Community Press

 

          Good evening, 919 Gang.

 

          TOM GABLE writes:

The New York Times reports on the number of newspapers going out of business during the pandemic but notes that the pace hasn’t increased. The changes have created “news deserts,” mostly in rural areas. In San Diego County, we have numerous community newspapers that are part of the U-T group (not sure if that’s the right term). The papers we see in the North County are doing a good job on reporting local news – kids sports, schools and government news, events – and look healthy, full of real estate ads. Can any gangsters provide insights into the health of our community papers? Is it a good business model? Can we look forward to having them in our future? https://nyti.ms/3AbIUIh

 

          REBER: I hope someone has some real answers to Tom’s questions. All I can do is share some impressions.

          By my count, the Union-Tribune Community Press includes nine newspapers, plus some magazines and web sites.

          I am most familiar with the Ramona Sentinel. It definitely is a low-overhead operation. The office is in a strip mall along Main Street, and you will never find it unless someone tells you the address. And don’t plan on dropping in. Last time I tried that I learned they keep the front door locked and you need to call for an appointment. That policy was at the direction of Phyllis Pfeiffer, grand poo-bah of the community press, so I assume it applies to all papers.

          The Sentinel is a free paper, and I’m 99 percent sure it is distributed by U-T carriers. Ours is one of six mailboxes on the next street, and Sentinels are distributed at the foot of each mailbox.

          The Sentinel may have a reporting staff of one person. There was a time when everything was done by free-lancers. The late Michael Scott-Blair did a lot of work for the Sentinel, and he said he learned that instead of writing one long story he should break it into two stories. That paid better.

          This week’s edition had 24 pages, plus some ad inserts. It’s about 60 percent advertising. Very liberal use of editorial and advertising color, except for the two full-page ads for “Unsearched U.S. Coin Bags.” Boy, does that look phony.

          While the paper is free, it does solicit donations with its PressPatron crowdfunding campaign.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ramona-sentinel/heartened-humbled

 

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          REBER: I did it again. My calendar slipped a gear and I neglected to wish Mitch Weinstock a Happy Birthday on June 30. Getting back on track we send best wishes for Gordon Murray on his July 1 birthday.

 

 

Jack J. Reber

P.O. Box 2239

Ramona, CA 92065-0938

United States

Good cop

 

          Good evening, 919 Gang. If I may be permitted to brag:

          No. 1 son is an Escondido police officer assigned to the schools. His work involves preventing crimes and investigating crimes at four high schools, charter schools, private schools and elementaries – about 60 schools.

          Tonight we learned he has been voted School Resource Officer of the Year for all of Southern California. It’s a big honor, but he said nothing about it. His wife happened to mention it at a family dinner tonight. You can bet we’re proud of him.

 

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KEN STONE writes:

          If Preston Turegano had been a Tribune reporter in 1959, the fate of the Mercury 7 might have been quite different.

In any case, this piece suggests Jim Copley killed a story about Alan Shepard sexcapade in Tijuana during astronauts’ visit to San Diego, with John Glenn calling Copley to spike photos and story.

https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2022/jun/29/cover-one-small-slip-man/

I checked with Judith Morgan. She said she’d never heard this from Neil, Peter Kaye or Jim Copley. Or the Peaches.

 

          REBER: This is a very lengthy story. The author says astronaut Alan Shepard was sexually involved with a woman in Tijuana. Or maybe he wasn’t. A reporter may have witnessed the event. Or maybe not. John Glenn called the paper to prevent publication of the story. Or maybe he didn’t. He called Jim Copley or maybe Neil Morgan or maybe Peter Kaye. Or maybe no one. The paper might have been the Union. Or it might have been the Tribune. Or it might have been some other paper.

          Give the author credit: he’s frank that he has no facts to work with. But he keeps on typing.

          You always have to be suspicious when The Reader talks about the U-T. This story shows why.

 

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CARL LARSEN forwards:

La Jolla drug pusher pleads guilty in the fentanyl-related death of former U-T publisher Doug Manchester’s daughter. (See below) She is survived by a husband and three children, according to reports.

          Note that the story says prosecutors said the man, 54, sold dangerous drugs to others while out on bail.

Elsewhere, you’d see a story examining the circumstances allowing a plea deal reduction in charges from murder to manslaughter, and that bail release, with questions focused on the judge and  DA, but not in sleepy San Diego.

          In this story, he’s just a name with no discussion of his standing or relationships in the community, in which it’s said he’s lived his entire life.

https://bit.ly/3QXbd32

 

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JAMIE RENO forwards:

If a Generation "Y" version of Ferris Bueller walked up to you and said, "If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it," he may be an executive at a liquid biopsy company.

http://therenodispatch.blogspot.com/2022/06/breaking-news-liquid-biopsy-company-iv.html

 

 

Jack J. Reber

P.O. Box 2239

Ramona, CA 92065-0938

United States