See "PERSPECTIVE" (below) for my"review" of LACMA's Tim Burton show.
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NEWS FROM THE PAST WEEKS:
The LA Times weekly Brand X tabloid folds. LA Observed's story is HERE.
I've just learned that Brand X Editor Krista Simmons is replacing the retiring Joyce Rudolph as Glendale News Press features editor on July 29. And an auto reply from Brand X Blog Editor David Greenwald notes that "I will be pursuing future opportunities as well as freelancing for the Times. You can reach me at rawkblog@." [via gmail]
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944 magazine also folds (except the Vegas edition), per an email from Kira Coplin, who can now be reached at kiracoplin via gmail.
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Layoffs at the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group include Pasadena Star News City Editor Hector Gonzalez.
According to GARY SCOTT:
a) his position will not be filled. Metro Editor Frank Girardot will continue as the primary editor for the paper.
b) other newsroom employees laid off: Eric Reed, Karen Lee, Coye Sloan and Steve Wytucki.
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San Marino Tribune Society Editor Liz Hezlep departs, with no replacement as of last week.
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So does KCRW's Nic Harcourt, with LOTS OF sound and fury.
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John Polakoff replaces Greg Hernandez at Los Angeles Business Journal; more on the latter's departure HERE.
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Daily News City Editor John Miller and his wife are moving to Kuwait in August. LA Observed story HERE.
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A new music editor arrives at LA WEEKLY in mid-July.
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Randall Roberts, LA Times music writer, becomes pop music critic, replacing Ann Powers, who left the paper some time ago. More from Fishbowl LA HERE.
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MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND UPDATES
1. from LA Stage's Deborah Behrens:
LA Stage Editor-in-Chief Lee Melville is taking a much deserved summer sabbatical from editorial duties from June 1 to September 5. Lee plans to pursue some personal projects as well as travel to visit friends and family.
In his absence, I will be handling day-to-day operations including managing the editorial calendar and writer assignments. As before, general story pitches and press releases should be directed to pitches@ with "First Person" stories and more personal correspondence sent directly to dbehrens@ during this time.
Addresses end with lastagealliance.com
Deborah also notes that Julio Martinez's new gmail address is julima720@ and that news items or pitches for his LA Stage column should be sent directly to him.
2. from free-lance writer Katherine Spiers:
LOGO is relaunching its travel site, Trip Out Travel, and I'll be at the helm as editor!
I'll be posting travel stories for savvy readers, focusing mainly on urban destinations, but sometimes going off the grid with stories like The South's Top 5 Hippie Beaches, by Hadley Meares.
I'd love to get some industry and/or celebrity interviews as well. If you have any clients who can speak to great locations in the city where they live, are from, or visit regularly, I'd love to know about them.
Reach her via gmail: katherinespiers
3. from free-lance writer Elise Thompson
The LA Beat at www.thelosangelesbeat.com is a group blog that focuses on local culture, entertainment, food and events... Heavily weighted towards music, the blog also includes comic strips, CD and movie reviews, photo essays, restaurant reviews and all-out rants. Writers include past reader favorites from popular group blogs like LAist, Gamefront and Metroblogs, as well as quirky independent blogs such as LethalDose and MyLandlordisCrazy.
We are actively encouraging submissions from well-known musicians, artists, chefs, photographers and professional writers who are new to blogging.
Reach her via gmail: eliseisrad
4. San Francisco-based free-lance writer Jennie Nunn...
...writes for The San Francisco Chronicle (both print and blog), Sunset, San Francisco Magazine, C Magazine, Juli B, Gotham, Capitol File, Luxe Interiors and Design, California Homes, 805 Living, California Homes Magazine, Anthology Magazine, Westways, and a few others. She covers lifestyle topics including fashion, beauty, travel, home and architecture, celebrity, health, fitness, and spa.
Reach her for pitches and assignments via gmail: jennie.nunn
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JOAN LUTHER, RIP
Joan gave me my start in PR, and I worked for her for a total of six years, including my first public relations job (in the early 1980s) and my last with a firm not my own (in the early 1990s). I was so lucky to have handled so many great clients while working with her. And I met untold numbers of press people and fellow publicists who remain friends today. The LA Times OBIT only begins to do justice to Joan's oversize personality.
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PERSPECTIVE... on life beyond work
The terrific PR folks at LACMA invited me to the Tim Burton show press preview, and I recommend you check it out well before it closes October 31.
A major retrospective, the exhibition spotlights Burton's work not only as a director but also as an artist, illustrator, photographer and writer. In a space that's navigable in an hour or so, you'll see drawings, paintings, photos, film and video works, storyboards, puppets, concept artworks, maquettes, costumes and art from some of his personal projects. Little known fact (at least to me): Burton was born in Burbank, and the exhibit plays off those roots with three sections, "Surviving Burbank," "Beautifying Burbank," and "Beyond Burbank." Interestingly, the presentation originated in New York, where it was organized by the Museum of Modern Art.
LACMA's got a vast calendar of related events through the fall, including screenings, storytellings and apparently even a costume party, with details to be announced.
If you haven't been to the LA County Museum of Art lately, you might not even know that it's open until 8 pm daily (closed Wednesdays) and 9 pm Fridays. Evenings, in my opinion, are the best time to be there. Check out details and exhibit prices HERE. Or better yet, become a member, and visit free any time!
Let me add another shout out to the LACMA press office staff for a well-conceived press kit, especially the imaginative folder!
