A lot of people are upset at the Times eliminating the California section but maybe they are overlooking the fact that local news is moving to the front of the paper.
Local news might be even make it to the front page more often.
The Times might even become the Los Angeles Times and take on as its mission providing a vision for the region and the journalism and commentary to back it up.
I'm a local newsman, or was for a very long time. I think that's where a local newspaper can make a real difference. It's what I tried to do at the Daily News during my 23 years there, to help make it the voice of the San Fernando Valley.
No one has been more critical of the Times than me for lacking a vision for Los Angeles, for so trying to be the New York Times West that the city, the region were of little importance to it -- the world, Washington, the nation, arts, entertainment, sports, business were what mattered. Los Angeles was just another story.
The decline of newspapers and news media, so many friends and colleagues losing their jobs -- it's a terrible thing to see.
But the Times becoming a Los Angeles newspaper could be the best thing for the city. The community needs a powerful, credible voice to stand up for the common good, the greater good, to passionately tell the stories of who we are and how we could do better.
The staff of the Times can continue to wallow in the heartache of what is gone or going or they can see the possibility of what could become.
And for the audience of newspaper readers, take a second look. The California section was never very good, never really focused in any way. Newspapers everywhere are in serious financial trouble. Almost all of them can be bought for a small fraction of their price just five years ago so drastic measures have to be taken.
Some papers will survive and it's my belief, the survivors for the most part will be those that serve their communities best by communicating the truth about what's going on in the neighborhoods and cities and standing up for what's right.
We need the Times, the Los Angeles Times, but we need it to serve us better than it has in the past..
Local news might be even make it to the front page more often.
The Times might even become the Los Angeles Times and take on as its mission providing a vision for the region and the journalism and commentary to back it up.
I'm a local newsman, or was for a very long time. I think that's where a local newspaper can make a real difference. It's what I tried to do at the Daily News during my 23 years there, to help make it the voice of the San Fernando Valley.
No one has been more critical of the Times than me for lacking a vision for Los Angeles, for so trying to be the New York Times West that the city, the region were of little importance to it -- the world, Washington, the nation, arts, entertainment, sports, business were what mattered. Los Angeles was just another story.
The decline of newspapers and news media, so many friends and colleagues losing their jobs -- it's a terrible thing to see.
But the Times becoming a Los Angeles newspaper could be the best thing for the city. The community needs a powerful, credible voice to stand up for the common good, the greater good, to passionately tell the stories of who we are and how we could do better.
The staff of the Times can continue to wallow in the heartache of what is gone or going or they can see the possibility of what could become.
And for the audience of newspaper readers, take a second look. The California section was never very good, never really focused in any way. Newspapers everywhere are in serious financial trouble. Almost all of them can be bought for a small fraction of their price just five years ago so drastic measures have to be taken.
Some papers will survive and it's my belief, the survivors for the most part will be those that serve their communities best by communicating the truth about what's going on in the neighborhoods and cities and standing up for what's right.
We need the Times, the Los Angeles Times, but we need it to serve us better than it has in the past..
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the National Enquirer.
Anyone remember when the Times was known as "the velvet coffin?"
What's that old saying? Something like all news is local, or is it all politics is local?
The emphasis is on the local,here and now; we live here and we need to know what is happening now.
Ron - great point. A lot of local community papers are doing relatively well while the Times and Daily News are hurting. Going local could be what does it for the Times.
According to the L.A Times, Mayor Villaraigosa and two of his closest allies City Controller Candidate, Wendy Greuel, and City Attorney Candidate, Jack Weiss, have raised a combined $5.2 million. Let’s not forget that just because a candidate raises the most money it does NOT make him/her the best candidate.
Here’s an outstanding opportunity for Angelenos to strike a checks and balances that has been lacking and will continue if these three elected officials are elected again on
March 3, 2009.
Change is wonderful!