Stan Chambers, 91

KTLA is reporting that the legendary Los Angeles journalist, Stan Chambers, who worked at the station for over 60 years, has passed away at the age of 91. Chambers retired from KTLA in 2010.

For more, please read the story at KTLA's web site.

Chambers was a class act and his passing is a sad moment when journalism appears to be in a free fall of ethical lapses and failure to do it's appointed role as a check on government and society.

Perhaps we will have another Stan in the future. We send our condolences to the Chambers family.

Los Angeles Politics Hotsheet for Thursday

Mulholland Terrace brings to our attention perhaps a poor employment decision made by Councilman Bill Rosendahl in the hiring of new spokes-hole Jon Fairbanks, an import from Canada.  As MT notes could Rosendahl not find a gay publicist in all of Los Angeles? More of concern is the audit trail of stories written by Fairbanks, a scribe out of Quebec, who blogs about "Anglophone bitches" and desiring to keep those women who like to party with gay men out of the bars.

Read more »

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday

Alex Walker, a computer programmer and activist in peace and civil rights causes, has announced as a Green Party candidate in the special election to fill the seat of State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas who was elected to the County Board of Supervisors in November.  Walker stated, "Republicans and Democrats in California are dysfunctional. Voters voted for Obama for president and Mark Ridley-Thomas for county supervisor with a promise of a 'New Politics.'  Also seeking the seat are Democratic Assemblymen Mike Davis, of Los Angeles and Curren Price, Ridley-Thomas' hand picked successor, of Inglewood. 

LAist offers it predictions for 2009, among which includes the forecast that "Bob Hertzberg, Eric Garcetti, and Tavis Smiley all launch mayoral campaigns."  Sorry guys, the filing period is long over and the race is between Mayor V, Zuma Dogg and Walter Moore.

Former Mr. Britney Spears, Kevin Federline, is dating again.  Wags say  he's been seen canoodling with a six-foot tall blonde one year younger than the pop princess who bore (some of) his children.  Apparently Britney is pissed.

Following our campaign to return the venerable broadcaster to the KTLA announcer's booth at the Rose Parade on New Year's Day, Stephanie Edwards re-joined Bob Eubanks and his new hip after a two year exile.  As such, KTLA once again racked up the highest ratings of any parade coverage in LA.

Stephanie Edwards Returns to Rose Parade

After a nearly two year petition campaign by this blog, KTLA is returning Southern California broadcasting legend Stephanie Edwards to join Bob Eubanks as co-host for coverage of the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade.

You may remember that Stephanie was unceremoniously dumped by KTLA two years ago for a younger model, Michaela Pereira.  They've now had a change of heart.

In early 2007 this blog undertook a petition drive to convince KTLA to bring Edwards back.  Look like it worked.  Nearly 350 people signed the petition.  Signer April Pazmino summed up many of Edwards' fans' feeling when she posted "Without Stephanie, watching the parade is painful."

I have to admit when Stephanie didn't come back in 2008 I pretty much gave up hope as I had given up hope that John McCain might actually pick Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Looks like January 1, 2009 will be pain-free for you April. Congrats everyone!

So You Want to Be a Blogger?

The New York Times has a piece today on the health effects of blogging. Hopefully some of our frequent posters/contributors work in a little stretching, exercise and healthy food. Then again, I know there's a few of you Schadenfreude types out there. '-)

All joking aside, there's a seminar with the Asian American Journalists Association this Saturday morning at KTLA (more details to follow in a media hotsheet) with Carol Lin (former CNN anchor and former Fox 11ancho; USC professor/blogger), Kate Coe (veteran newspaper freelancer and an editor of Fishbowl LA; part of Mediabistro' s network of blogs) and Michael Schneider (TV writer for Variety and a weekly deejay at KCSN Radio at Cal State Northridge; keeps a variety of blogs). FYI - The Greater Los Angeles chapter of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ-LA) also did a seminar on blogging last October with Matt Welch, Eric Spillman and Greg Hernandez (Here's the link; there are 7 videos in total)

In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop

Matt Richtel
Staff Writer - New York Times
April 6, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO — They work long hours, often to exhaustion. Many are paid by the piece — not garments, but blog posts. This is the digital-era sweatshop. You may know it by a different name: home.

A growing work force of home-office laborers and entrepreneurs, armed with computers and smartphones and wired to the hilt, are toiling under great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment.

Of course, the bloggers can work elsewhere, and they profess a love of the nonstop action and perhaps the chance to create a global media outlet without a major up-front investment. At the same time, some are starting to wonder if something has gone very wrong. In the last few months, two among their ranks have died suddenly.

Two weeks ago in North Lauderdale, Fla., funeral services were held for Russell Shaw, a prolific blogger on technology subjects who died at 60 of a heart attack. In December, another tech blogger, Marc Orchant, died at 50 of a massive coronary. A third, Om Malik, 41, survived a heart attack in December.

Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and other maladies born of the nonstop strain of producing for a news and information cycle that is as always-on as the Internet.

Read the full story.