What kind of crazy fucked up world do we live in where a vile sycophantic punk like Brian Grazer, based on success in the entertainment business, mostly appealing to a lowbrow audience, is given reign over the L.A. "Times" editorial section?<\/p>\n
Last time I checked, newspapers were supposed to be a cut above the "Mike Douglas Show".\u00c2\u00a0 Yup, let’s get a co-host so we can gain eyeballs\/readers, fuck the news, fuck the truth, whatever it takes to move the product.<\/p>\n
Grazer is a tireless self-promoter who was not only the beneficiary of a "New Yorker" profile, but his position high on the entertainment totem pole delivered his wife a book deal.\u00c2\u00a0 This nepotism\/elitism is what the Internet is AGAINST!\u00c2\u00a0 Yet the L.A. "Times" sinks ever lower into oblivion.<\/p>\n
In case you missed the memo, the L.A. "Times" has been in turmoil ever since the wall between advertising and editorial was torn down in the name of profits.\u00c2\u00a0 Yes, way back in ’99 the paper shared the revenue of a special section on the Staples Center WITH the Staples Center.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s what Philip Anschutz needs, breaks, like he doesn’t have enough money.<\/p>\n
And if it’s not bad enough that the paper was sold to interests in Chicago, the editorial page was turned over to Michael Kinsley, who lived in SEATTLE!\u00c2\u00a0 And his great breakthrough?\u00c2\u00a0 Participatory editorials on the Web, where the public could weigh in.\u00c2\u00a0 Which they did, in pornographic fashion.<\/p>\n
God, the more we learn about the power elite, the more we find out that they’re clueless powermongers oblivious to the interests of the proletariat.\u00c2\u00a0 And the proletariat is now watching.<\/p>\n
You want to know one of the richest men in California?\u00c2\u00a0 That’s Jerry Perenchio.\u00c2\u00a0 Ever drive past that wall in Malibu, with all the greenery on the other side?\u00c2\u00a0 That’s Jerry’s private golf course.\u00c2\u00a0 Jerry’s policy? NO PRESS!<\/p>\n
Yes, he did break his rule once, when he was selling Univision, agreeing to participate in a story in the aforementioned L.A. "Times".\u00c2\u00a0 But in that same story, he told how he fired an employee for breaking his rule about talking to the press.\u00c2\u00a0 Didn’t matter that the ultimate story was positive, he broke the RULE!\u00c2\u00a0 And why does Jerry have this rule?\u00c2\u00a0 Because once you raise your head above the fray, you’re gonna LOOK BAD!<\/p>\n
It’s one thing for the inane Hiltons and Lohans of this world to party and puke all over the media, but you’d think those in power would be a bit wiser.\u00c2\u00a0 But they’re not.\u00c2\u00a0 Even though they’re on the other side of the camera, all they can say is LOOK AT ME!<\/p>\n
Brian Grazer is no Orson Welles.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s not even in the league of Sam Goldwyn.\u00c2\u00a0 But his network of friends complicit in profit cut him breaks.\u00c2\u00a0 Because they want to be included, because they want to get rich too.<\/p>\n
Should this game be ported over to the NEWSPAPER??\u00c2\u00a0 Are you kidding me?\u00c2\u00a0 Where truth is supposed to be divined from facts?\u00c2\u00a0 Shit, if you talk to these entertainment honchos you’ll find out they believe they MAKE the facts!\u00c2\u00a0 They’re not rich and powerful enough?<\/p>\n
Used to be education was revered.\u00c2\u00a0 As was making an honest living.\u00c2\u00a0 To be a newspaper reporter was an honest job.\u00c2\u00a0 Before Judith Miller metaphorically slept with the Bush Administration, and Brian Grazer got control of the voice of one of America’s largest dailies.<\/p>\n
This is a big deal.\u00c2\u00a0 What you’re seeing here is old media imploding.\u00c2\u00a0 Making mistake after mistake.\u00c2\u00a0 All of which are now visible to the public.\u00c2\u00a0 And so many made in an effort to keep up with technological change.<\/p>\n
One thing is for sure.\u00c2\u00a0 The old bosses are not going to rule in the new world.\u00c2\u00a0 Because they don’t get the new game.\u00c2\u00a0 Truth, honesty, transparency, they’re key.\u00c2\u00a0 If Andres Martinez is too stupid to see that his relationship with Kelly Mullens compromised the choice of Mr. Grazer for this position, then he should be blown out.<\/p>\n
Thank god he walked the plank.<\/p>\n
Give credit to the publisher, David Hiller, for refusing to print the special section.\u00c2\u00a0 That’s the role of a boss.\u00c2\u00a0 To keep everybody playing by the rules.\u00c2\u00a0 No man is bigger than the institution, the institution lives on.\u00c2\u00a0 This has been true with colleges and universities.\u00c2\u00a0 Will the L.A. "Times" live on?\u00c2\u00a0 Not with blunders like this.<\/p>\n
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