Newspaper Editors Say, “Breaking News is Premium, the workload is harder and New Media has an Influence on Stories published”

Standing room only at a PRSA-LA Sponsored Business Editors media workshop in downtown Los Angeles

By George S. McQuade III
West Coast Bureau Chief
www.odwyerpr.com

While they did not agree that the economy would get better or the recession would bottom out soon, newspaper business editors, weekly business editors and trade panelists said, “email pitches are best” for PR pros and they do accept news releases. The PRSA-LA and LA Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored media workshop this week (Wed., 8-12-09) included editors and reporters from some of the most influential SoCal publications. It was a standing-room only event.

Since the recession and economy is top of mind in every industry, some of the questions that surfaced at the workshop included: “Do you want the glimmer of hope pitches or just the bad news? And what is the next big story in business or banking news?”

“Breaking news is a premium, and everyone is doing it,” said Business Editor John Corrigan, Los Angeles Times. “We are interested in the economy, recovery, but we are also interested in many other issues. We’re also interested in the digital revolution, the social networking; we’re interested in how people are saving money more now and how they are changing their purchasing habits. We are definitely interested in health care and health care reform. We try to have a mix of stories everyday on different issues. Clearly the overall economy is a big story, but there are a lot other good stories out there.”

“If you have experts, who are willing to talk about something like the Bernie Madoff fraud case, we want to know, because often times our stories end up on A-1,” said Corrigan. “We often will get emails from law firms or publicist representing them saying we have a former SEC attorney or a white collar crime expert who can offer guidance, which is really helpful to a reporter on deadline.” Corrigan prefers email pitches and admitted that heavy and top emails might influence stories covered and its placement.

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Newspaper editors do NOT shape public policy say LA Times and LA News Daily News Business Editors

The Times has two reporters dedicated to writing breaking news in the morning. If it is company earnings, “a short story will be posted Online right away and longer story follows,” he said. “The workload has gotten harder, because reporters are writing one version for the web and another for print most of the time. A lot of our stories end up on A-1, because the economy is so important.”

The Los Angeles Daily News is looking for recovery and glimmer of hope stories according to longtime Business Editor Greg Wilcox. “I newsroom works a little differently than the Times, especially in the Business section. Years ago we used to have reporters on various beats. Today, we have an assistant city editor, who’s in charge of business, and then we have the business staff and that’s me.”

“Everyone knows what tough times it has been, and our paper has gone through some changes,” explained Wilcox.

“We don’t have stand alone business section anymore. We have one page or sometimes a page and half. Best way to pitch is to send an email, but follow up phone calls don’t really help, especially when you do the whole pitch in a phone call and leave the phone number at the back end.

Since I am the only business editor I’m really busy focusing on local news stories that impact the San Fernando Valley (two million residents). We do some trend pieces, but now the size of the paper and the size of the staff that’s gotten harder to do,” said Wilcox.

American Banker Reporter Kate Berry said, “I doesn’t know if there is a glimmer of hope” and contends it will get worse before it gets better adding, “Sources from the mortgage industry and banking dispute that. The next big story is how all the banks are going to take the losses on foreclosures coming down the road.

If you ad up the loss for each foreclosure, they would then have to go back to the government for another bailout.”

Berry later said she is open to all story ideas to hear what people have to say. “It is completely unrealistic for a reporter on deadline to engage new sources who are being pitched to you by a PR person, because you’re not going to use them. You just go to the sources, who are specific to that area,” she said. Berry advised that it is a good idea to send early on that you have a great source in say “receivership” and it would be for a big story coming up. “As a trade publication we march to different drummer, we cover stories newspapers may not care about, but the industry does. It is mostly national news.”

“We used to have an editor and four staff reporters at the Business Press,” said Chris H. Sieroty, a contributing writer. “Now it is an editor, researcher and four contributing writers due to the economy, the staff is cut out and they’re all considered contributors.”

Sieroty writes about real estate, government and politics for Riverside and San Bernadino County areas. For example he is currently “working on a foreign trade piece that Riverside County is trying to fund its respective trade zone and they are having an argument with Washington DC over who should pay for it.” He prefers email pitches.

Sierorty, who has been at the Business Press weekly for five years said they operate much like a daily newspaper with the Internet. “My day starts at 5:30 a.m., because I am talking to an editor at another publication in Washington DC. In terms of the Business Press I start reading press releases sent to me at 6:00 a.m.

We do enjoy receiving them, especially when they come from real estate agencies about transactions taking place. I am always open (to PR Pros) phone calls and emails telling me about your business and clients,” he said. “I can’t promise I will write about it, but I will listen and maybe keep your contact for a future story down the road.”

(Mark Madler, SFVBJ and Rick Clough, LABJ)

Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ), which has nine reporters covering various business beats and prefers LA County stories, but will consider companies out of state doing business here. Staff Reporter Rick Clough, Los Angeles Business Journal told the standing room only crowd, “Most of our stories come from reporters pitching on Tuesday for a two weeks in advance, except when one of our four editors notices a trend. Our deadlines are on Thursday for the following week’s issue.”

LABJ has a web editor, whose day begins at 7:00 a.m. and often breaking news is done on the web. We are open to pitches, and email is the best way to do it. “For a paper like ours that has a fairly rigid structure with a lot of regular features, there are lots of different types of stories each reporter will do. Most of the pitches I get are profile or publicists gunning for that 1,000 a word front page story. However, it is great to get pitches for those special sections, so if you are familiar with the LABJ, and say this story would make a good feature for that section it would really get my attention.”

The San Fernando Valley Business Journal, although the smallest among the publications represented cover a wide area of Los Angeles County according Staff Report Mark Madler. They have an editor and three full time reporters. “My day starts at 8:30 a.m. and lasts until 6:00 p.m. “I do take story ideas from press releases, but generally come up with my own story ideas from sources I’ve developed. I do prefer email pitches,” he said.

Writer emails: John.Corrigan@latimes.com; Greg.Wilcox@dailynews.com; Kate.Berry@sourcemedia.com; Rclough@labusinessjournal.com; chrissieroty@gmail.com and MMadler@sfvbj.com;

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Actress Sol Romero To Attend First Music Film Festival In Downtown Los Angeles

Actress and Model Sol Romero plans to attend the Downtown Film Festival — L.A. and The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE

Actress Sol Romero seen here at The Ugly Truth Premiere plans to attend Downtown Film Festival in August.

Los Angeles, CA – “This is the first ever Music Film Festival with seven nights, seven artists and seven films, that’s going to keep us hopping from one exciting event to another,” said Actress Sol Romero, who has recently completed a movie with Mel Gibson, “The Edge of Darkness,” directed by Martin Campbell. "I heard that Luke Wilson will be coming and I look forward to meeting him and many others stars," she said.

The Screening events will include live performances, filmmaker and artist questions and answer sessions and after screening parties.

The first-ever music film festival at the Museum will run seven consecutive nights during the film festival, Saturday, Aug. 15 through Friday, August 21.

Each night will present a different film in the Museum’s 200-seat Sound Stage auditorium, located near the corner of Figueroa and Olympic in downtown’s South Park district. Many of the film programs. Ticket prices are $15 for single programs and $100 for the series.

“This film series perfectly reflects The GRAMMY Museum’s mission to celebrate the enduring legacies of all forms of music. From classic rock to rap, Latin jazz to new wave, the series has a film for virtually every musical taste,” said Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli.

“Music fans will love seeing their favorite artists in The GRAMMY Museum’s Sound Stage. It’s very intimate, more like being in someone’s living room but with state-of-the-art sound and great sight lines,” said Greg Ptacek, the film festival’s director.

The series begins with Oscar-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple’s no-holds-barred look at the phenomenon of Woodstock in its various incarnations from the 1969 rock concert to its subsequent iterations. The film screening coincides with the 40th anniversary of the original concert and the Museum’s own Woodstock public programming.

Subsequent programs include an evening with Devo’s Jerry Casale (bass/keyboardist) and Devo-tee avant-garde filmmaker and music video pioneer Bruce Conner as they present Devonia 1976, 1978, 2009; and, the Los Angeles premieres of two critically-acclaimed documentary features, In Search of Beethoven and Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison.

Also screening are the Los Angeles premiere of Still Bill, documenting the celebrated singer-songwriter Bill Withers; Poncho At Montreux, showcasing the Latin jazz master, who will perform live following the screening, and the world premiere of Dirty: One Word Can Change The World, which is about one of the founding members of the influential rap group Wu-Tang Clan with members of Brooklyn Zu performing live afterward.

Sol Romero

“As a singer myself working on a new album, I have a great appreciation for music and music artists,” said Romero, who sings soprano and is in a recording studio this month.

Additional live performances and celebrity artist appearances as well as after-screening parties will be announced up until the start of the series; check the festival website (www.dffla.com) for details. The complete program series schedule is below.

Published reports say “The Jackson 5 in Africa” — a film of rare footage documenting the Jackson 5 during their 1974 tour in Senegal — will be the centerpiece of the Closing Night Gala for the 2009 Downtown Film Festival-L.A. on Aug. 22. Tickets for the film will go on sale Aug. 1. Narrated by actor Robert Hooks, the film opens with the Jackson 5 being greeted by a group of dancers and drummers at the airport. The camera follows Michael Jackson and the family cinema-verité style on their first-ever visit to Africa, including live footage of their visit to an African market, classic live footage of the group spontaneously performing “Hum Along and Dance,” and footage of the Jackson 5 performing on stage before a packed, standing-room-only audience at the height of their career in the mid-1970s. I

• Libros Revolución/Revolution Books will present a screening and discussion of “Revolution: Why It’s Necessary, Why It’s Possible, What It’s All About” on Aug. 8, 7 p.m., at Papa West Dinner Club, 4336 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles. The film is from a 2003 talk delivered by Revolutionary Communist Party Chairman Bob Avakian, which breaks down the very nature of the society we live in and how humanity has come to a time where a radically different society is possible.

Saturday, August 15, 7:30 pm
MY GENERATION
2000 USA 103 minutes

The definitive =2 0 documentary of Woodstock ‘69,’94 and ‘99 concerts, including behind-the-scenes logistics and promotions planning, and the concert’s effect on the residents of the host town of Saugerties, New York. A picture emerges of two generations acting in remarkably different ways, but expressing the same longing for togetherness in a world of uncertainty and violence.

Writer, Director, Producer: Barbara Koppel
Director: Tom Haneke
Producer: Michael Lang
Executive Producer: Allen Newman, Jeff Rowland
Cinematographer: Tom Hurwitz
Cast: Aerosmith, Joe Cocker, David Crosby, Sheryl Crow, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Melissa Ethridge, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Michael Lang, Moby, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Carlos Santana, John Sebastian, Steven Tyler, The Who

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Sunday, August 16, 7:30 pm
DEVONIA
1976, 1978, 2009 USA

Formed in Akron, Ohio, in 1974, De vo too k its name from their concept of “de-evolution”-the idea that instead of evolving, mankind has actually regressed, as evidenced by the dysfunction and herd mentality of American society. Mark Mothersbaugh will be present to introduce Bruce Conner’s 4-minute experimental film with Devo, Mongoloid and two Devo music videos:The Complete Truth About De-Evolution and the premiere screening of Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man).

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Monday, August 17, 7:30 pm
IN SEARCH OF BEETHOVEN
2009 UK 138 minutes

The first truly comprehensive feature length cinema documentary ever made about Beethoven features a who’s who of performers and experts, who reveal new insights into this legendary composer. Interviewees include Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Roger Norrington, Riccardo Chailly, Claudio Abbado, Fabio Luisi, Frans Brüggen, Ronald Brautigam, Hélène Grimaud, Vadim Repin, Janine Jansen, Paul Lewis, Lars Vogt, and Emanuel Ax. With over 60 live performances. The film is narrated by Juliet Stevenson and young RSC actor David Dawson.

Director, Producer: Phil Grabsky
Cast: Leif Ove Andsnes, Emanual Ax, Giovanni Biette, Jonathan Bliss, Ronald Brautigam, Riccardo Chailly, Sir Roger Norrington, Barry Cooper, Jonathan Del Mar, Louis Langree, Vadim Repin, Ilona Schmielm, Phil Grabsky

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Tuesday, August 18, 7:30 pm
JOHNNY CASH AT FOLSOM PRISON
2008=2 0US A 87 minutes

Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison remains one of the greatest live albums ever made, and the man himself one of America’s greatest troubadours. Cash also was a tireless and passionate advocate for prison reform. Forty years later, the album still resonates today with a rawness and authenticity that few recordings have ever achieved. This film will expose a lesser known “Man in Black” through an exciting, visually compelling examination of this histori c concert.

Director, Producer, Cinematographer: Bestor Cram
Co-Producers: Peter Reichenbach, Louise Rosen
Writer: Michael Streissguth
Cinematographer: Miguelangel Aponte-Rios
Cast: Gene Beley, Jim Brown, John Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Merle Haggard, Jimmy Tittle

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Wednesday, August 19, 7:30 pm
STILL BILL
2009 USA 78 minutes

Best known for “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me,” Bill Withers topped the charts, and then stopped performing in 1985. The makers of Still Bill wanted to know why. Combining old performances and intense interviews with Withers, the film reveals how the artist started as a musician relatively late in life. After careers in the Navy and assembling airplane toilets, he eventually won three Grammys. But facing the pressure from record execs to promote himself, he retreated into his Hollywood mansion and stopped making music. Now, with his children grown, he is ready to beg in again, on his own terms. Even at 70 years old, as he sits on his porch and describes his goals, it’s evident that Bill Withers is oblivious to fame and still happy about it.

Directors: Damani Baker, Alex Vlack
Producers: Damani Baker, John Fine, Alex Vlack
Executive Producers: Alex Vlack, Andrew Jackerman
Cinematographers: Damani Baker, Jon Fine, Ed Marritz
Cast: Bill Withers, Corn el West, Tavis Smiley, Jim James, Angelique Kidjo

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Thursday, August 20, 7:30 pm
PONCHO AT MONTREUX
2004 USA 86 minutes

The Montreux Jazz Festival has seen an incredible array of performers take to the stage over the years. So when it came to celebrating the 30th anniversary of Concord Records, it seemed appropriate that one of their leading lights, Poncho Sanchez, should take to the stage at the festival. Bringing his own inimitable brand of Latin jazz to the festival, Sanchez delights the crowd with some of his signature tunes. A highly appropriate tribute to a label that has produced some historic music, Sanchez pours all his energy into his performance, working his way through songs such as “Watermelon Man,” “One Mint Julep,” “Conmigo,” and many others.

Producer: John Burk
Cinematographer/Editor: Duane Conder
Cast: Poncho Sanchez, Edward James Olmos, Duane Conder

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Friday, August 21, 7: 3020pm
DIRTY: ONE WORD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
2009 USA 55 minutes

This is a personal tribute by the filmmaker to one of the most enigmatic, controversial and tragic figures in hip-hop music history, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, or just ODB for those in the know. During his years with the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, he became famous for his slurred, half-sung, half-rapped delivery of bizarre lyrics, which personified the raw, unadulterated and innovative style of the group. His own solo career was at once celebrated and fraught with legal troubles and eventually, his death by overdose. Featuring members of the Wu-Tang Clan, the Brooklyn Zu and many others, this film celebrates the life of a genius madman who lived life without any breaks.

Director, Producer, Cinematographer: Rasion Allah
Cast: Ghostface, Meth, RZA, Raekwon, Masta Killa, ODB’s parents, Rasion Allah

The 2009 Downtown Film Festival will be held in venues throughout downtown L.A. More information at www.dffla.com. Rock ‘N Fish restaurant (www.rocknfishlalive.com) at L.A. Live! will be hosting three after-screening parties during the series; details to be announced.

Who: Films featuring Beethoven, Johnny Cash, Devo, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Poncho Sanchez, Bill Withers and the artists of the Woodstock concerts, plus live musical sets by select featured artists and Q&As with artists and filmmakers.

What: 2009 Downtown Film Festival &mdash L.A.’s Music Film Series at The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live!

When: A ugust 15 – August 21, 2009. All Screenings Times: 7:30 pm

Where: The GRAMMY Museum

800 W. Olympic Blvd. (corner of Figueroa St.)

Los Angeles, CA 90015 213.765.6800

How Much? Tickets: $15 for single program; $100 for series (available only online). All advanced series tickets go on sale beginning August 1st at www.dffla.com

More Info: www.dffla.com or www.grammymuseum.org

DIRTY: ONE WORD CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
2009 USA 55 minutes

This is a personal tribute by the filmmaker to one of the most enigmatic, controversial and tragic figures in hip-hop music history, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, or just ODB for those in the know. During his years with the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, he became famous for his slurred, half-sung, half-rapped delivery of bizarre lyrics, which personified the raw, unadulterated and innovative style of the group. His own solo career was at once celebrated and fraught with legal troubles and eventually, his death by overdose. Featuring members of the Wu-Tang Clan, the Brooklyn Zu and many others, this film celebrates the life of a genius madman who lived life without any breaks.

Director, Producer, Cinematographer: Rasion Allah
Cast: Ghostface, Meth, RZA, Raekwon, Masta Killa, ODB’s parents, Rasion Allah

The 2009 Downtown Film Festival will be held in venues throughout downtown L.A. More information at www.dffla.com. Rock ‘N Fish restaurant (www.rocknfishlalive.com) at L.A. Live! will be hosting three after-screening parties during the series; details to be announced.

Who: Films featuring Beethoven, Johnny Cash, Devo, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Poncho Sanchez, Bill Withers and the artists of the Woodstock concerts, plus live musical sets by select featured artists and Q&As with artists and filmmakers.

What: 2009 Downtown Film Festival &mdash L.A.’s Music Film Series at The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live!

When: A ugust 15 – August 21, 2009. All Screenings Times: 7:30 pm

Where: The GRAMMY Museum

800 W. Olympic Blvd. (corner of Figueroa St.)

Los Angeles, CA 90015

213.765.6800

How Much? Tickets: $15 for single program; $100 for series (available only online). All advanced series tickets go on sale beginning August 1st at www.dffla.com

More Info: www.dffla.com or www.grammymuseum.org

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National Night Out with the Men In Blue

Senior Lead Officer Jose Maldonado, LAPD



National Night Out a

Huge Success For

Los Angeles & LAPD

There were booths galore, but more importantly lots of local LAPD officers, the men in blue keeping our streets safe on hand to meet neighbors face to face in a calm, festive atomospher at Warner Center. The four-hour event was part of the National Night out.

There was plenty of barbeques, information booths on law enforcement services, BlockWatch Newsletters and a chance to meet LAPD Senior Lead officers in person. LA Council Dennis Zine, who is a former LAPD Sergeant and officer for more than two decades was no where to be found, but he had nice booth of sponsorship. His staff said, "he is expected at any time."

National Night Out in LA

Law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California will hold National Night Out events this afternoon and tonight to promote neighborhood-based crime prevention programs.

In L.A. County, the Sheriff's Department is planning to hold more than 30 events from Altadena to South El Monte. In Hawaiian Gardens, which has been hard hit by gang violence, residents, police and city leaders will participate a Community Peace Walk and barbecue. And in Long Beach, potlucks, celebrations and children's games are on tap.

Robin Greely & Karen Avance
Volunteer Horse Patrols

Check the websites of your local police departments for more information on how you can get involved in community police work and BlockWatch volunteer service.

The National Night Out campaign is sponsored by the National Assn. of Town Watch, a nonprofit that helps develop and promote law enforcement-affiliated crime and drug prevention programs. This will be the 26th annual National Night Out.

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