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September 29, 2008
That's the press, baby
The passing of Paul Newman drummed up memories of his slap at the newspaper business, "Absence of Malice," in which he played the maligned target of irresponsible reporter Sally Field. It also got me thinking about the greatest newspaper movies of all time. My list:
5. "The Paper" (Michael Keaton as the overly caffeinated city editor: "Sometimes you can just smell a horrendously s---ty day on the way, can't you?")
4. "The Front Page" (1931) (Star reporter Pat O'Brien making a promise he can't keep to his gal pal: "If I'm not telling you the absolute truth, may I fall dead. I'm going to New York tonight with you, if you give me one last chance. I'm going to cut out drinking and swearing and everything connected with the crazy newspaper business! Honey, I'll never even read a newspaper.")
3. "All the President's Men" (Jason Robards' Ben Bradlee to his Watergate reporting team: "Nothing's riding on this except the, uh, first amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press, and maybe the future of the country. Not that any of that matters, but if you guys (expletive) up again, I'm going to get mad. Goodnight."
2. "Citizen Kane" (New publisher Orson Wells on his deep pockets: "You're right, I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars next year. You know, Mr. Thatcher, at the rate of a million dollars a year, I'll have to close this place in ... 60 years.")
1. "Dateline - USA" (Crusading editor Humphrey Bogart to an unhappy gangster: "That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!")
My favorite Newman movies? Split decision between "The Verdict" and "Cool Hand Luke."
Taking ourselves to task ...
An instant replay of my Sunday column ...
September 26, 2008
Debate is on
Major news agencies are reporting that tonight's presidential debate is on after an apparent change of heart by John McCain.
September 25, 2008
Back in the saddle
Getting caught up after several days of corporate duty, and wanted to draw your attention to Wes Hughes' excellent column today in The Sun. In it, he takes dead aim at a moral/ethical dilemma we're facing in our business regarding blogs and reader interactivity. I've got my own thoughts, and will be sharing them in my column on Sunday, but I'm curious as to what you think.
September 18, 2008
See you in a few ...
Doing some corporate business over the next several days, but did want to share this Letter to the Editor from Timmy Evans of the Unforgettables Foundation. Enjoy!
Who will stand up with me in calling it like it is?! The Hollywood elite, along with many media members, are using every mean-spirited and miserable tactic and effort to smear and sully the Republican candidates in a most hypocritical display of double-standardism. As a chaplain who has seen real life, in the real world of peoples death and dying for years, I am obligated to call this unconfronted, unapologetic and unmistakable hit campaign wrong and dangerous to a just, reasonable person. Hate is obviously now not just a "Republican"
trait. I, for one, will heretofore, totally boycott movies and major channel talk TV from now on. Character is on life support there. This isn't censorship--just an act of individual with a desire to avoid undeniably biased trash-I wonder who else has the same motivation to send a simple, yet strong message. If even a small number would send this quiet vote, then.... Obviously, to them, Bible-trusting Christians are more dangerous than terrorist groups. Wow---how did we get to this point?
September 16, 2008
T. Elliott's letter on Operation Phoenix
This op-ed piece by one of our Editorial Board members, T. Elliott, has caused a minor buzz in the community. First, whether you agree with Elliott's conclusions or not, he presents what appears to be a fair argument. And yet, the vitriol coming back - some of which will appear in "Voice of the People" in coming days - speaks to a phenomenon we saw with the Valles administration and have seen continue with Operation Phoenix: If you question, you're considered disloyal to the cause.
Estrada fans the flames, gains new fans
A member of our editorial board offered an interesting perspective today, describing City Councilwoman Esther Estrada as San Bernardino's Sarah Palin. Partisan views aside, could it be that a future mayoral candidate is rising from the flames of Operation Phoenix? In the very least, her demands for a council investigation has won her a legion of followers citywide.
September 15, 2008
When they get behind closed doors
The last thing San Bernardino needs now is the appearance of more secrecy, but that's exactly the case with the City Council's handling of Police Chief Mike Billdt. The council tonight is expected to meet with the chief behind closed doors to talk about tensions within the department after a recent rank-and-file vote of no confidence in him.
The agenda item makes reference to a discussion of the safety of public buildings, an obscure workaround of the Brown Act.
Terry Francke, founder of the open-government group Californians Aware, called the loophole "strikingly inappropriate."
Given the secrecy surrounding City Hall's other major headache - the "administrative review" of Operation Phoenix - strikingly arrogant might be a better way to put it.
The age's most uncertain hour*
I've yet to meet anyone - Democrat or Republican - who isn't at least a little disappointed that neither major party ticket is missing the boat on the issues that are most important to all of us, most notably the economy. Today's news of Bank of America's takeover of Merrill Lynch and Lehman's Chapter 11 filing only underscores how precarious the situation is. My column from yesterday's Sun.
* From "American Tune," by Paul Simon
September 12, 2008
And let's not forget ...
... Constitution Party Candidate Chuck Baldwin:
Lou Dobbs: Views of Third Party Presidential Candidate are "a reason to vote for him"
WASHINGTON, DC- Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin, appearing this week on the Lou Dobbs Tonight TV program, told Dobbs that he is the only presidential candidate pledged to secure our nation's borders, and promised, if elected, to release imprisoned U.S. Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos.
Baldwin, along with Mrs. Monica Ramos, wife of Ignacio, were on the popular CNN program to discuss the plight of the border guards, who are serving 11- and 12-year prison sentences for injuring Osvaldo Davila, a convicted drug smuggler El Paso county, Texas, in 2005. Davila continued his drug dealing after the Ramos-Compean convictions and was eventually arrested.
Lou Dobbs commented that "an incredible miscarriage of justice has been carried out by the U.S. Justice Department in the conviction and imprisonment of [the] former border patrol agents." He asked Baldwin "what can be done?" Baldwin responded: "one thing that can be done is people can vote for Chuck Baldwin of president of the United States in 2008. Lou, the first day that I take office is the last day that this lady's husband stays in jail. I will issue a pardon immediately upon assuming the White House. I will restore their jobs, should they wish they return to work. And I will do more than that. I will fire [U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas] Johnny Sutton. I will use whatever force is necessary on the border to secure our borders. Lou, I say that all over America, not just on your show. I'm the only presidential candidate in 2008 that has a commitment to secure our borders."
Dobbs told Baldwin, "it's a good reason to vote for you. I like that reason." And Dobbs continued: "In tonight's poll results, 98 percent of you say the presidential candidates' positions on border security should be considered more important in the campaign than their race, religion, or even their gender. Imagine that." See Lou Dobbs TV transcript at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0809/10/ldt.01.html and a YouTube clip of the show at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-DyfFa0tZg
Earlier this week, Baldwin spoke at a Washington, D.C. press conference where former presidential candidate, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex.), urged Americans to bypass major party candidates this November and instead vote for a candidate such as Baldwin. See YouTube clip at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ7fcbst3VE )
Baldwin, a radio talk show host, author, Christian pastor, and columnist, received the highest rating ("excellent") from pro-secure borders group Numbers USA, (www.numbersusa.com) while McCain and Obama were rated "abysmal". Libertarian candidate Bob Barr was rated "bad" on the immigration reform issue.
Raising the Barr
Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr has gotten lost in the shuffle of Obama-McCain, which isn't entirely fair now, is it? If you're curious where he stands, here's a press release from his camp today on federal spending and a link to his web site.
America Needs "Surge" in Fiscal Responsibility, Says Bob Barr
Atlanta, GA - "Sen. John McCain has made the 'surge' his trademark phrase," said Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. "He talks about the surge in Iraq, using a surge in urban neighborhoods, and replicating the surge elsewhere."
"What we need now is a surge in federal fiscal responsibility," says Barr.
"Both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions were filled with happy talk," Barr explains. "The candidates promised vast new energy programs, big health care plans, special education initiatives and job training. How are they going to pay for everything? Easy. They will close those corporate loopholes we all hate. They will kill off a few pork barrel programs. Sen. Obama says he will look through the budget for ineffective programs. If it was so easy, you have to wonder why it didn't happen years ago," Barr observes.
"But it isn't easy," he notes. "In one afternoon both candidates would spend more to bail out the housing entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than they would cut elsewhere. America is in a huge fiscal hole and it is only getting deeper. The deficit this year is $400 billion. It will be $500 billion next year. The national debt is $9.5 trillion and rising daily," Barr says.
"On my first day as president I will freeze federal spending," Barr explains. "On day two, I will establish the Commission On Wasteful Government to develop a list of programs with no constitutional basis, which belong at the state or local level, or which don't work. And I will go to Congress with a long list of programs to eliminate," promises Barr.
"But America's financial problems run far deeper. Only Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party are saying no more bailouts. Only Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party are talking about controlling entitlements spending. Only Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party are pushing the surge in fiscal responsibility that the country needs," he says.
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
Damned if you do ...
CNN is in full panic mode this morning on the pending landfall of Hurricane Ike. Now, I don't want to diminish the significance of this particular storm, but talk about your made-for-TV disaster. Unlike a tornado or earthquake, a hurricane is reasonably predictable, which gives the CNNs of the world ample time to amp up the volume from its army of wind-blown reporters. In the category of things always getting darker before going completely black, I just heard one CNNer warn that evacuation isn't always a great option for medical personnel - that "you can accidentally pull out an IV tube," or some such. This after emergency officials declared "certain death" for those who don't leave certain parts of the Texas coast. Hmmm, IV tube ... certain death. I think I'd be heading for high ground.
Jim Erwin presses on
On the Red County blog, Neil Derry's chief of staff, Jim Erwin, critiques press coverage of the controversy surrounding his appointment. (By the way, no Harvard credentials here. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University - a notable party school at the time.)
September 11, 2008
Hardy Brown on the police union
Notable perspective by my friend Hardy Brown, co-publisher of the Black Voice News, on the troubles hovering around San Bernardino Police Chief Mike Billdt. It's at the end of Hardy's weekly column in the BVN, in which he also challenges Berdoo schools to step it up when it comes to African American students.
Town blogs and you
Louis Amestoy, our senior content editor, just led a staff meeting on our online operations and blogging, and it was very relevant to a point that reader Mike Smith made in one of his posts earlier today.
A lot of the blogs we're producing now - FontanaNow, ColtonNow, HighlandNow - need to become portals of information for those communities, and to that end, we're changing our own expectations.
Back in the days of traditional newspapering, a town reporter might produce a story a day. Now the focus is on managing multiple items a day so that as a reader, you know that there's something in the paper or online from your community everyday.
That's certainly the case in Yucaipa, where we launched the first of our town blogs a couple months ago. "Mobile journalist" Bob Otto is averaging five items a day - briefs, stories, pictures - many of which are "reverse published" back into the paper on a daily basis.
Our rollout schedule for other communities is pretty aggressive, and I would appreciate any thoughts you might have to improve what we're doing. Again, YucaipaNow is the most evolved of these sites, so if you have a chance, check it out.
"Extras" a thing of the past
When 9/11 broke, the paper I was editing in Lawrence, Mass., published a "Special Late Edition" - in essence, an "Extra." Here, we did the same thing during the start of the Iraq war, publishing about 10,000 updated versions of the paper for noon-hour street sales.
It harkened back to the days when papers were "it" when it came to news coverage. Before CNN, before TV, it was not uncommon for newspapers to publish a special off-hours edition when big news broke.
That practice slowed considerably over the years, though there were those rare occasions when we were able to convince our publishers it was worth the expense. Before 9/11, papers I worked for published Extras for the Challenger explosion and the O.J. Simpson verdict.
We'll probably never see that again. Newspaper web sites have become our vehicle for live breaking news. They're more immediate, allow you to present the story in a richer way (words, pictures and video) and don't require the time or expense of firing up the presses and getting the papers in the hands of readers.
Those of us who have been around long enough miss those days. So do many of our readers, who years later still have copies of some of our old Extras.
September 10, 2008
Fighting fire with fire
Looks like the Civil Service Commission will be looking into whether a county worker was retaliated against after his name appeared in a newspaper story. Sharon Gilbert has the details in her blog. She's also encouraging workers to fight "fire with fire" by filing public records act requests of email and internet usage by county administrators.
Rialto's signs of the times
Hmmmm. Seems the Rialto City Council waited until after our reporter left last night's meeting to meet a deadline to vote on a proposal to commemorate Congressman Joe Baca on their "Welcome to Rialto" signs. Interesting because: 1) it was not listed as an agenda item, and 2) our reporter was assured that there would be no vote, only a discussion.
On the surface, honoring Baca on city signs doesn't seem like a big deal. Countless communities do it. But shouldn't we be a little bit more above board about it?
September 9, 2008
To blog or not to blog (cont.)
Personally, I love blogging. I think it offers a lesson in human nature. In some, it brings out the worst; in others, it gives them a voice that they are often too timid to express for fear of public humiliation. Blogging also amounts to instant satisfaction. When I read the blogs of the newspaper in my hometown, I see a lot more participation but I think that is because their blogs have been around a lot longer and have been promoted more. The Sun seems to be making significant strides in increasing participation and that will only increase the quality of the blogs. Sometimes when I read the comments on the blogs I am dismayed at the level of hatred and the lack of compassion. But one has to remember that most would not write those things if they were not feeling them. The anonymity of blogs certainly encourages trolls, but it also allows readers to vent in a safe forum. Editorial pages have existed for as long as there have been newspapers. But as anyone knows who has submitted multiple letters to the editor of any newspaper, it is often hard to get a letter printed, either due to space limitations or due to the fact that the letter doesn't meet the content criteria of that editor (I'm referring to a different newspaper Steve!). With blogging there are few restrictions. One can disagree with the editor and still get his or her opinion published. And usually that opinion is published instantly or within a few minutes which encourages more debate. Debate is always a good thing. Sharon
I wanted to pull this comment to the top of the board, because it's very consistent with my own evolving view of blogs. I've admitted before, I was a reluctant player when it came to blogs for may of the same reasons cited by yesterday's anonymous poster. While I may continue to bristle at some of the comments that are posted, I also see a richer debate emerging. Some find that threatening. More and more, I see it as necessary.
Phoenix's failures
The controversy swirling around Operation Phoenix isn't going away, to the point where even supporters are beginning to privately acknowledge that it may be wounded beyond repair. Hindsight being what it is, there's no denying that mistakes were made from the very start, and that any similar efforts moving forward need to heed the lessons learned here:
1) Phoenix's eyes were bigger than its stomach. The vision is an extraordinary one - engage the community in a far-reaching, broad-based anti-crime approach that combines prevention, intervention and suppression. The ability to execute proved a far bigger challenge - one that required far more ground-level expertise and resources than the city was able to muster.
2) Staffing. A center director arrested for molesting children, minimal adult supervision, BB-gun fights. The list goes on. Layer in a scary lack of accountability, and a picture is painted of an organization in chaos.
3) Lack of rank-and-file police support. Chief Mike Billdt was on board from the start, but before long, Phoenix had become a divisive issue within the department. T-shirts mocking the program had the fingerprints of the police union all over them. Efforts to kick start a Police Athletic League tied to Operation Phoenix failed to get the necessary volunteer support, while a separate grassroots program endorsed by union leaders managed to get up and running.
4) Politics. It's a tough city to work in. But if you can't work the system, you'll never get done what you're hoping to. At day's end, this may have been the most fatal error of the Phoenix braintrust (namely the Morris administration) - failing to engage their detractors in a way that allowed the program to get through its growing pains. In fact, a "yeah" or "nay" on Phoenix became something of a test of loyalty - one that even the more moderate members of the council (Esther Estrada, among them) grew weary of.
5) Secrecy. From early questions about what Phoenix was really costing to its insistence on an internal administrative review of the program's problems, the administration has cast itself as being less than fully open. Hence, Estrada's push for a council hearing and our own editorial board's call for a full independent investigation by a reputable outside agency.
6) Engaging the community. Phoenix supporters cry foul at this one, arguing that collaboration is at the heart of the program. In truth, the program has never been extricated from the mayor's office, to the point where a number of key potential stakeholders have soured on it.
September 8, 2008
Cheap shot or valid expression?
Mr. Lambert, I've noticed with the Sun's blogs, the only time anyone comments is when they think they have a forum to hurl insults at each other over some "sensational" issue. Otherwise, no one really cares....which is rather sad. This is why many folks take issue with the Sun's blog. People should be engaging in debates about the politics of poverty, or real social issues facing our community. When the blog is reduced to a litany of insults, wild accusations and comments from involved parties serving their personal agendas, you gotta wonder what the folks running the Sun are thinking? Just an observation (without insults and cheap shots like most of the blog consists of). Anonymous
I appreciate the observation and the sentiment. But I also think we need to be careful not to disregard aggressive commentary as merely "insults and cheap shots." I dare say that even this poster has a personal agenda; it's just likely at the other end of the spectrum from those he or she is taking issue with.
It's human nature. As objective, or progressive, as we might think we are, we don't like points of view that differ from ours, and as a result, we tend to see, read and hear what we want to.
Blogs are a sounding board - a high-tech version of the old town squares. Shutting off dissident voices, as some would suggest, might make you feel better, but are you better off for it? Who's to say that something you see as an insult isn't a valid expression of anxiety over a "real social issue facing our community?"
In the case of Operation Phoenix - which I can only assume the poster is referring to - the anger and frustration bubbling up in blogs such as this is very real. Those who ignore it do so at their own risk.
I'm in the same boat, by the way. While I might not agree with the conclusion of the poster, I'm mindful of the point he or she is making.
Navarro's letter raises a stir
I fielded a call today from someone upset about The Sun's decision to publish an op-ed piece by Gil Navarro that was critical of retired San Bernardino County schools superintendent Herb Fischer. Full disclosure: I have a great deal of respect for Fischer, and wrestled with whether to print the piece, a big part of which I felt was unfounded.
At the end of the day, however, I fell back on what I feel is a foundation of newspapers - the responsibility to air unpopular opinions. Over the years, few have been as unpopular as Navarro's, a community activist and member of the county school board, to the point where some of discussed banning him from speaking at local school board meetings. And yet, the fact that he is a member of the board, an elected position, entitles you - not him but you - to hear or read what he has to say.
There's an important distinction there. We don't owe Gil Navarro or any other elected person a venue. But we do feel a need to inform you of what they're saying and doing, and if it means publishing an op-ed piece we disagree with, so be it.
As with anything else, there are limits to this. As best we can, we try to at least point out misstatements of fact - if not edit them out. Even so, we're talking shades of gray; one person's fact is another's opinion.
Hopefully out of this, the truth emerges.
Alice F. Page winner
Last year at this time, I had the honor of winning the first Alice F. Page Award for our efforts in creating Mynisha's Circle. Alice, a community organizer who also owned an antique store in the Carousel Mall before her death, dedicated a big part of her life to trying to create a better world for our kids. Among her legacies is the annual "Our Children Sing" program, which she created after 9/11.
Yesterday, Danny Tillman, a member of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, won the second annual Alice F. Page Award in an event at the Court Street Plaza. Congratulations to Danny - and to all of those who have committed to keeping Alice's spirit and vision alive.
September 5, 2008
And they're off ...
Ten questions as the race for president hits the home stretch:
- Can John McCain put the focus back on him and not his running mate?
- Can Barack Obama erase doubts, even within his own party, that he's the right guy to answer the phone at 3 in the morning?
- Can either party articulate an economic plan that goes beyond the vagueness of tax cuts and federal spending?
- Can Sarah Palin expand her reach among women beyond gun-toting hockey moms?
- Can Obama convince African American voters to show up en masse?
- Will the Latino vote be the quiet decider?
- Can two self-proclaimed pitbulls (McCain and Palin) convince voters that they're compatible and won't be at each others' throats?
- Will that past sins of any of the four come back to haunt them, or prove to be nothing more than political chatter?
- Can McCain distance himself from Bush or concerns about his age?
- Is America ready to elect a black man?
September 4, 2008
Smoke bombs in the marijuana debate
Dems and Republicans have nothing on the two warring sides of the medical marijuana debate. The Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project post this call to action on its web site, in response to an op-ed piece that appeared in Tuesday's Sun.
OK, so what'd you think?
It seems to be the question of the day after Sarah Palin's acceptance speech last night.
So what DO you think?
September 3, 2008
No shortage of BrunOpinions
Check out our newest blog, by Sun wire editor John Bruno.
Prep football previewed
If you get the chance, check out The Sun's prep sports preview section today. We hadn't done one of these in a few years, but Sports Editor Louie Brewster and his team pulled out all stops during NASCAR weekend to get this one done. Also, check out our enhanced online coverage during the prep football season.
We interrupt this convention for a little humility
The discussion over Sarah Palin, working mom, is going to heat up even more in the days and weeks ahead. I hear it in our own newsroom - some saying it's sexist to suggest that she's putting career ahead of family, others arguing that her candidacy is in conflict with the traditional family values espoused by the GOP.
I can't tell you what it's like to be a working mom. I am a single father raising two young daughters, however. Ours is not a world of Mulberry Lanes, but of working parents - married and single - trying to navigate an increasingly complicated set of challenges.
While I admit that I question certain choices Palin has made, I do so humbly, knowing that our options today are not black and white.
Full steam ahead on Palin
CNN's Jack Cafferty blogs on whether John McCain should consider replacing Sarah Palin as his running mate. It hardly matters. At this point - with the full steam of the GOP Convention behind her - Palin is the choice, and my guess is that she will deliver a rousing acceptance speech at 7:30 tonight our time.
Many are lauding McCain's decision to stick to his guns on this one. In truth, he had no choice. In today's media environment, there are no do overs when it comes to big-time politics. It's the same reason Barack Obama could not have shared his ticket with Hillary Clinton; neither could take back what they said about each other the past year.
So sit back and enjoy the show. It's only beginning.
September 2, 2008
Palin, pregnancy and politics
Back from a long weekend ...
Let's jump right into the Sarah Palin story.
Gotta tell you, it makes the race even more interesting for political junkies and those of us in the news business. As someone who deals with spin controllers all the time, I'll be interested to see where this one lands.
The most obvious talking points:
It's no one's business. Obama said it, and it's certainly legit to ask that when it comes to family matters, where should we draw the line - as an electorate and as journalists?
Who knew what, when? Was Palin herself aware of her daughter's pregnancy before Friday? Was McCain fully aware before choosing her? We know what they're saying publicly, but ...
What kind of mother would ...? It's easy to judge how another family handles adversity. Things happen. But if we buy that Palin was aware of the situation before accepting the nomination, was it right for her to expose her teen-age daughter to the kind of public scrutiny that would invariably follow?
Does all of this make her selection all the more impressive? Does it better connect the GOP with real people who face real problems? Or does it put the party that has long preached "family values" in an impossible situation?