The District Weekly - Latest Comments in TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Dave Wielenga — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:01:24 -0000

Hey Angelo! Long time! I was following your career for awhile, at least until you were at People. Would love to catch up. Regarding your stint at the P-T, I remember the not-exactly-subliminal racial tension on the staff that accompanied editor Sandra Keyes' long-overdue diversification project, for which I believe she received special funding from Knight-Ridder (can you even imagine corporations actually investing in the newsroom now). I don't have a clear memory of everything that happened during that time, but I am not sure if everything that was posted on the union's bulletin board was actually "from" the union. I do remember the union having a few meetings at its offices across the street in which some of these issues were aired in highly charged sessions. I can only imagine how difficult they were for you. But I also remember you as a very active and strong member---hell, leader---of that union as we struggled with that issue and others related to our contract and union-busting methods by the Knight-Ridder. Having a leading columnist---especially a new member of the staff--willing to take such public stands was brave on your part and beneficial to your colleagues. It was quite a contrast with Hennessy.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

angelo figueroa — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:38:33 -0000

I was at the Press Telegram for two years, before being hired by The San Jose Mercury News as a columnist. On my first day on the job at the P-T the union posted a letter in the newsroom stating that my hiring was against the interests of "white reporters." What a place. I can only guess at the identity of Beachcombover, but whoever it is, I'm fortunate that they weren't on the committees for the Greater Los Angeles Press Club and the California Newspaper Publishers Association, both of whom honored me with first place awards for columns and commentary during my short stint at the P-T. Not bad for an illiterate.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

bertrund — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:29:11 -0000

Will. I didn't think anything, i was merely asking a question. It wouldn't hate you if it was that way. It's not as if the lines in your paper aren't blurred anyway.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Guest — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:35:32 -0000

i neither confirmed nor denied anything. you are the last person i want to get into a discussion with about the democratic primary. i will, however, be happy to talk about grandpa simpso....i mean john mccain.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

LBRez — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:22:00 -0000

Are you denying the Clinton's tactics?

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Guest — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:20:51 -0000

of course you believe that, not surprising at all.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

LBRez — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:11:11 -0000

Howie, I believe that was if not invented by Carvill and the Clinton's at least brought to WDC/White House politics and perhaps improved upon by the GOP and Karl Rove; I'm sure they like the credit though. Ask Obama how this perfected tactic works, you know the slips about his drug dealing, his wearing traditional African garb on a visit being posted on the web, his complexion darkening--all through the Clinton campaign but they know nothing about it. Hope you are well. xoxo, your fan.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Guest — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:19:58 -0000

w2 doesnt have to prove a thing, just muddy the waters enough regarding the district and its reporters that people take you less seriously. classic kill the messenger gop style smear. "some people say"

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

wswaim — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:58:30 -0000

No. 27: Bertrund asks: "if a writer brokers an ad relationship for you does that writer get a cut? meaning they don’t sell the ad but perhaps they lead the horse to water."

The short answer to your question is simply no--this doesn't happen. The longer answer is a question: What in the hell would make you think it has happened?

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

w3 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:43:31 -0000

I have trouble believing that a fledgling business with no big money backers could afford to hand out 24% commissions to anyone, much less a writer that's already drawing a salary and who can only pull ad sales part-time, if they were inclined to do it at all. I haven't met too many writers that liked sales - if they were good at it and could stomach the work in the first place, they'd probably be doing it full time. The pay's a hell of a lot better.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

bertrund — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:08:40 -0000

will, if a writer brokers an ad relationship for you does that writer get a cut? meaning they don't sell the ad but perhaps they lead the horse to water.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

wswaim — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:51:48 -0000

I don't know (23) by name, but he's done us all a great service: he's shown the distance between journalism and typing. Anyone can type the words that seem to reveal a tremendous breach of ethics; a journalist is supposed to check them out. (23) might have called someone at the district--someone like me--to verify his allegation. I'd have told them, while we pay our writers well--certainly better in many cases than the P-T pays its writers--we don't pay them a percentage of our ad revenue. So. To paraphrase: how much can we trust (23), a critic who doesn't identify himself after making a baseless charge with no evidence.

One final point: Am I Swaim Daddy? Or does this refer to my father?

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Ellen Griley — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:05:54 -0000

I, too, have to back Dave up here: If I was making 24% off ads sold to people I've written about—and it should be noted that as the Commerce editor, I'd arguably have the most to gain—well, I certainly wouldn't be transforming my studio apartment so that I can live in it for the next two to three years. That said, stay tuned, renters: lots of DIY project tips headed your way.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Dave Wielenga — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:05:00 -0000

Who told you that District reporters get a percentage of advertising revenue? I want to know so I can inquire about my cut. Ten months of holding people's feet to the fire all over the city ought to have convinced them to buy all kinds of ads ... and earned me quite a haul. Bottom line -- and that's what we're talking here -- your comment just isn't true. Meanwhile, on the subject of integrity, where's yours? I mean, what's your name? I sign mine to everything I write.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

w2 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:32:18 -0000

The district as the paper of record? ha. Lets talk about the ethics and integrity of the district writers. How much can you trust a paper where the writers keep 24 percent of profits from an advertiser they bringin? Thats right, "reporters" keep ad money from the people they cover. All I'm saying is that it is very clear this rag is full of ex-PT employees that write one story a week in their swaim-daddy supported paper.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Dave Wielenga — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:43:20 -0000

Hey everybody! If you would like your opinions to appear in the paper (remember those days?) edition of The District, please e-mail them to this address: Letters@thedistrictweekly.com If you want, you can even sign your real names (remember those days?).

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

w3 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:03:37 -0000

LBRez

I've been making that prayer for a while now. The thing people don't hear about is that the PT is more than profitable. If you knew how much cash Singleton has wrung out of that purchase, only to destroy the paper later, you would have to conclude that journalism was never his goal in the first place. Newspapers just happen to be a troubled industry where assets are undervalued, so investors can pick up properties on the cheap and gut them for piecemeal sale later. He's a corporate raider, pure and simple, and the fact that AP decided to honor him as a journalist underscores just how crazy this industry has gotten.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

LBRez — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:40:38 -0000

Thank you Green Line for mentioning Krikorian, they guy may have been "it" in his past but now could be writing for the papers at Poly or Wilson. Glorify his buddies drinking while giving hallpasses to ballplayers who juice and santimoniously condemning those who condemn the juicers as being sanctimonious. Like, Oh My God, did you see 2 Bellies and 4 Chins doings belly shots of Bananas?!? I still read the P-T every morning, or I should say scan it, I hope someone with deep pockets vested in our community (hello Molina family?) takes a risk and can purchase the paper so we can have a true daily newspaper worthy of the 35th biggest city in the country.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Dave Wielenga — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:39:44 -0000

Hey everybody! If any of you would like to have your comments published in the paper (remember that?) edition of The District, please send them to this e-mail address: Letters@TheDistrictWeekly.com. And if you want, you can even sign them with your real name (remember that?).

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Dave Wielenga — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:36:43 -0000

Hey everybody! If any of you would like your comments published in the paper (remember those days?) edition of The District, please submit them to this e-mail address: letters@TheDistrictWeekly.com. Oh, and if you want, you can even use your real names (remember THOSE days?).

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Beachcombover — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:10:39 -0000

Let's not forget how well Archbold and his enablers treated veteran scribes. I recall reporter Harry Tessel being demoted to nightside GA and suffering serious injuries while driving through the dark to cover some half-ass story. Columnist George Robeson who, as far as a recall, covered Long Beach like a blanket, but knew nothing about Wrigley Field, was shunted off to edit letters to the editor. They were replaced by such stalwarts as Angelo Figueroa, who reached out to our growing Mexican-American readership with personal tales of Detroit and Puerto Rico. A back data search that turned up some of his original submissions, before they were totally rewritten by a kindly city editor, presented strong evidence of near illiteracy. And who can forget how scared to death Archbold & were of a real news when the PT's crack sportswriters umasked the Artesia High basketball scandal.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

90277rulezon — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:55:35 -0000

Dave is probably one of the few journalists, if not the only one, left in Long Beach who will challenge the establishment. Jdubb's comments are hilarious. You may want to include Joe Prevratil in that trio of "enamoradas". Archibold's backing of the former Queen Mary chief, has been nothing short of journalistic oral sex.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

Green Line Rules — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:34:07 -0000

I think the bashing of Tom is pretty spot on, but it isn't just him who is a PT joke...
No one has been a bigger blight on the face of the paper than Doug "I will drop your name, if you buy me a drink" Kirkorian....
His rambling manifestos of crap that at times take up more column inches than he is tall has been all but forced upon people because he is Rich's friend... Not because it's a good thing to write, or timely, or anything a columnist should be...
He recycles columns, every few months we get the Lasorda column, the Misty May Column, the Anti-gambling one, the bananas Bob Foster one.... The I don't care about football/basketball/baseball any sport columns while vacationing for months at a time in Europe while all his co-workers scramble to keep their jobs....
Don't just spit the venom at Rich and Tom, Doug deserves it just as much...

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

jdubb — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:22:57 -0000

One addendum in defense of Tom Hennessy.

As lame as it was to write about Wrigley Field when the paper is essentially folding (and boy, was it lame), isn't it being a little naive to think most newspaper columnists would risk their job to mount an assault on how bad the paper has become?

Perhaps Hennessy was journalistically fiddling while Rome burned, but how many people do we know that are so ideologically pure that they would write about the decline in the quality of their paper when they knew it would be the end of their job? And yes, I think he would have lost his job if he did that.

Could it be that he just decided to continue writing the types of columns that had made him popular in the first place? Maybe he didn't think he was big enough of a deal to turn the tide, anyway.

It may seem improbable to people like you and me that he couldn't see it, but maybe he didn't think the paper had fallen that much. Even if he did, I ask again, isn't it at least understandable that someone would decide not to tell there employer how much the product sucks?

I think, therefore, that this quote from you about Hennessy is a tad unfair:

"I alleged that this cowardice was a conscious decision made so that, like Archbold, he could stay in the good graces of his ruthless corporate bosses."

I think classifying Hennessy as a coward is overstating the case, a projection onto Hennessy, if you will, of someone else's view of what should be done.

Bottom line, Hennessy is/was a worker bee at the Press-Telegram. The person more responsible for any drivel coming out of it, past, present and, it seems, future, would be Rich Archbold. He's the guy who helped set the tone over the years way more than Hennessy.

If they wanted hard-hitting columns and an ombudsman approach about the quality of the P-T from Hennessy, Archbold could have set that tone as well. Hennessy probably would have done it, too, especially if Hennessy is/was the toady that you suggest.

I suggest the odds are at least even that Archbold told/asked Hennessy to write that Wrigley column. Sycophantic or not, it might have come down to the fact Hennessy likes a paycheck.

I ask you this: would you let one of your columnists write bad things about the quality of your own publication? Maybe you would, but most publishers or editors wouldn't, double-standard or not.

I completely agree with most of your assessment of the P-T's demise, but using Hennessy as a poster boy is decrying the symptom and not the disease.

Re: TOM HENNESSY BREAKS LONG BEACH’S HEART AGAIN | The District Weekly

w3 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:15:16 -0000

Sorry, I meant Tuesday.