April Media Hotsheet

Journalism largely consists of saying "Lord Jones is Dead" to people who never knew that Lord Jones was alive. – G.K. Chesterton

Some upcoming events in the 4th Estate:

• April 11 – Zócalo LA presents “Standard Operating Procedure," a screening and conversation with director Errol Morris. 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.zocalola.org/.
  
  April 12 – The Asian American Journalists Association - Los Angeles chapter presents "Stars of the LA Blogosphere Tell All" with panelists Carol Lin, Kate Coe, and Michael Schneider. 10:30 a.m. For more information, go to http://www.aaja.org/ or click here.
  
  April 22 – The Los Angeles Times, Hoy, and the U.S. Postal Service celebrate the new Ruben Salazar postage stamp. 6 p.m. reception; unveiling & discussion 7 p.m. For more information, email RSVPHOY@hoyllc.com or call (213) 237-4345.
  
  April 23 – The Society of Professional Journalists – Greater Los Angeles Chapter hosts a “Ethics in the Digital Age" with panelists Terry Francke, Jack Lerner, Kevin Roderick and Mickey Kaus. For more information, go to www.spj.org/losangeles.
  
  April 24 – The Los Angeles Press Club presents “Transforming the LA Times: An Evening with Russ Stanton.” 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.lapressclub.org/ or call (323) 669-8081.
  
  April 30 – The Los Angeles Press Club presents “Book Party with David Rensin," an evening with the new author of All For a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki 'Da Cat'. 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.lapressclub.org/ or call (323) 669-8081.
  
  April 30 – The Society of Professional Journalists – Greater Los Angeles Chapter has their 2008 Awards Banquet featuring Distinguished Journalists Award honorees Bob Banfield, Beth Barrett, John Rabe and Tom Tugend; reporters Scott Glover and Matt Lait will also be honored with the Freedom of Information Award. For more information, contact Roberta Wax at (818) 993-7027 or RobiW@aol.com, or go to www.spj.org/losangeles.
  
  May 8 – The Los Angeles Press Club, in partnership with the Media Image Coalition (a program of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations), presents "May Day Melee: One Year Later." 7 p.m. Panelists TBA. For more information, go to www.lapressclub.org/, email MayDayRSVP@AFTRA.com or call or (323) 634-8263.
  
  May 14 – Coro CrossTalk presents "Prognosis: How the Media Covers Healthcare" 9 a.m. Panelists TBA. For more information, go to http://www.corola.org/ or email eheadington@coro.org.
  
  May 15 – Zócalo LA presents “Deconstructing McCain,” with McCain biographer and Reason magazine editor-in-chief, Matt Welch. 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.zocalola.org/.
  
  May 22 – The Los Angeles Press Club presents "Tackling the News Industry Meltdown: Where are the Jobs Now?" Panelists TBA. 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.lapressclub.org/ or call (323) 669-8081.
  
  June 21 – The Los Angeles Press Club presents the "50th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards" featuring Harry Shearer as Emcee, Joseph Quinn honoree Ana Garcia, Daniel Pearl honoree Bob Woodruff, and a soon-to-be-named President's award honoree. For more information, go to www.lapressclub.org/ or call (323) 669-8081.
  
  July 23-27 – The Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Native American Journalists Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists gather for Unity '08 National Convention in Chicago, Illinois for the largest gathering of journalists in the United States opens. For more information, go to http://www.2008unity.org/.
  
  August 14 – The Los Angeles Press Club, in partnership with the Pearl family, hosts a reception and discussion with the new Daniel Pearl Fellow. 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.lapressclub.org/ or call (323) 669-8081.

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.

Raphael Sonenshein Talks Politics at SPJ-LA "Political Party"

The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ-LA) held a "Political Party" this past Wednesday night at the Redwood Bar & Grill with political guru and Cal State Fullerton professor, Raphael Sonenshein. Advance apologies for the quality of the lighting--it wasn't the best lit room--but the sound is good (Beastie Boys and Neil Diamond samplings notwithstanding).

There was a contingent from Cal State Fullerton as well as a number of SPJ-LA members like SPJ-LA Vice President Alice Walton of City News Service, SPJ-LA Membership Director Claudia Peschiutta of KNX 1070, SPJ-LA President David Dow (former CBS News correspondent), SPJ-LA Board Member Joel Bellman of Supervisor Yaroslavsky's Office, and several others.

Some interesting tidbits:

• Yes, several of us did try to elicit an answer from Joel regarding the mayoral race but he stayed on message (Yaroslavsky is not running).
• Sonenshein blogs at the Jewish Journal; it's called Jews Choose 2008.
• Sonenshein talked about issues facing African-American candidates, the National Campaign Press, the Age Factor with McCain, the dysfunctional Clinton campaign, how Obama needs to go on the offensive, rebellious voters and much more (including some interesting thoughts/advice on Ferraro, Spitzer and Patterson).

Slideshow

Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
Video 6

Enjoy ...

March Media Hotsheet

"In America the President reigns for four years, and Journalism governs for ever and ever." - Oscar Wilde

Some upcoming 4th Estate events for the month of March:

• March 8th – The California Chicano News Media Association hosts a primer for reporters entitled “Disparities in Latino Healthcare.” 9 a.m. For more information, go to http://www.ccnma.org/ or call (213) 437-4408.
  
  March 11th – Zócalo presents “My Colombian War,” a conversation with award-winning Colombian-born journalist Silvana Paternostro.” 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.zocalola.org/.
  
  March 13th – The Los Angeles Press Club and Alex Ben Block present “A Return to Corky’s: The Ultimate Herald Examiner Almost-20th Reunion Party.” 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.lapressclub.org/ or call (323) 669-8081.
  
  March 15th – The Associated Press Television Radio Association is having its “61st Annual Convention” with free weekend workshops for journalists. For more information, go to http://www.aptra.org/.
  
  March 22nd – The Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles presents “New World of Media Photojournalism Seminar and Awards Dinner” for still photographers and videographers. 9 a.m. For more information, go to http://www.ppagla.org/ or call (714) 573-0902.
  
  March 27th – The Los Angeles Press Club presents “Transforming the LA Times: An Evening with Russ Stanton.” 7 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.lapressclub.org/ or call (323) 669-8081.
  
  March 29th – The Society of Professional Journalists – Greater Los Angeles Chapter hosts a “Freedom of Information Workshop” for reporters. For more information, go to www.spj.org/losangeles.