DISQUS

Kat · 2 years ago

I know the PT is useless when I read Long Beach news on the OC Register website: http://tinyurl.com/24wcqy

Beachcombover · 2 years ago

Well said, although I don't know what Tom could have done to rally what's left of the readers. I do recall one episode in which he was recruited by editors to write a posthumous valentine for controversial developer Mike Choppin. The resulting piece cited the one-time IDM pyramider's charitable and community activities. Tom got the assignment after Choppin's reporter-produced obituary, which originally contained both the good and bad, had been hacked out of balance by a city editor.

Dave Wielenga · 2 years ago

Interesting.

Former Journo · 2 years ago

I can confirm that the Daily Breeze editor is running the show at the P-T. His idea of "working as a group" means that the on-site P-T editors get to "suggest" via e-mail what stories to cover, play up, put on the front page, etc. The P-T is being turned into a poorly-staffed branch of the DB, and the only folks still hanging on are no-hopers or those who simply don't care anymore. News editor David Weiner just walked after numerous disputes over just this kind of thing.

Dave Wielenga · 2 years ago

Thanks for your response. If you or anyone else would like to talk to me personally, please write me at this e-mail address: Dave@TheDistrictWeekly.com. This is a difficult subject for me, personally, inasmuch as I owe my journalistic career to the Press-Telegram, where I started in July of 1972 at age 16 as a $2-an-hour copy boy in the Sports Department. But as I wrote, it is even a more troublesome subject for the City of Long Beach, which needs a daily newspaper--especially during an era when so much money and influence are being traded as the city "reinvents" itself. Passing attention from the Times, Register -- and the Daily Breeze -- is insufficient.

Former reporter · 2 years ago

The P-T suffers from union-itis. Let's hope the Breeze's non-unionized (and hence, innovative, motivated and high-quality) staff can turn it around.

Guest · 2 years ago

I've always loved Hennessey. Best wishes, Dude!

current journo · 2 years ago

The PT is not suffering because of it's union or internal politics, it's mostly because of the continual staff cuts and resource redirection. The company that bought this paper (and now owns the Breeze) doesn't invest in it's "local voice," just the opposite.
The paper doesn't benefit from any profit it ever generates (including the sale of its landmark building), it all ends up in Denver and Media News executives' pockets.
The few peons (aka reporters, photogs and production staff) that are hanging on are there because they care about the city and serving the readers. They're still there attempting to resuscitate what's left a formerly great paper.

Jimmy Joe Johnson · 1 year ago

The PT is suffering because greater than 50% of the citizens of Long Beach can't or won't take the time to read the paper.

marshall blesofsky · 1 year ago

Dear Editors,

I read the District and think it is an excellent addition to the Long Beach scene. In the future I would like to invite you to be a guest on the Community TV program, People's Tribune TV. While this article does a good job of documenting the corporate cost cutting and dumbing down of the PT, the piece seems to be a cruel attack on a guy who is recovering form a serious medical problem. Tom Hennessey is not perfect but he has most recently been the most vocal in fight for the rights of Iraq Veterans Against the War who were denied the right to march in the North Long Beach Veteran's Day Parade.

I also remember very clearly Tom picketing the Press Telegram during labor action because I was videoing at the time. I think this was not the time to kick a guy when he is down.

Marshall Blesofsky
Producer of People's Tribune TV
Long Beach and Signal Hill
every Wed. 7-8 pm Charter Ch. 65, 65, 95
MarshallBlesofsky@yahoo.com