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Monday, December 10, 2007



All good things come to an end. It's been a pleasure developing North Valley Community News into something special editorially. By treating the content hole of the newspaper as space for substantive, well-reported, multi-source news, news-features, and human-interest stories about the five communities of the Northern San Fernando Valley, I believe I, Amy Lyons--both as a staff writer, and later as an editor-at-large--and about a dozen passionate freelance journalists and contributors brought a rare thing to readers.

As the publisher, Wayne Adelstein, moves to help the publication survive financially by doing away with a formal editorial department relying on press releases, lay contributions and his own writing, I thank him for allowing me nearly four years of unencumbered editorial authority and respecting the traditional firewall between editorial and advertising most of the time. I hope North Valley Community News economic fortunes change and Wayne can restore editorial content that could place the paper in a position to be a Valley-flavored alternative to LA Weekly. I know we were on our way...

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

They want my opinion...again.

It's not that the Daily News cares so mcuh about my opinion, but my flood story has to be an opinion piece. That's because the paper doesn't accept freelance news stories. News to me. I guess Ed. in Chief Ron Kaye forgot to tell me that when he hooked me up with Chris Weinkopf, he's the Op. editor. Think that explains why my first story appeared on the Opinion Page? I think so. Now I have to form an opinion about the flood story and rework the piece. Oh well; it's a living.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Extended Deadlines

I'm working on a story for the Daily News about potential large-scale flooding. I should be meeting with a flood plane expert this week to get some clarity about the physics of one party's claim regarding the issue. I appreciate Chris Weinkopf's patience with me on this piece. It could turn out to be fairly important story.

It appears that the County may have a real problem with this one. They're certainy digging in their heals legally.

However, the paper I edit, North Valley Community News, has been taking all of my time. Because of server problems, we're down to the wire on getting all the editorial content in.

Next time, I should have news about an exclusive I've been offered.

Dear Universe: Send me a Mac.

Friday, November 9, 2007

A small flood of thoughts.

Okay, another week has come and gone. I'm finishing a story for the Los Angeles Daily News about a dam on private property that could someday cause the northwestern San Fernando Valley to flood. The threat is not quite like the levvies breaking in New Orleans, but...stay tuned. I 'll let you know when the story runs.

Still no leads from you my reader. Yes, I said reader, not readers. But, when I get a moment, I'll investigate how hone promotes one's blog. I guess I should request a link from L.A. Observed.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

So much has happened since late 2006, when I set out to get Angelenos to tell me about their corner of the City of Angels. What chagrins Cheviot Hills? Who's evil in Echo Park? Anything nefarious in Nichols Canyon? Malfeasance on Mount Olympus? Anyone in Atwater Village with an ax to grind?

"Maybe," I thought, "I'll even catch a few local feel-good news tips:"

Know a hero in Harvard Heights or a perfect politician from Pico Union? You get the idea. But instead of cultivating leads for untold stories from the deep nooks of Los Angeles, I forgot my password to this blog. Amazingly, tonight, with some effort, I recalled it.

So again, I ask you to tell me what you know that you wish others knew, and what you wish you knew more about. Give me a lead, and I'll pursue the story.