Since the change Sunday that took the weather page down to a half-page, about two dozen readers have sent e-mails and called to comment. Here is a summary of the suggestions:
Bring back various cities.
Editors are considering readers' requests to reinstate certain cities (though adding one means another will have to be removed).
- For readers bemoaning the loss of Colorado Springs, Colo., in the listings, editors note that the city is between two cities still listed (Denver and Pueblo) and say Colorado Springs’ temperatures aren’t too far off from those cities.
- Mission Viejo is still on the map, though not on the list; editors say they’ll add it to the list again (making it one of the few cities that is on both the list and map).
Bring back the daily high-low precipitation column in the U.S. and World lists.
- The list of California cities still shows information for yesterday, today and tomorrow, but U.S. and World lists now show only today and tomorrow. Editors cut the “yesterday” column figuring Southern California travelers would rather know what to expect on the day they arrive than what happened the day before. They’re thinking of resurrecting the column of information (but it would mean the loss of the forecast information for tomorrow.)
Font size:
- Some say the typeface is too small, but one reader thought fonts should be made smaller to fit in more text. Graphics editor Les Dunseith says that the font sizes are the same as before. (And the text for the listings section is the smallest option available.)
More changes based on readers' requests:
- “I think we may be able to squeeze Ventura County sunrise/moonrise info back onto the page,” says Dunseith. “We also think we’ve figured out a way to fit tiny versions of the phases of the moon on the page.”
These tweaks and other fixes based on readers' suggestions should start showing up in the paper within the next few days. Editors can be reached at yyweather@latimes.com.
(The map above was used by editors in determining which cities to keep on the weather page.)
The weather page will be streamlined starting Sunday, and there are changes as well to the Sunday comics. Both moves are to being made to save newsprint.
Details on changes to the Sunday comics pages are below.
About the weather pages, graphics department editor Les Dunseith says the news, information and listings that used to take up almost a whole page will now be fit on half a page.
In carrying out the cuts, Dunseith said, a decision was made to keep the focus on California. The lists of temperatures and conditions continues for 73 California cities (four were deleted); cuts were made mostly in the lists of U.S. cities (77 U.S. will be listed, down from 93) and international cities (37 remain; 43 were dropped). Some other features, including diving conditions and phases of the moon, were eliminated. (Those and more, of course, can still be found online.)
In choosing what to keep and what to cut, editors consulted census data and researched population trends.
Of the California cities listed, editors looked for overlap with the map that will also show cities and temperatures. The four places that ended up being cut from the page completely (Blythe, Mt. Wilson, Rialto, Santa Rosa) were either small in population or close enough to listed cities that the weather information was essentially the same. Editors kept representative locations where temperature or precipitation extremes are often noted in news stories (Woodland Hills, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, etc.)
To decide which national cities to keep, editors checked a graphic from 2007 (shown above) that showed U.S. regions from which California residents have moved or where Californians’ family members are most likely to have relocated. (The map was based primarily on IRS data.) That’s one reason the list tends to skew a bit toward the West and Northeast, with fewer cities from the Southeast and Upper Midwest.
To choose international cities, editors used census data showing the native countries of SoCal residents, and they tried to retain locations with large local immigrant populations. (That’s one reason a larger percentage of Asian cities than Canadian cities remains.)
Dunseith says the graphics department worked hard for a design that would be elegant and logical: "The ultimate goal was to make the information as helpful and useful for as many people as possible despite the smaller footprint." Readers can send their reactions and suggestions to yyweather@latimes.com.
Read on »
 On Saturday, June 6, about two dozen readers took the time to send e-mails or call The Times to complain about what wasn't there: "Why no D-day coverage in the first news section of The Times on June 6?" wrote Ray DiPietro of Rancho Palos Verdes. "I have no doubt that extensive front page coverage will be provided to President Obama's speech at Normandy in the Sunday, June 7 issue. But it is a mystery to me why the Times would not print today .... the story of the 65th Anniversary of the D-day invasion and the story of the incredibly brave men who made it happen."
The lack of coverage "is a stinging insult to all the veterans who gave their lives and those who survived the horrors of that day," Lauren Flahive of West Covina wrote on June 6.
DePietro was right about the next-day coverage: On June 7, The Times published an article about the president's speech at Normandy, France, noting the 65th anniversary of the D-day invasion. Why didn't editors make note of the history behind June 6 on Saturday?
It isn't a new question, and it isn't one asked only about D-day.
Read on »
Many readers have sent notes like this from Harriett L. Pease of Glendale: "Please do not tell me that you are no longer going to feature Sylvia Burstyn on Sunday's Los Angeles Times crossword puzzles. I have enjoyed her style for years, when she co-authored with Barry Tunick, and after his untimely death she has done an exemplary job on her own. Sylvia has a cunning sense of humor and I do miss her."
To Pease and other, the editors of Sunday Calendar say this: "Ms. Burstyn is taking some time off. We appreciate your comments and thank you for your interest in the puzzle." Sunday Calendar editor Bret Israel adds that until Burstyn returns, Merl Reagle's puzzles will be published in Arts & Books on Sunday.
The decision to discontinue Al Martinez's weekly column has brought to the newsroom e-mails and calls from dozens of readers. Here is a note that California Editor David Lauter has sent to many who have written: Russ Stanton forwarded your message regarding Al. You and I may not agree on the subject, but I'd like to explain our reasons.
As everyone knows, we're in the midst of the worst economic slowdown since the 1930s. Newspaper revenue, which comes overwhelmingly from advertising, is way down and is likely to drop even further over the course of the year as stores go out of business and those that remain cut back on the number of ads they run. As a result, we have to find ways to economize. And that means we have to make difficult choices. As California Editor, I've been happy to have Al's column in my section. He's a good man and a fine writer, and he's been part of the Times for many years. But my primary mission has to be news coverage. So when I'm looking at the budget, I have to weigh Al's column against things like keeping our Sacramento bureau operating to tell you and other readers what the governor and legislature are up to, or reserving money to buy fire gear to protect our reporters and photographers when they are in the field covering Southern California's repeated wildfires.
Read on »
 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."
Read on »
 "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.
Read on »
Readers have homed in on three facets of coverage when it comes to Proposition 8:
- Before the election there was an ad that popped out, literally, at latimes.com readers as they perused the editorial board's stands online.
- Just after the election there were complaints that the newsroom called the vote too soon, and wasn't giving adequate coverage to those who were protesting the results of the vote.
- In the days since have come complaints that the coverage is trying to make Yes on 8 voters look bad.
Read on »
 As a post on this journal noted in early October, one spot on the comics pages is serving as a place to test-drive comic strips that might replace "For Better or for Worse," whose author semi-retired in August. Here's a note that appears in the Calendar section today:
To Our Readers
“Luann” joins Calendar today, one of the comics we’re letting readers sample as a possible replacement for “For Better or for Worse,” which is now in reruns. Through Dec. 14, we will run “Luann,” by Greg Evans. After that we’ll sample one or two more comics, then we’ll make a selection. Please send comments to comics (at) latimes.com.
Here's the post from August when the "For Better or for Worse" announcement was first made.
Luann (and Puddles) courtesy United Features Syndicate.
All Thursday, people have filled the lobby of The Times' headquarters downtown and stood in lines going down both 2nd Street and Spring Street. They wanted a piece of history in the form of the Times' front page announcing Tuesday's election results.
As today's news story reported, newspapers nationwide have met the extraordinary demand for Nov. 5 editions by printing hundreds of thousands of extra copies. As Times Editor Russ Stanton said in the piece, people "want to savor this moment in our nation's history." The savoring included throngs waiting in the lobby and honking in their cars outside as people bought copies of the election day edition. They also purchased glossy copies of the front page and replicas of the plate that was on the presses the evening of Nov. 4.
Jack Klunder, president of the Los Angeles Times Newspaper, was in the lobby himself much of the day, talking to those who were buying papers -- by the dozen in many cases. Klunder says The Times has sold an extra 232,000 copies, and will be printing more as needed. Plans now are to keep the lobby open for sales from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday.* Updated information: The hours on Saturday have been changed, and the lobby now will be open for sales 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo: Rod Warren, 32, of Burbank, crosses 2nd Street after buying a stack of reprints of Wednesday's post-election Los Angeles Times edition for 50 cents each. People bought newspapers in huge numbers Wednesday, a day after the historic election of the nation's first black president. Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times
|
|
Readers' representative Jamie Gold has worked in the readers' representative office since 1999. She was appointed readers' representative in 2001.
