6 to 18 from disadvantaged families"? It was terrific! Where did it appear? No, not in Calendar. It was in the California section, which is fine -- but see my point in the first sentence of this paragraph.
To conclude my rant about the Times, I'll just say that its Editorial Staff page, which says "Last update: July 31, 2007," needs someone's attention RIGHT AWAY.
NEWS FROM LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE
LA Observed reports that Editor Kit Rachlis is taking a four-month "book leave" starting January 2, and also that LA Times writer Richard E. Meyer is joining the magazine as senior editor.
UPDATE TO METROMIX INFO FROM EARLIER THIS WEEK
Apparently the Times/Tribune is planning to publish a print version of Metromix along with its web site. Fishbowl L.A. has an interview with its new art director.
GOOD READ: INTERVIEW WITH LAIST EDITOR ZACH BEHRENS…
… here.
