BREAKING NEWS - April 8, 2008

HOW OUTRAGEOUS IS THIS?

Venerable and venerated classical music critic Alan Rich has been let go by the L.A. Weekly. That leaves -- drum roll -- ONE classical music critic (LA Times) reviewing on a regular basis in the ENTIRE Los Angeles area.

UPDATE, 11:30 pm:

After getting the news earlier today, I spoke with Alan late tonight, and he said, "It's open season on critics. We are an endangered species. I was surprised, but I wasn't surprised." He says the decision was made "by the corporate people in Phoenix," and that when Editor Laurie Ochoa gave him the news over lunch, "she was as sorry as can be."

The good news is that Alan will be putting up a web site by the time his last review appears in the Weekly two weeks hence. "I don't know anything else but how to write about music," he says, "so that's what I'll continue to do."

P.S. I initally posted that other Weekly writers have been let go, but that was in error. At least for now, right?


UPDATE April 9, 3:40 pm:

In my reference to the "ONE" classical music critic remark above, I meant no offense, of course, to the wonderful OC Register critic Tim Mangan and the Pasadena Star News' multi-talented Bob Thomas, not to mention the Daily Breeze's versatile Jim Farber. It's just that none of them fell into what I intended to be my sentence's narrow definition. Tim is outside L.A. (and I've removed the word "greater" above, as apparently OC is part of "Greater Los Angeles") and neither Bob nor Jim reviews "regularly" in the sense that Mark does. (Thanks to Alex Ross.)

April 8, 2008 News

WALL STREET JOURNAL'S GIFT OF THE WEEK" COLUMN ON HOLD FOR NOW

Philanthropy writer Sally Beatty has gone off to greener pastures (joining the PR parade), and the Wall Street Journal hasn't replaced her, so the "Gift of the Week" philanthropy column is no longer appearing. No word on whether it will be resurrected.


CITY BEAT'S NEW ARTS EDITOR BECOMES ACTING EDITOR

Rebecca Schoenkopf, who just signed on as City Beat's arts editor, takes over for the quickly departed Steve Lowery, according to LA Observed, which also says, "The paper is proceeding toward a mid-June relaunch into a publication with more of a magazine sensibility…"


BAD FEW WEEKS FOR DANCE CRITICS

The intrepid Lucy Pollak (Lucy Pollak Public Relations) joins in decrying "the decline of newspapers and the state of arts coverage everywhere in the U.S.," and passes along that Village Voice senior dance critic Deborah Jowitt was axed.

FROM LUCY:
This note is from Linda Yudin, artistic director of Viver Brasil Dance Company. I have her permission to pass it along. The posting is from artsjournal.com.

FROM LINDA (EXCERPTS):
Dear All, I am in shock one more time, yes shock. I learned about dance from Deborah Jowitt when I first became interested in dance at the University of IL. And have enjoyed to this day, reading her Village Voice critiques and articles. This is sad news, just as sad as losing the full time dance position at the LA Times. Now 2 large cities have limited dance space. The papers have gone mad!

FROM JOHN ROCKWELL AT ARTSJOURNAL.COM (EXCERPT):
A brief word about [Deborah Jowitt]. As dance lovers already know, she was fired from her staff position as senior dance critic of the Village Voice, which seems to take a special glee in leading the feral pack of magazines and newspapers trying to save a pittance by decimating their arts staffs. Bob Christgau was the first big name critic to go (he may now see himself as having been liberated), and now Jowitt. Both were the leaders of their particular packs, Bob of rock criticism, Deborah of dance criticism.

FROM ME:
Did everyone notice Classical Music Critic Mark Swed's byline on Monday's LA Times dance review?


INTRODUCING NEW DAILY NEWS EDITOR

Carolina Garcia is the Daily News' editor, replacing Ron Kaye. LA Observed has an introduction.

April 7, 2008 News

ARTS CHAMPIONS GAIL EICHENTHAL AND BRIAN LAURITZEN PROMOTED AT KUSC

Classical KUSC 91.5 FM's General Manager Eric DeWeese passes along (good) news about two of the nicest people in the world, Gail Eichenthal and Brian Lauritzen, both generous spotlighters of Southern California's broad arts community. According to Eric (also a nice guy!), Gail has been promoted to program director, and associate producer Brian Lauritzen has been promoted to producer. Brian takes over much of the day to day production of "Arts Alive," the weekly arts program, and many of the concert series. Congrats all around!


HOT OFF THE HOT PROPERTY PRESSES

Ann Brenoff replaces the bought-out (bought off – what IS the past tense of it???) Ruth Ryon as writer of the LA Times' Hot Property column. LA Observed has the memo.


OC REGISTER'S BLEIBERG SAYS GOODBYE

OC Register arts writer and dance critic Laura Bleiberg is leaving for the non-profit arts world; LA Observed has the memo.


Thanks so much to Lucy Pollak for passing on this email from Laura B:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Some of you have heard already that I am leaving the Orange County Register after 18-1/2 wonderful, challenging, fun and outrageous years as this newspaper's dance critic and arts reporter. Today is my last day. (So sorry for no notice!)

Many of you have also heard me say that being a dance critic was all I ever wanted to be. I still vividly remember my elation on the day I was hired. I had been keeping my own dance clipping file for 10 years -- I could finally put it to use. And I never anticipated that being a dance critic in Orange County, Calif., 35 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, would turn into such an amazing opportunity. I have been privileged to review some of the best in the world: Nederlands Dans Theater, Royal Danish Ballet, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group and more. It has been an honor to write about local dance and chart its ups and downs. It has been an honor to get to know and to work with all of you.

I leave this profession with a heavy heart. It's a dreadful time for newspaper journalists in particular. I do not know if the Register will replace me with a staff dance critic. Let's continue to advocate for the arts and for arts coverage at daily newspapers. Please let the Register editors and publisher know how important it is to you that the Register continue to report and write about dance and the arts in Orange County. The arts are the heart and soul of a community -- and they're local! The Register is all about local news.

Now for the truly great news: Beginning April 14, I will be joining the Tony Award-winning theater, South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, as Associate Director of Development for Individual Giving. I have searched my soul about what should be my next career move, and certain things were clear. I wanted to work for an arts organization. I wanted to be actively involved with like-minded people. And I wanted make a difference for the arts survival. I look forward to doing all of that at SCR.

In the meantime, please stay in touch. My personal e-mail is: xxxxxxx. I'll see you at the theater! Best to all, Laura

NEW CALENDAR EDITOR AT VENICE

Thanks also to Lucy Pollak for passing long the news that Jenny Johnson has replaced Melanie Kirschenbaum as calendar editor at Venice Magazine.


LOWERY LASTS ABOUT A DAY

From LA Observed on Friday:

Steve Lowery reported as editor in chief on Monday, put out his first issue of CityBeat on Thursday, then tendered his resignation. "I felt horrible when I called them. They were nothing but kind and wonderful," he tells me. But Lowery, 46, says the weekly is planning to reinvent itself over the new few months and he wasn't up for the grind, after having recently helped launch the District Weekly in Long Beach and, before that, the OC Weekly. "It's purely personal," Lowery said. "When I got there, it became immediately apparent that I just didn't have it in me....my body and my soul were telling me, hey bud, maybe it's time." Publisher Charles Gerencser told me that "no resignation has been accepted" and that nothing will be official until Monday. There's talk that Rebecca Schoenkopf, who came with Lowery this week, may be elevated to acting editor.

TWO PIECES OF NEWS FROM CISION'S NAVIGATOR

Shopping blog Racked LA recently launched and covers shopping, neighborhood stores and the retail scene of Los Angeles. The blog was introduced as a West Coast counterpart to the New York shopping blog called Racked. Tasha Nita Adams (tasha@racked.com), the former associate retail and events editor, West Coast for WGSN (Worth Global Style Network) edits the blog. She also has worked extensively as a freelance journalist for print and online, writing for Los Angeles Magazine, Angeleno, Variety, Women's Wear Daily, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Thrillist, and others.


Aliah Wright recently left Gannett News Service. She had served as the arts & entertainment editor there. Features editor Nichelle Smith, 703-854-5862, will be handling her duties until a replacement can be found.

April 3, 2008 News

DAILY NEWS NEWS

LA Observed reports late last night that Daily News Editor Ron Kaye is out.


FAMILIAR FACES OUT AT KCBS/KCAL

According to the Daily News and LA Business Observed, more than 15 people were let go at KCBS/KCAL news, including Jennifer Sabih and Jennifer Davis, plus Ann Martin's and Harold Greene's contracts won't be renewed after June 1. Media Bistro adds these names to the axed list: Matt Kallinger, Jaime Garza and Greg Phillips.


MY FAVORITE BLOG

Terrific interview with LA Observed's Kevin Roderick at LAIst.


NEWSWEEK SHRINKS

From Radar:

The staff of Newsweek will shrink dramatically, after 111 staffers on its news and business sides accepted a buyout last week. Among those leaving are some of the magazine's best-known, most-admired and longest-service critics, including David Gates, David Ansen and Cathleen McGuigan.

More here.


SANDY KOUFAX

How incredibly hot is he, still?!?

Thanks to Getty Images for the photo (from Monday's Dodger season opener).

April 1, 2008 News

ANOTHER ADDRESS UPDATE


Valley Magazine's current address is 8210 Orion, Suite 2, Van Nuys, CA 91406. Bonnie Steele remains the long-time editor.


NATALIE NICHOLS ON THE CITY BEAT CHANGES…

… in a blog post here.


LA OBSERVED'S LIST OF LA TIMES STAFFERS GONE IN THE BUYOUT AS OF LAST WEEK

Take this link for the most current updates (list below as of 3/31) and links to some of these fine folks' farewell emails, none of which had anything good to say about owner Sam Zell.

Kevin Crust, film writer in Calendar
Jennifer Delson, Orange County staff writer
Glenn Doggrell, design editor
Joan Fantazia, assistant copy chief
Laura Gutierrez, editorial hiring staff assistant
Liz Hale, magazine deputy art director
Don Hunt, City desk weekend editor
Tom Furlong, deputy National editor
Greg Griggs, Ventura staff writer
Connie Kang, Metro staff writer
Greg Krikorian, federal court reporter
Myron Levin, Metro staff writer
Ela Lindsay, research assistant
Joe Mathews, Washington bureau staff writer
Alan Miller, Washington bureau staff writer
Sonia Nazario, Metro staff writer
Robyn Norwood, Sports writer
Charles Perry, food writer
Jonathan Peterson, Washington bureau staff writer
Gina Piccalo, film writer in Calendar
Jeff Rabin, Metro staff writer
Cecilia Rasmussen, Then and Now columnist
James Ricci, Metro staff writer
Ruth Ryon, Hot Property writer
Joel Sappell, special projects editor
John Spano, Metro courts staff writer
Lewis Segal, dance critic
Molly Selvin, Business staff writer
John Stewart, National news editor
Mike Terry, Sports writer
Tomas Alex Tizon, Seattle bureau chief
Cicely Wedgeworth, features copy editor
Henry Weinstein, legal affairs writer in Metro
Robert Welkos, film writer in Calendar
Nona Yates, politics desk researcher


HEARTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE DEPARTMENT

Good luck to these people, for all the good it will do (although it did work for Al Martinez). Anyway, LAIst reports on this effort to get the LA Times to reinstate Lewis Segal and/or a full-time staffer for dance coverage.

The backers say:

We believe that Los Angelenos need a commitment from news organizations such as the L.A. Times to support the amazing, fast growing art forms of choreography and dance as seen on the screens and stages of Los Angeles. At a time when dance has never been more popular, we ask you to sign this petition to support the reinstatement and growth of dance staff and coverage at the L.A. Times.

Click HERE to participate.

March 28, 2008 News

THIS AND THAT…


Fishbowl LA reports that Hollywood Reporter Features Editor Christy Grosz resigned earlier this week.

Starting Monday, Steve Lowery replaces Steve Appleford as City Beat editor, and former OC Weekly writer Rebecca Schoenkopf comes aboard as arts editor.

Apparently LA Confidential moved its offices in September, but I'm just finding out – maybe you are, too. They're now at 1875 Century Park East, Suite 1130, Los Angeles, CA 90067.

March 24, 2008 News

OUT THE DOOR AT THE LA TIMES

LA Observed passes on this memo announcing the departure of LA Times Guide editor MaryKaye Schilling. It also says "Scott Sandell will oversee the print version beginning today [last week] until a permanent replacement is named."


RECOMMENDED FOR ALL OF US PR TYPES

Check out PR pro Peter Shankman's cool and useful mailing list, "If I Can Help a Reporter Out..." I highly recommend signing up for it.

Here's his description:

I built this list because a lot of my friends are reporters, and they call me all the time for sources. Rather than go through my contact lists each time, I figured I could push the requests out to people who actually have something to say.

These requests only come from reporters directly to me. I never take queries from that other service, I never SPAM, and I'm not going to do anything with your email other than send you these reporter requests when they arrive in my in-box.

UPDATE ON TRAVEL WRITER PETER GREENBERG

From an AARP press release:

Peter Greenberg has signed on to become AARP's new travel editor at large. In addition to his current duties as the Travel Editor for NBC's Today Show, Greenberg will now also provide travel expertise and advice as well as original content to AARP's members via the organization's publications, Web site and major local and national events.