Reporter responds to those upset by Christmas cat tale

The Dec. 25 story of Bess the cat hit feline lovers in wildly different ways.

More than 50 readers said they were touched by the tale. But almost 40 others were quite angry -- angry enough that reporter Kim Murphy was moved to write a note to those who were upset (see below).

Reader Donn Walker of St. Louis was one who sent praise: "I want you to know how enormously touched I was by your story today about Bess. As a longtime cat lover -- with a beautiful feline who looks just like Bess -- your story just grabbed me by the throat, and the heart, and still hasn't let go. I'm so happy you found her before it was too late. I wish you -- but more importantly, Bess -- much health and happiness in the coming year."

On the other hand, reader Leslie McMichael of North Hollywood was expecting something else: "I read with great anticipation the article about Kim Murphy's cat, Bess. Christmas morning, a feel-good story about pets sounds good. What I got was a heart-wrenching story of why some people should not be pet owners. The London Rescue had it right not to give Ms. Murphy a cat. Ms. Murphy told of escapades of her other cats and their predicaments, but she never thought to look in the window seat for Bess or eveywhere and anywhere and never give up? What does it say about how Bess felt, that she could not call out for help or even try to escape, too trusting or not enough trust of her family?"

And so it went, from this sentiment: "I'm sure everyone is writing to you saying how wonderful your piece was, and how they cried unabashedly at the ending. .. count me in as one more" (from Stephanie Daniels in Signal Mountain, TN) to this: "I'm perplexed as to why The Times would publish this terrible story on Christmas Day. Is this your idea of uplifting? At what point do all these cat 'accidents' become a pattern of negligence?" (from Ari Solomon of Los Angeles).

First, the answer to the two biggest questions from unhappy readers:

How could she miss the cat meowing all those weeks? Said Murphy in her note: "This cat NEVER meowed. Not once. We sat on that window seat every single day of her disappearance, and never heard ONE SOUND until the night she was discovered." 

And why did the story run on Christmas Day? This was "a good choice for anyone who believes in unexpected blessings," as editors on the National desk said when they pitched it.

As reporter Murphy put it in her e-mail to upset readers, "I have gotten many wonderful e-mails from people about my story of Bess, and a whole lot from readers who were shocked at what happened to Bess, and my lousy record of pet ownership. Let me start by saying that none of these reactions came as a surprise to me. As a lifelong cat lover (I find I am someone who likes animals better than people in  many ways), there is no way I would have put all that in the story without knowing how many people (such as myself) would react."

"I am sending this out in an attempt to explain what happened, and why I wrote the story as I did. Many of you will dismiss this as a sorry attempt to make excuses. Well, it is."

Readers have questions about columnist's return*

As evidenced by the comments that have come in on last week's announcement that Michael Hiltzik would again be writing a column for The Times, some readers recall that the paper chose to take away Hiltzik's column in 2006, and wonder why management changed its mind. The essence of the response from editors: Hiltzik has redeemed himself.

Russ Stanton, now editor of The Times, was Business editor when Hiltzik's popular column for the Business section was discontinued. As the editor's note published at the time said, Hiltzik had been found to be violating The Times' ethics guidelines by using pseudonyms to post comments on the Web that dealt with his column and other issues involving the newspaper.

Readers were also told in the 2006 editor's note, "Mike did not commit any ethical violations in his newspaper column, and an internal inquiry found no inaccurate reporting in his postings in his blog or on the Web."

Since his column was pulled in 2006, writes Stanton, Hiltzik "has been an invaluable asset to the paper. He has earned the right to return as a columnist." In those two years, more than 35 news articles written by Hiltzik have been published on the front page. Stanton says editors believe that what readers can learn from Hiltzik the columnist will be as trustworthy as what he's delivered in his news reports.

*Update - A reader asks in a comment below: "Yes, but he will still be able to do stories?" Says Business Editor Sallie Hofmeister: Yes he will, although with two columns a week, he will have less time to write stories. 

Michael Hiltzik to return to writing Business column

Business Editor Sallie Hofmeister's memo to Times staff:

Michael Hiltzik, one of the paper's most prolific writers and distinctive voices, will return to being a columnist for the Business section. 

A 27-year Times veteran, Michael has distinguished himself since returning to Business a year ago (after a brief stint in Sports) with smart, analytical stories, many of which have been followed by our competitors.

Extreme reactions to 'Prison Glass'

"Masterful piece of research and writing, " wrote Leah Sullivan of Pasadena.

"What in the world are you people doing?" asked Jim Schupp of Los Feliz.

Readers reacted in the extreme to the "Through Prison Glass" series, a highly detailed examination of a hardened criminal, his crimes and his decades-long relationship with an intelligent, accomplished woman. Readers who followed the three-part series wondered what would happen to the couple and why she stayed in love with him. Readers who didn't follow the story had their own questions: Is The Times a place for storytelling? Was this a story worth telling, and did it belong on Page A1?

In all, more than 200 readers praised the storytelling; some 100 others complained about The Times' publishing what many called a "human-interest" story on the front page (on Nov. 30, Dec. 2 and Dec. 4). Both sets of readers had one thing in common: Many called themselves longtime readers and subscribers.

Three editors -- two who oversee choices for the front page, and one who edited the series -- responded to the readers' concerns.

"Well-written character studies of unusual people have been part of the fabric of the L.A. Times for 40 years. We realize that not all of them will appeal to all readers, but this one did strike a chord with many," said Craig Turner, weekend editor. And from Executive Editor John Arthur: “We present these stories as significant parts of the front page because they are beautifully written and tend to involve readers."

More from readers, editors and the reporter follows.

Betsy Sharkey becomes part of movie-reviewing team

The memo to Times staff from Editor Russ Stanton and Calendar Editor Rich Nordwind:

Betsy Sharkey, who has spent the last 10 years helping to guide our entertainment coverage, will refocus her skills on two of her great loves, writing and movies, in a new assignment: film critic. She'll join lead film critic Kenneth Turan to form a powerful team reviewing movies and commenting on the world of cinema.

Betsy joined The Times in 1998 as the television editor and quickly brought a new energy to the coverage, shepherding a hard-hitting series that looked at the lack of diversity in prime time. Since then, she has been responsible for the revamp and relaunch of Weekend Calendar and then became film editor, working with our critics and reporters to bolster our coverage of the increasingly complex world of movies and the constellation of stars who populate it.

Most recently, Betsy has been entertainment editor, responsible for directing the movie, television and pop music coverage and helping to launch The Envelope's highly successful print edition. She also has helped with the strategic rethinking of the paper's mission as a member of the Reinvent committee.

"Home and Away" on the comics pages

The Times is giving a new strip a trial run in the spot where "Luann" has been. Here's the note to readers that appears in Calendar starting today:

"Home and Away" joins the Calendar section today for five weeks. This new comic strip is one of four that we are asking readers to sample as a possible replacement for “For Better or for Worse,” which is now in reruns. "Home and Away," by Steve Sicula, will continue until Jan. 18. After that we’ll sample one more comic, then make a selection. Please email your comments to comics(at)latimes.com and include your name and city.

For those keeping score, yes, the game of picking a new strip is going into overtime: The editor who oversees the comics pages, Sherry Stern, says, "We originally planned to offer three comic strips for readers to try out, but we've decided to sample a fourth, which will begin after 'Home and Away' ends its trial run on Jan. 18."

John Hoeffel back on California desk, as state editor

Here's the note to the staff from California Editor David Lauter:

I'm very happy to announce the return to our ranks of a highly creative and esteemed journalist, John Hoeffel, who will move into the role of state editor. In this assignment, John will supervise the work of our San Francisco and San Diego bureaus as well as our reporters on the Central Coast, Steve Chawkins and Kay Saillant. He'll also work with reporter Dan Morain, who is taking on a new assignment that will involve statewide stories.

As many of you know, this is a return engagement for John, who worked as both state editor and local government editor in Metro before moving to the Washington bureau in 2006, where he handled coverage of Congress and domestic policy. He returned to Los Angeles earlier this year as co-director of the presidential campaign coverage. In each of his assignments, John's work has been notable for his strong news judgment, the thoroughness of his thinking and his dedication to excellence and high standards.

John came to The Times in 2004 from the San Jose Mercury News, where he worked five years, holding jobs as government and politics editor, deputy city editor and national and foreign editor. Before that, he worked for newspapers in the Carolinas and in Washington for the Winston-Salem Journal. He is also, I believe, the only person currently on the Metro staff with a degree in chemistry (Cornell, 1983). Now, he will take that wealth of experience and use it to guide our statewide staff, whose terrific journalism has long been one of the distinctive aspects of the The Times. Please join me in congratulating John on this assignment.

For one reader, a recipe for questions

Thomas Wall of Rancho Palos Verdes wrote, "I did not think I would ever write to complain about the contents of an article by S. Irene Virbila concerning how to make a turkey pot pie, but my ethics require me to do so. I am referring to her otherwise excellent article [Nov. 26].  Her writing has compelled me to try the recipe. My concern, however, is very serious. She writes, 'This year, Ralphs had turkeys on sale for 37 cents a pound...'."

"She could have easily written, 'This year, turkeys were on sale at some stores for as low as 37 cents a pound.' I am concerned that the reason Ms. Virbila identified a particular store was that the store was a major advertiser with The Times. It is no secret that The Times, like other newspapers, are having severe economic problems, but to identify their major advertisers in major stories is something that even a small local paper would, I hope, have the ethics not to do."

Food Editor Russ Parsons assures us that the inclusion of that reference  had nothing to do with pleasing an advertiser. But it never occurred to the editor or reporter that including such  information might come across to readers as a sign of complicity between the newsroom and the advertising department. 

Chapter 11 announcement

Susan March  of Los Angeles was one reader who responded to the news first announced on Monday: "Given that Sam Zell/Tribune has declared bankruptcy, will I continue to see the L.A. Times on the doorstep each morning?  What is the status of the L.A. Times?" And there was this from Stewart Resmer in Santa Monica: "I cannot imagine my mornings without the newspaper. I don't know what you all will come up with to stay such a leading part of our lives, but let me say, the morning coffee crowd is in your corner."

Others, like Hank Pierson, wrote, "Sooner you fail, the better! You are totally left wing."

Dozens of readers responded with confusion, concern and condemnation to the news that Tribune Co. filed Monday for bankruptcy protection from creditors. Readers received some answers from a note from Publisher Eddy Hartenstein published online on Monday and in the paper Tuesday. Some readers sent financial suggestions; others named specific coverage they didn't like as either the cause or effect of the economic problems.      

Hartenstein's note let readers know that the day-to-day operations won't change as a result of the voluntary bankruptcy filing, so yes, readers will continue to receive the paper and see it on the newsracks around town. Editor Russ Stanton met with senior editors over the course of the day that the filing was announced. He encouraged editors to assure reporters that life in the newsroom (and elsewhere in the building) wouldn't be directly affected. Stanton and Hartenstein emphasized to readers and staffers that The Times continues making money (today's news story says, "Before the bankruptcy filing, the Los Angeles Times projected it would make $100 million this year, down from about $240 million two years ago.").

There's no way to know precisely how many readers have commented to The Times up to this point (transcripts of phone calls to the circulation department take a day or two to make it to the readers' representative office). But as of Tuesday the letters-to-the-editor department and readers' representative office each had received about two dozen e-mails and calls, and some 20 calls had come in to the circulation department as of Monday. Below are some samples.

New assignments in New Delhi, Beijing, Mexico City bureaus

Foreign Editor Bruce Wallace announces three new bureau assignments:  Reporter Mark Magnier transferring to New Delhi; Peter Spiegel replacing Magnier in Beijing; and Tracy Wilkinson being named bureau chief in Mexico City. Wallace's memo to Times staff follows.