The Pasadena Star-News now comes to my house in physical form
Aug 29th, 2007 by Jill
I’m a subscriber
I’m taking a couple of journalism classes at PCC because I think it will help me become a better blogger. One of the classes requires students to subscribe to a physical newspaper, so I chose the Pasadena Star-News. I read the Star-News (as well as Pasadena Now, of course) online already. I like to read my news online. Even more specifically, I like to read it in my RSS reader. But I also want to support local professional journalism. I’ve been thinking about this lately, and even after this class is over, I’m planning on keeping my subscription to the Star-News because I want to support local journalists. I wish there were subscription options for people like me who don’t want paper dropped off at their house every morning.
I get the Star-News as well. It’s useful for local news which doesn’t make it into the Times. But I wish they did a better job of separating opinions from news stories. It’s not uncommon to find statements in front page stories which should have been saved for the editorials page.
I read the PSN every day.
If there wasn’t a Star-News, my website would not exist.
Cool! I’m going to ask for a raise now. <.<
Here’s a great website for the budding journalist:
http://www.poynter.org/
Roy Peter Clark’s pieces are particularly helpful. You can find his older “50 tools” articles in the internet archive.
I’m a news junkie. We get not only the Star News, but the NYTimes, the LATimes, the Wall St. Journal, the Valley Sun and the Outlook. And tons of magazines. I read online news too, but there’s a lot I’d miss if I didn’t happen upon it in the physical paper. I agree with you: I love to be able to support good journalism. Too bad it kills so many trees, though…
Hi Todd, you totally should. Talking to you in person was a big part of why I wanted to start sending money to the local paper. I want you to keep doing what you’re doing. Maybe I should just send the checks straight to you and go back to reading the news online…
And may I put in my three cheers for PCC’s classroom offerings? I’ve taken classes in their Computer Graphics labs (most recent, last spring), and it’s a great way to learn a new software app for not-that-much-per-unit. (it does take a chunk out of two days of the week, tho).
Are you taking photojournalism? The PJ teacher, RF, is very very cool.
Not yet, but I want to take it next time around.
PCC is *great*.
[...] Level Pasadena (my other blog): The Pasadena Star-News now comes to my house in physical form “I like to read my news online. Even more specifically, I like to read it in my RSS reader. [...]
I though I would interject here because you have stumbled upon a subject that’s interesting, too say the least. I’ve been following this conversation on how boring Pasadena newspapers are and, being a reporter in this city, I agree. But what your saying is different by the way of getting involved in the process of learning Journalism. I don’t know that bloggers report? But they do complain. And complain about everything.
I was the managing editor for the Courier and oversaw what news went into that paper, I’ve worked at number of them since. You’re onto something here by learning how news is compiled and the role blogs, or all online, publications might play in the future of reporting. Warren Swill, former news editor for the PNS, and now the adviser for the Courier just wrote a piece in the PNS Friday on how fast news goes online and that threat, obviously from the bias of a print reporter, but he left a few things out.
The future of news is in investigative reporting, just for the shear fact that it’s a dead art.
Let me say this; forget the citizen journalist, or the idea of disseminating news through a cell phone. If that were the case the “stale blog” itself is dead, and “mo-blogging” is the future. Not so. Live blogging is also, in most cases, incoherent. Speed is not the answer. What the PSN has to do, as goes for all dailies, is make the paper free and give the public nail biting, front page “oh my” news. The gate keepers of the old world press no longer have the keys and now stand dumbfounded at the floodgates of information.
I would also go so far as to say printed blogs might not be so bad, as well. Aaron Proctor, if your listening? I few hundred copies outside the council chambers. We need a fun read waiting until 1 a.m. for public comment.
Free is a hard thing for any newspaper that’s losing subscribers to swallow but think of what their competing with? Themselves, “free” online. D’oh! In a business model do you give away the best you got, or pretend to give it all away? The things killing newspapers, are cragslist and ebay, not blogs or the “24/7” news cycle, anyway. Nobody cares. Good reporting wherever it shines will always be read.
Once print reporters figure this out and stop their whine we can all get back to reporting. I strongly encourage everyone to at least go learn about journalism, and even go write for a newspaper, I can’t say enough about the Courier except it’s an opportunity that ought not to be missed.
[...] Dean Lee of the Mountain-Views Observer comments on The Pasadena Star-News now comes to my house in physical form, Eye Level Pasadena “…I don’t know that bloggers report? But they do complain. And complain about everything….Let me say this; forget the citizen journalist, or the idea of disseminating news through a cell phone. If that were the case the “stale blog” itself is dead, and “mo-blogging” is the future. Not so. Live blogging is also, in most cases, incoherent. Speed is not the answer. What the PSN has to do, as goes for all dailies, is make the paper free and give the public nail biting, front page “oh my” news….I would also go so far as to say printed blogs might not be so bad, as well. Aaron Proctor, if your listening?…” (link) [...]
That’s an interesting idea — paper blogs! You might have something there.
[...] Ed Padgett from the Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Years Club came to visit and brought us copies of the SGV Tribune and the LA Times, since I’m turning into a paper reader. [...]
I could totally print out like a “best of” my blog every Monday and lay it down at City Hall.
I can’t help but to comment on Dean Lee’s excellent throw-down
about standing at the floodgates of information. Was he texting
that comment? I recently went to an investment seminar about what
common modes teenagers use to communicate, and virtually all of
them text or Skype only. They only use email if they “need to write a
really formal thank-you letter to someone older” (sic). Gone are the days of 20 lb linen and a nice watermark.
So, writing, ackshully, is really now intended only for older people, say 35 and up. Or really old people, like 45 or so. God help those over 50, since texting is about to morph the language in ways we can only speculate. Frank Zappa’s “Valley Girl” was, like, totally peanuts compared to what’s in the pipeline. Technology’s ability to funnel and redirect creative young minds into separate spheres has a divisive effect on generations, but an equal and opposite unifying effect within a cohort. Newspapers are antidisestablishmentairian with regards to their form factor, representing the dead tree and so on, and as such only quasifunctional in reaching younger readerships. When will blogs be texted and skyped?
Dean, nice paper, I checked it out. Is Harlan still up there
at Snow Summit? Long time…
The Upland Community Foundation has restored the O&SH Railroad Waiting Station in San Antonio Park, Upland. William G. Kerckhoff owned the RR co which built the station and the park in 1907.
The above foundation restored the station and commissioned a mural painted commemorating his many accomplishments. Prior to 1887 he was the first to use oil to propel an ocean freighter [Pasadena]; he pioneered in hydroelectric generation in San Gabriel Canyon [1898], and today Pasadena is still receiving power from his plant; he developed the beginning of the “Big Creek” hydroelectric system; he founded So Cal Gas Co. which brought “natural” gas into the Los Angeles basin from the oil fields of Kern County; and his philanthropic legacies we are still enjoying [died in 1929]:
Kerckhoff Biology Lab , Caltech
Kerckhoff Marine Lab, Corona del Mar
Kerckhoff Hall, UCLA
Kerckhoff Hall [their mansion] part of Annenberg Center, USC
Kerckhoff Hospital, Bad Nauheim, Germany
Kerckhoff Institute , same as above
This man and his wife left so much, and yet today very few recognize his accomplishments. He never failed, and his “word was his bond”. A great story….
I reprinted the book written by Henry O’Melveny on WILLIAM G. KERCKHOFF, and have many photos of his “enterprises”. This story must be told. The mural and openning of the station will be April 19th. We would enjoy your coverage… This inscription on the portals of the “Institute” [Germany]:
“And so it comes about that after a lifetime of endeavor and when success had been attained at last, he devoted the results of his success, with the loyal co-operation of Mrs. Kerckhoff, to the amelioration of mankind, that men and women may have happier lives. Kerckhoff Dome will stand forever; it perpetuates a name but gives nothing. But the gifts to Science and Education build a monument, likewise eternal, through which he still lives, dispensing relief and help to countless generations of his fellowmen.”
[I have made three large displays on Kerckhoff (all donated) and they will be mounted permanently inside the station with well over 30 photos plus text for each photo. This will be an easy story to write.]
Dick Barker, 949.673.7877
Please call me on a story which should be told. I wrote a summary, but after competion it stated “awaiting moderation”. The story is about William G.Kerckhoff. Keckhoff Biology Lab. , Kerckhoff Hall, UCLA and USC, “Pasadena” freighter owned by Kerckhoff was the first to use oil [instead of coal], Pasadena is still receiving electric power from his hydroelectric plant (1898), etc… 949.673.7877
Hey, doesn’t Upland have a skate park? Doesn’t the concept of subverting the dominant paradigm extend to overshadowing the importance of a historical figure loke kerckhofgaard or whatshisname with a discussion on a really thoguhfully laid our skatepark? Did Robert Trent jones design the Upland skate park or is it a Nicklaus? It certainly was a trendsetter in the late ’70s when we migrated down from chilly Norcal to shred it’s velvety serpentine cement waves. Truly a brofest too, with Peralta and the whole gang terrorizing.