February 11, 2008 News

NOTES ON HEALTHCARE REPORTERS

Carol Stevenson generously passed on her thorough and informative notes from a media breakfast with some healthcare reporters, and I'm excerpting them here:

Lisa Girion, a Los Angeles Times business reporter

Lisa Girion is a Los Angeles Times business reporter who covers primarily health insurance and some hospital-related news. These days the business section is very consumer-oriented, she said. Lisa is looking for stories that address the relationship between consumers and health insurance companies and/or hospitals. She looks at all her e-mails, but rarely checks her voicemail. It’s better to pitch reporters than editors. Use key words in subject line to make searching easier. (i.e. “Leading Geriatrician,” “Medicare Advantage Expert,” etc.). She wants direct access to the spokesperson rather than coordinating an interview with the PR person. Ideally, she’d like the cell number for the source. She is not likely to connect with a PR person so that person can arrange an interview. She’ll just move on to the next source. LA Times is competitive with New York Times, WSJ and USA Today. They WILL NOT cover a story that’s been covered in one of those papers. If you pitch a story to her, haven’t heard back and would like to pitch it elsewhere, send her a note with “Planning to Pitch this to the New York Times” next to your original subject heading to let her know that you’re taking the story elsewhere. She does not have time to meet you for coffee and rarely holds desk side meetings.

Who Does What in Healthcare at the Times?

Daniel Costello, business reporter focusing on physicians and hospitals.

Mary Engel, metro public health reporter – Does not cover private hospitals, business or consumer healthcare-related products; nor does she do week, month or day healthcare observances.

Alice Short, new healthcare editor for California section

Ron Lin, new healthcare reporter for California section

Ricardo Alonso Saldibar, Washington bureau reporter who covers federal government healthcare issues, SCHIP, debate over curbing costs, etc. as well as drug and food safety

Charles Ornstein and Tracey Weber, investigative healthcare reporting

Mr. Jordan Rau, Sacramento bureau covers legislation – healthcare politics and policy, political initiatives and campaigns

Shari Roan, health section main reporter covers everything but fitness. Requires a strong news peg.

Tami Dennis, one of health section’s main editors, interested in consumer health and trends, news you can use. Calling her to see if she got your e-mail just irritates her.

Denise Gellene, science reporter focused on psych, behavior and neuroscience (“above the shoulders”)

Tom Maugh, science reporter focused on medical breakthroughs

Mr. Ashley Dunn, science editor

Gia-rui Chong, infectious diseases

Karen Kaplan, genetics

Deborah Crowe, LABJ Healthcare Reporter

She focuses on LA first and only rarely Orange County. The business you're pitching needs to be located in LA or have a major LA influence. Sometimes covers the SFV; they’re trying to do more. She’s looking for trend, overview and analysis healthcare business stories. If you’re pitching more than one person at the BJ, be upfront about it in your e-mail. Do not call her on Wednesdays. or Thursdays. Fridays are good days to follow up. She doesn’t mind follow ups, but make sure it’s a good time. Don’t worry if you don’t hear back, as she might be hanging onto it for future reference. She will NOT cover a story that’s been in the LA Times or in any of the other top five national dailies. Like Lisa at the LA Times, Deborah likes e-mails with bite-sized bullet points at the top and supporting info. later in the e-mail. She contributes to a page three column that focuses on “something bright, something light.” This would be the place to land something that’s a little “off.” Always have a cell number for your spokesperson and make sure they are in fact available when you pitch the story. As we know, nonprofits don’t get much attention in the LABJ. What helps your chances of getting coverage for a nonprofit is if the organization is partnering with a corporation, which creates a business angle. They do not cover charity work.

TWICE A WEEK

The Beverly Hills Courier begins publishing twice a week (adding Wednesdays to Fridays) on February 27, according to a front-page note in its February 8 issue.

VENTURA COUNTY STAR ADDRESS

Unbeknownst to me, the Ventura County Star's mailing address changed (not sure when) to: P.O. Box 6006, Camarillo, CA 93011, and the newspaper's main phone number is now 805-437-0000.

NEW ARTS-ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR AT TIME.COM

Caryn Brooks (caryn_brooks@timemagazine.com), previously an "Associated Press asap" entertainment editor.

February 6, 2008 News

NEW ''EVERYTHING ELSE" WEB SITE-BLOG FROM AL MARTINEZ

Check it out here. Al says it "takes you a step beyond what I currently write in my Monday column for the Los Angeles Times. In it, we'll talk politics, culture, war, family life and, well, everything else."


NEW EDUCATION REPORTER AT LA OPINION

Thanks to Jessica Schmidt at The Rogers Group for passing this on: "Ivan Mejia is the new reporter assigned to cover education issues since Ruben Moreno was just assigned to cover City Hall."


NEW MASTHEAD NOTATIONS

Noticed some new-ish names in the Westside Today newspapers masthead (Brentwood News, Beverly Hills 90210, Santa Monica Sun): Shannon Dunn (shannon@westsidetoday.com) is Editorial Director; Jim Bursch (jimbursch@westsidetoday.com) is Community News Editor and Online Media Director; and Katie Grim is Managing Editor (katie@westsidetoday.com).

At Beverly Hills 213, Natalya Garber is Assistant Editor. Not sure how new this is, but I just noticed it.

January 28, 2008 News

EXCELLENT ARTS PROMOTION OFFERED BY FINEARTSLA.COM

Christian Chensvold's FineArtsLA web site inaugurates "Forty Unders," which he describes as "a marketing program aimed at developing younger audiences." If the arts organizations you handle are looking for promotion in return for tickets, contact Christian (Christian@fineartsla.com). He posts about the performances and offers a ticket giveaway to site readers, who must be 40 and under to qualify for the tickets. Among the participants so far are Jacaranda, LA Ballet, Musica Angelica, Pacific Serenades and Dilijan Chamber Music Series.


BACK AT CITY BEAT

I notice that Natalie Nichols is back at City Beat, listed in the masthead as Acting Arts Editor.


THE PUBLICIST ATE MY HOMEWORK

"Miscommunication"??? Does anyone else actually believe that? Apparently an AP reporter bought it.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ringo Starr is known for being the amiable Beatle, but the rock star showed his tough side Tuesday when he walked off the set of "Live With Regis and Kelly" rather than cut short one of his songs.

Starr, who is promoting his new album, "Liverpool 8," planned to perform the title song with fellow rocker Dave Stewart. However, due to miscommunication between his publicist, Elizabeth Freund, and the musical director, Starr didn't realize the performance had to be 2 1/2 minutes or less, Freund told The Associated Press.

When told Tuesday morning that the performance had to be shortened, Freund said Starr tried to cut about a minute of the song's 4 minute, 15 second length, down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. However, according to Freund, producer Michael Gellman said it had to be less than 3 minutes.

"We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay," Freund said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Ringo left saying, 'God bless and goodbye. We still love Regis.' "

January 22, 2008 News

COMING AND GOING

Michael Mullen promises he is now Guide editor permanently at Los Angeles Magazine, replacing Sarah D. Wilson, who came and went pretty quickly.


CHANGES AT OC REGISTER

Listings maven Cynthia Furey has departed (to free lance, I believe), replaced by Matthew Ralston, who picks the featured events that run in the paper in the categories of classical and pop music, family events, visual arts, theater, nightlife and dance. He says he pulls mainly from the Z-Events online listings for what he uses in the newspaper and highly recommends submitting to that (although he's ok with getting emails, too).

Although none of the writers at any of the papers involved seem to get this, I've discovered that if you submit events to LA.com (Daily News, Daily Breeze, Pasadena Star News, Long Beach Press Telegram, etc.), they'll show up in the OC Register's counterpart, SqueezeOC.com, and vice versa. So don't waste your time doing double duty.


"ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT DIRECTOR" NAMED AT AP LOS ANGELES

Daniel Becker has been promoted from photo editor to "director of entertainment content" at Associated Press in the LA bureau. According to a news release, "In his new position, he will oversee all print and broadcast entertainment coverage, including articles, videos, photos, audio and other multimedia." Including Britney.


IS THIS GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS?

A Pasadena Star News story reports on "Improvements in Your Local Newspaper," including that "The LA.COM section will now appear Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. In February, we will replace the LA.COM section with a new and more local weekender section appearing on those three days."

Also, according to sources, Features Editor Catherine Gaugh has moved offices from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin back to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune in West Covina.


TRYING TO DECIDE FOR WHOM THIS IS BAD NEWS

Here's the New York Times' story from Sunday on LA Times Editor James O'Shea's firing by Publisher David Hillier. LA Observed has additional information. Read O'Shea's remarks yesterday to the newsroom here.


IN OTHER LA TIMES NEWS…

The Times' Readers Representative blog enlightens us on new assignments for three reporters: Ron Lin (Health Care), Dan Weikel (Regional Air Transportation) and Rich Connell (Multimedia/Government).

In the Calendar section, Sari Heifetz takes over for Deborah Stokol handling classical music listings.


HEATHER CASE MOVES TO TV GUIDE NETWORK

Heather Case, previously with the now-defunct Charlia Tuna Show at KBIG (now known as 104.3 My FM – a mouthful, to say the least), is now talent booker for "Hollywood 411" at the TV Guide Network. Her new contact info:
Heather Case, Talent Booker
TV Guide Network
1800 N. Highland Ave., 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-817-4806
heather.case@tvguide.com


DEFINE "ELSEWHERE"

The New Yorker has a terrific new (relatively) blog called "Goings On" which is described as being about "Cultural happenings in New York and elsewhere, both online and off."

December 21, 2007 News (sorry, thought at first it was 12/20)

GINNY CHIEN TURNS UP AT LA TIMES MAGAZINE

Ginny Chien, late of Variety and Angeleno, joins the LA Times magazine as style editor. More magazine staffers are named in a memo on the Times' Readers Representatibe blog here.


NEW CALENDAR EDITOR AT LA PARENT

Thanks so much to Lucy Pollak (Lucy Pollak Public Relations) for passing along this note from new LA Parent Calendar Editor Michael Berick (Michael.berick@parenthood.com):

I am gathering up listings for the February issue. I am looking for family-friendly plays that will be running (whether opening or on-going) during February. The magazine covers LA county, Orange County, Ventura County, The Valleys: San Fernando, San Gabriel, Conejo, Santa Clarita and Big Bear. The plays should be appropriate for Middle School/Junior High students or younger.

The other information I need is:
The name of the event,
The location and venue address
The ticket cost and how to get tickets
The phone number
The appropriate age range
And a short description of the event.

My deadline is the end of December


HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PR MEDIA MOVES BLOG!

December 19, 2007 News

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.

December 17, 2007 News

CITY BEAT'S REBECCA EPSTEIN MOVES TO METROMIX…

… with this parting note:

It is with a certain amount of sadness that I announce my departure from L.A. CityBeat. I have accepted a position with Metromix L.A., a joint online and print endeavor between the Tribune Company and L.A. Times devoted to local arts and entertainment events for the 18-34 demo.

The new CityBeat arts editor has not yet been named. In the interim, pitches for arts features should be directed to Steve Appleford, Editor, editor@lacitybeat.com.

Pitches for film reviews should be directed to Andy Klein, Film Editor, andyk@lacitybeat.com.

Pitches for theater reviews should be directed to Don Shirley, Theater Critic, dons@lacitybeat.com.

Submissions for calendar listings and “7 Days in L.A.” should be directed to Alfred Lee, Calendar Editor, calendar@lacitybeat.com.

Pitches for the news section should be directed to Alan Mittelstaedt, News Editor, alanm@lacitybeat.com.

As one of the founding editorial members of CityBeat, it has been my great honor to be a part of such a smart and lively publication all these years. And it was my great pleasure to meet each of you, if only through email. Thank you for all the good work that you do, and for supporting this little paper that could. I wish every one of you a joyous holiday and a brilliant new year.

Her last day was Friday.


LINDA IMMEDIATO NOW AT ANGELENO

Noticed her name in the December masthead as deputy editor. She left LA Weekly in late October.


EDITORIAL CHANGES AT BUSINESS WEEK

They're detailed in a memo featured on UNC's journalism weblog here. More from WWD.com here.


LATIMES.COM NEWS

LA Observed reports that LATimes.com Weekend Editor is Bettie Rinehart, who will – as of January 24 -- "help to create a new kind of latimes.com on the weekends by focusing on special features and projects and also guiding our weekend staff when news breaks to get us strongly and quickly off the ground," according to the memo from LATimes.com Executive Editor Meredith Artley, which LA Observed has in full. Read it for additional info about Tony Pierce's and Veronique de Turenne's new roles there.


WHO DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING?

LA Observed quotes from an interesting piece on a Long Beach-based blog called TheDistrictWeekly.com about how the Press Telegram is losing its local identity due to consolidation of the Daily News-Daily Breeze-Pasadena Star News, et al group of papers. Sounds like Daily Breeze Editor Phillip Sanfield could use some good PR counsel. Read LA Observed's report here, and the original DistrictWeekly story here.


2007 ROUNDUP OF MEDIA GAFFES ON REGRET THE ERROR

Check out RegretTheError.com's "The Year in Media Errors and Corrections" for a good read.


NEW USA TODAY MAGAZINE

On March 7, USA Today launches Open Air, a quarterly "active lifestyle magazine" that will be distributed in the newspaper's Friday edition. Click here for more details and a link to the 2008 editorial calendar.