At every newspaper I’ve been at, the paper has eventually sponsored some local event and, in return, said event has someone from the paper participate. Usually, that job gets punted to me. It’s led to me riding an elephant in the circus, and this Saturday, I’ll be riding in a plane in the Victor Valley Airshow, along with Hesperia Star reader Michael Hagan.
On the remote chance I go down in flames like Buddy Holly, please have Hollywood make a La Bamba style movie about me starring Jay Mohr.
I think I’ve been to a press conference before, probably in Egypt, but I can’t recall for sure. In any case, today’s press conference in San Bernardino County was my first in a very long time.
It was odd seeing who was there. After years of the CCA story feeling like a Hesperia Star/Daily Press story, with occasional pieces by the San Bernardino County Sun, it was a (pleasant) shock to see channels 4 and 5, the LA Times, the Press-Enterprise, KPCC and all the rest there. I’m not even sure who everyone was, and it’ll be interesting to see who’s covering this in the next few days.
When the Home Alone girls story got picked up by the LA Times earlier this year, people kept asking me if I somehow felt aggrieved that their piece was the one that got all the national attention. And the answer was, not really. It was a pleasure, in fact, here in AAA, to see how the major leaguers play, and to compare and contrast my approach and learn from what the LA Times writer did.
Same thing today. I didn’t ask any questions, but just listened to what the LA Times reporter and others asked. Partially, of course, this was because we’re a weekly and there’s no point in playing all the cards I have just yet (we have a real ace we’ve been sitting on for two years that we’ll be playing before the trial starts and Deputy District Attorney Mark Fermin plays it for us), but mostly it was to see the approach of the other reporters. I’m not vain enough to think that I know all the best questions to ask or have the only good approach to putting together a story.
So, interesting times ahead, possibly in the Chinese curse sense of the phrase.
It’s already up on the Daily Press and Hesperia Star Web sites, but here’s the official press release, for those who are interested:
San Bernardino, CA – District Attorney Michael A. Ramos will hold a press conference today at 2 p.m. at his office at 303 W. 3rd St. (sixth floor) in San Bernardino. The purpose of the press conference is to announce indictments resulting from the California Charter Academy investigation. No further information will be released prior to the press conference. All media should take the elevator to the 6th floor where a representative from the District Attorney’s Office will ask you to provide press credentials and escort you to the conference room.
Yes, there’s a newspaper-only version of the Nigerian letter scam. In this case, they want to buy free classified ads in a newspaper and, presumably, then use the suckers who fall for it to place ads for the real scams.
I just got one in e-mail:
Hello Editor,
Greetings to you all, I am emailing you to let you know that i am
interested in placing an avdert in your newspaper. Below is the advert
details.
========================================
AD TEXT BELOW :
HEAD LINE : English Bulldogge-Puppies Now Available
We offer you very beautiful puppies bulldog,Puppies will have had their
first well puppy check-up, shots /worming appropriate for age of puppy,
and come with a Certified Health Certificate from our Licensed
Veterinarian.Our bulldogs are breed for looks, health, and tempermant.
Dogs are registered through AKC REG. Take a look, I am sure you will find
them to be adorable.Contact Email: phil_george1102@hotmail.com
========================================
I want you to calculate the total cost for 4 weeks and get back to me.So
that i can send you my Credit Card details for the payment. Please let me
know if you are a daily newspaper or weekly papers.
Phil George.
It’s always English bulldogs, and most of the typos are the same in every one of these e-mails. A glance at Google shows hundreds of sites, mostly free classifieds, have posted this fake ad. Some of them have follow-ups, offering to take someone’s money via Paypal for the non-existent puppies.
It’s my fault. The paper should make it out, but I am openly not adept at Adobe In-Design or all the ins and outs of how it’s been set up for putting out the Hesperia Star. I suspect know some of the fonts will be different than the usual ones used.
So blame me.
Oh, and I ran out of room for Soduku and the crossword, too. Sorry!
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