Life goes on

I'm back. Last post: Dec. 10. Today is May 8. Much has happened.

I've gotten a lot of freelance work. Writing a lot for the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. Actually have a beat there--Law and Accounting. Also just finished the bulk of a special pullout section of SFVBJ about the biotech industry along the 101 Biotech Corridor, as it's called. I tried to stick a new nickname for the corridor, but the editor there, my friend Jason Schaff, nixed that.

What was my "brilliant" rebranding of the corridor? Drum roll: the DNA Highway. Whaddyuh think? Nice, huh? Okay I guess Jason knew what he was doing. Anyway, it was a great experience. Four 2000-word articles about biotech (Amgen, Baxter, and a lot of small labs and firms. One of those projects that make my motto about journalists true: "We know everything about nothing, but a couple things about everything."

I'm also doing a little bit of work for the paper at which I was managing editor for four years, North Valley Community News.

Of course, I'm back in school. In fact, the semester is almost over already. I did well, and even won a pretty respectable scholarship to help pay living expenses.

My internship with Marta Waller at KTLA Channel 5 begins in June.

I'm also doing a little bit of publicity work for a single client (a fact which will disqualify me from writing story from time to time, though nothing has come up yet).

Haven't done anything for the Daily News since last year. But that brings up a blog I want to recommend, that of retired Daily News Editor in Chief, one of L.A.'s great journalists, Ron Kaye. It's fast becoming one of the best local political blogs on the Web. Go to www.ronkayela.com to check it out.

I'm going to find a minute or two every day to blog from now on.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ford, Not a Lincoln...Bush, Not a Tree

Kudos for President Gerald R. Ford for allowing an interview in which he speaks candidly about the mistakes of his former employees, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, to be released after his death.

Do you have any anecdotal or other membories of President Ford. Of course, we're always looking for any kind of news tip. Come on Los Angeles, be the first to

Tip The Republic of L.A.

Give me a lead, I'll pursue the story...

At its best, American journalism can correct a nation's course when the ship of state threatens to run aground, as it is now doing. At its worst, all-in-line scribes allow for leaders to lead a nation into shedding liberty and sleepwalking into war.

But it all starts when a community news reporter wonders why an elementary school is getting a new fence when the existing one is only a year old. Any school officials with relatives in the fence business?

Tell me L.A., what do you think needs a little questioning.