A+ And Applause For L.A. Times Op-Ed
Today the L.A. Times published an absolutely excellent op-ed on the idiotic "living wage for airport hotels" ordinance, entitled "Pillow-Mint Politics".I'm dead serious. The author got the facts right and the analysis right, even noting how Joe Taxpayer will bear the burden of any pay raise. It's as if yours truly wrote it.
Heaven knows we beat the L.A. Times like a pinata here when its reporters engage in "press release journalism." Well, this time, they did not. They did not drink the proverbial Kool-Aid, did not fall for the tricks, did not merely repeat career politicians' self-serving statements as gospel. So the Times deserves to be commended for doing the right thing.
Keep it up, fellahs. A few more weeks of real journalism, and you may see those subscription rates start climbing.
(And thank you to the Red Spot of Reason for pointing out the op-ed in the first place.)
Posted by Walter Moore @ 2/01/2007 04:53:00 PM
15 Comments:
Uh-huh. There's hope for the Times yet.
Don't drop the ball fellahs!
If the Times starts aggressively covering the CC, Antonio, bad ordinances, and the crushing impact of illegal immigration, I just might renew my subscription -- which I dropped awhile ago. More breath strips stories, less Enrique's Journey. I doubt it though.
Walter, that's not an op-ed, that's a straight ed, no chaser.
I'm commending Walter then. for graduating the Matt Dowd /Zuma Dogg school of taking credit for a story that you pointed out first.
serious congrats. the story's great, but the way you take the credit is an A+.
keep it up.
The LA TImes article says, "City Council is promising to never do anything like this again. But some council members are already making it clear that they won't be bound by any such promise."
ZD (to CM Janice Hahn): What's next, the fry cook at McDonalds?
CM Hahn: No, Truckers.
At first I thought she was kidding. But she was serious cause when I said, "Are you serious?" She went into "more money for truckers" talk.
And the ports are in her area, and the truckers drive to and from the ports. So I believe it when they say they don't want to be bound to any such promise.
Because truckers are next in line for a living wage increase.
Joseph --
I never thought about it, but what makes one essay an editorial and another an op-ed? And do they come in other flavors? Please educate me and the rest of us so I won't, you know, use the wrong fork at dinner, metaphorically speaking.
Thanks, Matt!
Here's are two definitions I found in a nano:
A page opposite the editorial page, where opinions by guest writers are presented
www.usfca.edu/classes/AuthEd/greeks/glossary.htm
An Op-Ed is a piece of writing expressing an opinion. Such items are often found in a full newspaper page, containing such articles by columnists, letters to the editor, and other points, rather than news or facts. It is primarily an American term.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Op-Ed
GOOD BLOGGIN EVENING !!!
Walter,
thanks for the props, if these guys in the "PEOPLE'S NEWS ROOM" keep up their Pro-business outlook, then I may have to look for a new moniker,
"SPRING STREET JOURNAL ??".
FREEDOM AND FREE ENTERPRISE
"RED SPOT OF REASON IN CD 14"
Walter, theoretically, an editorial should have more clout, should make civic leaders shake a bit more, because it has the weight of the paper's editorial board behind it. When the editorial board meets with a newsmaker, such an editorial can be a point of discussion.
But the op-ed page may offer a counterweight. You may recall last fall I had an op-ed on Affordable Housing. The paper actually endorsed via editorial the opposite point of view. They kept the Mayor and Council happy in that instance.
And thereafter, the owners changed management at the paper.
Query whether the editorial reflects the change in management. Wouldn't it be refreshing if the L.A. Times actually "took on" City Hall instead of merely reprinting its nonsensical "happy talk" press releases?
I'll keep my fingers crossed. It could make a HUGE difference in this town if a paper with serious circulation started explaining to the masses what really happens downtown.
Very good points Walter and Joseph. Walter you can tell the difference between an Editorial and Op-Ed because the Editorial doesn't have a by line. The Op-Ed always does and will have a little about who the writer is. Joseph is correct the Editorial carries a lot more weight because its a statement by the paper. Daily News does a great job in their Editorial's on the stupidity of city council. Now if the LA Slimes can start reporting and not being afraid to make statements about the stupidity of city hall then they will get some of their readers back.
but then they'll lose their 'star' on hollywood, or future 'perks'
Matt --
Your comment reminds me of how CNN -- I think it was CNN -- agreed with Sadam Hussein not to report his atrocities in exchange for continued access. I know that news is a business, but it's too bad that they ever agree to deals like that.
Red Spot is sucking Wacko's dick?
WTF?!?!?!
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