May I interest you in another meeting?
Finally: The Bee's editors are letting you into their super top secret meeting to discuss what goes on the paper's front page....every day! You're not busy at 2:30pm, are you? From executive editor Betsy Lumbye:
Now you have a chance to be part of the discussion. I'm inviting readers to join The Bee's editors in our daily 2:30 p.m. meetings where we discuss the front page.
That's when we hear what's going on and what the top stories are likely to be. In that meeting, we try to narrow the choices to eight or fewer stories that we'll keep an eye on. We continue the discussion throughout the day and evening, but this is our primary meeting.
If you'd like to participate, please call my assistant, Kay Soares, at (559) 441-6409 to arrange a time. It's best if you can come for a week or even a few days to really understand the process.
There is, however, a price of admission: You must share your opinions.
Whether you join us or not, you're welcome to e-mail me with your thoughts. I'll give them serious consideration, and I might use them in a future column. This column shouldn't be the end of the discussion.
Betsy Lumbye is executive editor and senior vice president of The Bee. She can be reached at (559) 441-6207 or blumbye@fresnobee.com.
We applaud the openness of the idea but worry the Bee's request that you clear an hour every afternoon for a week to chat about the news of the day might attract a, uhm, certain type of person (not that there's anything wrong with the Barbara Hunts* of the world. We need them, and their fabulous hats). If only there were a communication tool, that connected people, that they could use at their convenience, possibly from their desks at work...
If you decide to attend an editorial meeting, we'd love to hear about it.
*Ms. Hunt is a commendable citizen of Fresno and a frequent commenter at City Council meetings. She wears fabulous hats.
having been clocked at:
I do about 40 to 50 wpm
35 to 40 with dictation and 'recopying,' type stuff,
-can go up to 60 wpm, when just 'typing while thinking.'
(I was a former contract and legal secretary over in NY,, ---but the girls who really could cook, could mop the floor with me, (they ran around 65 to 70wpm with very very few mistakes...)
--and then there are the spellchecques, endless gutting and refining, (sometimes folks might catch me here revising stuff right in front of them, spooks 'em a little..)
-and all those revisions in the name of,,, '...do I really want to say it THAT fiercely, --or do I really want to declare the deepest, darkest, most sincere passions and thoughts ---at this particular time, ---and in front of the whole electronic universe...
(sometimes I just erase everything I have slaved over for hours, and simply write, '..have a nice day.')
--pleasure to meet you 'ghost,' ---I've enjoyed your posts, btw...
-pax
Hey there!
I'm no trendy hipster, and I read Fresno Famous!
P.S. You must be a fast typer there, romeovid!
...handful of trendy hipsters
...um, I don't know if you are referring to those who frequent Fresno Famous as a 'handful of trendy hipsters'... but if you are, you are sorely mistaken.
I for one, benefit from this site, read it religiously, --and trust me, am neither trendy, nor even slightly hip.
-Attend any event that has been seriously promoted by this site.
-Attend any event that has been merely advertised by this site.
(And they will let anyone advertise and promote, provided it's legit, ethical and will benefit folks.)
--You will find a tremendous crossection of everything from serious polititians, professors, students, professionals, artists, outcasts, dorks, the old, nerds, moms and pops, ---as well as the gorgeous from Riverview.
Our discussions range from the inane, to the meaning of life, to where to get something decent to eat, to issues that deeply affect individuals and communities all through this joint, (including beliefs, politics, and health care.)
One of the most tremendous aspects of this site, --(and the team that runs it, (Jarah may be the chief, but she has a crew as well, and they are ALL severely talented,)
-is that they are unique in that they give ANYONE a voice, ---encourage them to both speak out and to listen, to do so honestly, --and to get them to think and care about their town(s).
This is unheard of, considering how vital the site is, and how unique it is, -most folks would begin to tighten borders, and allow only 'approved or cool,' to be a part of it and contribute,
--what has Jarah done?
-TOTAL OPPOSITE,
--she actually removed the stipulation that you had to be 'registered and sign' in to comment or contribute to any of the threads and postings -anywhere on the site-(as evidenced by your less than ballsy posting as an unregistered 'could be anyone' signature.
---Her actions not only show a trust in the community (which exceeds Fresno, (-I've actually had folks write me from clear across the country who were reading my stuff on FF,)
--But it also takes a lot of guts.
Further...
FF serves to be the main thread that we all have in terms of the arts, politics, music, social issues... you name it.
It's how you find out what is going on around here. Period.
Jarah and her team have bent over backwards not just to keep this thing unbiased, -but welcoming to anyone.
-That is brutally difficult, and the woman deserves a hell of a lot more credit than your comment fronts.
There are FEW people who I have met who (not only)talk a lot about presenting and nurturing culture -but then proceed to do way more than they say, with skill and professionalism.
She has talent, ability, and persona,, -not to mention vision and insight way past her years. -And she is not the least bit 'over the top,' in her presentation as person.
-Whether you are a big deal coming in for a few shows at an arena, ---or some poor schlub who can't carry a tune in a bucket while playing a guitar,
-Jarah can and will support your efforts, and try to make the situation presentable, enjoyable, -and worth your coming out.
(...I found this out in person when I actually ran into the girl not at some boardroom, or classy place full of Fresno's 'Beautiful People,(I think we have some, yes,,, I do..)
---but she was taking tickets and putting a magic marker x on my hand for a venue that was mostly shy pimply faced kids, in what used to be an old diner, (grease included,)...
I doubt she had anything to gain from it,,
-other than to see it go well, because she cared about it being a successful launch, and to provide a nice time for those who were there...)
Despite what may seem like some sort of public declaration of love for an individual,(nope, I hear the girl's quite spoken for, and, besides, nearly young enough to be my daughter.)
-It IS recognition declared for a person who may just be single handedly facilitating and causing a renaissance to be able to communicate with itself, -and happens to be growing in scope each day.
--though she strikes me as a very modest person, She (and her team,) are accomplishing a tremendous thing for this valley, and it's future.
-all while managing to juggle and support a ton of folks, (not classified as 'easy,' -in terms of communication styles... (myself probably one of the more difficult.)
Some day, folks here will have the opportunity to really compare what has happened in Fresno,
-(not just in the arts, but in terms of neighbornood building, business building, social growth,
-and the comparisson will be Pre and Post 'Fresno Famous,'
-which would mean Pre and Post Jarah, Suzi and the rest of them...
-Whether you like it or not, you are going to have to admit that the weather changed, -as well as the topography,
--because of a girl who (maybe,) stands Five and a half feet tall, wears small glasses,
--comes across a little on the quiet side,
-but is extremely talented, promotes others, -and DEFINITELY knew what she was doing,
-cared about this place like it's a friend, and manages to then convey THAT to each individual she's communicating with, and communicating for. (---for free...)
I agree with earlier posts.
'..lovin gives a thrill, but it don't pay the bills...'
-Hire the girl as a consultant, pay her some money,
-and maybe learn something.
-(Because you can bet the Bee (and a lot of others,) are looking at FF, and thinking,
'...that's an awful lot of people on that thing, --how do we get a piece of that action???'
--and that's ALL it is.
Bee???
(FF loads and is running on my computer in a matter of seconds, 'boom,' I'm in touch with ANYONE on it, ---(including those who run the thing faster than I can type,)
-and I type fast.
Half the time 'the Bee'site takes forever, won't load properly, is obscenely long to negotiate, -and once I get to where I'm going -it rally wasn't worth the effort.
(-so it stays an occasional .50 purchase at the paperbox.)
-Face it, the local media is getting it's ass kicked by TWO GIRLS, who don't even have that on their to-do list.
-they just know what they are about, have vision, listen, stay focused, and are setting the course in how people communicate on tons-o-levels both here, -and on sister sites that are using this as a blueprint.
'handful of trendy hipsters'
your perspective: belittling, shows zero insight, and is incorrect, (change it.)
-and don't let the door hit you in the behind on the way out.
look at every newspaper site
Newspapers are at a point where they need to adapt to the internet. The Bee is just doing what most every other newspaper is doing: adding web content. I.e. blogs, calendars and podcasts. The fact that Jarah has been doing that here really isn't a factor. The Bee is a mass medium that has to attract all types of readers. Not just the handfull of trendy hipsters.
on second thought
maybe that hard hat with suds holders and tubing to the mush, might be in order...
(could cobble one together, paint it flat black, and have sequined Fresno Famous logo sides to it...?)
-the lady's gotta go in style, fellas.
----and if the Bee has good writers, how are we to know?
-It's not like it's the Daily News vs the Post, -or Star Ledger vs. Courier News... (sorry, didn't mean to get East Coast Tri-State on ya.)
All I see in the val. is Bees.
(and when you're the only car on the track, you look fast no matter what.)
Oh puhleeez?
I didn't say FF invented these things, FF just did them before anybody in town. Maybe The Bee would have eventually come to these things but FF was ahead of the curve and The Bee DOES read FF so to think they haven't been influenced by Fresno Famous is naive. Also, Jarah always gives the Bee credit when warranted (links and what not).
The Bee has many talented and creative people but my real point was the Bee needs a Jarah type around more than Jarah needs to sit in with them and feed them good ideas for free.
Moving on...sorta: I knew a topic like this would bring N.L. out of the valley dust storms. Dorktown would only sit in on a Fresno Bee meeting if we're allowed to drink beer the whole time.
Would never happen in Bakersfield
Such a scary topic... would never happen in Bakersfield. Maybe the guys on Dorktown would be good for those meetings of the high-fallutin' and news opinion worthy...
Oh yeah
Because nobody ever had a blog, calendar or podcast on a site before Jarah. Please give me a break. Considering the amount of content FF links to from ABC 30 and the Bee...
Hey, Jarah, Watch out
I think Betsy is just courting Jarah to hang with them so they can "mine" some more idea's from her for the Bee's website (interactive calendar, blogs, podcasts and so on).
Jarah, don't get into any Bee brainstorming sessions without a signed contract from them saying they will pay you for being a creative consultant. If you don't, I may have to turn you into the Bloggers Union - if there was such a thing.
--------------------------
http://www.dorktown.net
(pssst, if you do go...)
-I'd not wear a hat...
-well...
if you do,
I'd NOT wear the following:
-one of those hardhats with the holders for a can of suds on either side,
-or-
-the kind that have those, like, muppet hands sewn to them, (with the little string that you pull so they clap...)
-but I think it's still okay to wear the red foam ones that look like a crab or lobster, (with the little rolley eyes, smiling face... -love those...)
Hey, Jarah, Why don't you
Hey, Jarah,
Why don't you come and see for yourself? You don't have to come for a whole week, but you ought to sit in for a few days just to get the hang of it.
How about it?
Betsy
um, uh.
er, Jarah?
-this is a nice memo and all, but what's the context of this?
(--and what's the deal with the lady with the hats..)
(--and did you go to these things?)
-just trying to get a grip on the nature of the posting...
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