The Lynetts are on WVIA-TV right now

Sorry this wasn't posted in time to call in your favorite questions. Kudos to the TL for running WVIA's laudatory press release about the Lynetts (breaker boy, Pulitzer Prize, fourth generation) almost word for word. Great journalism, fellas!

Pa. Superior Court hears Times-Tribune libel/shield law case

The justice will decide later what trumps: the state's shield law or the right of libel plaintiffs to vigorously press their cases. In the middle is the newspaper, which published a story that two ex-county commissioners claim is libelous.

Michael Race of the Times-Tribune wins statehouse reporting award

Kudos to Race, who won an award from "the Association of Capital Reporters and Editors." The small item in the Scranton paper does not say who judges the award.

Woman charged with harassing WNEP employees

She sounds like she might be off her rocker. What goes on in the mind of a woman who claims to be related to Joe Meyer and Marisa Burke?

A little late, here's the story about how Bill Kelly will ask the tough questions

Kelly must not be interested in lively television if he's interviewing the TL's Richard Connor and the Lynett family on separate weeks rather than in one big happy family. Also in a very positive story by Rory Sweeney: Connor calls the pissing match with Times-Shamrock, largely dormant in print since Matt Golas left, "demeaning." Matt, wherever you are, zing!

Get ready: the TL' Rich Connor to take calls Thursday on WVIA

Connor will be on WVIA at 9 p.m. on channel 44. Call (800) 326-9842. It's going to be the highlight of the week.

Connor to write regular Sunday TL column; for his first topic, he chooses Elvis

Elvis is still popular! And he's been dead a long time! Amazing insights. Next week: Remote controls are complicated.

Set your VCR: Richard Connor to appear on WVIA-TV on Thursday

The TL editor and publisher will field questions from Bill Kelly, WVIA boss, at 9 p.m. Of course, one of Kelly's bosses on the board of directors is Bill Lynett of the Scranton Times. Will they be softball questions? Or hard-hitting? Tune in to find out.

The Big Vopper in The Wall Street Journal

Saturday's Wall Street Journal carried an op-ed piece that referred to Bartinicki v. Vopper, the Supreme Court case -- possibly the most memorable and important First Amendment case to come out of NEPA -- involving former WILK talk-show host Fred Williams, a.k.a. Fred Vopper. In brief, Williams played on the air a tape of a Wyoming Valley West teacher's union negotiator talking on his cell phone about blowing off the front porches of board members. Someone had illegally taped the call on his police scanner and given it to Williams. The negotiator sued Williams, alleging violation of wiretap laws. The Court ultimately held that the First Amendment reigns supreme.

Click above for the first couple paragraphs. For the rest, you'll have to pay a dollar at the Anthracite News Stand. Or Leo Matus.

Read a summary of the case from Cornell Law School

TL's FOI lawsuit against Luzerne County now in judge's hands

The TL alleges that the Luzerne County commissioners broke the law when they voted secretly by phone in June. The commssioners say it was a poll, not a vote. Judge Mark Ciavarella has the case. Will the TL's regular beating of the local judiciary come back to haunt it?

Local boy is a top editor at Field & Stream

This won't do much to fuel the TL vs. CV fires, but it's a nice story about a guy from Dimock (Susquehanna County, halfway between Montrose and Tunkhannock, I had to look it up) who made it big in New York City writing about fishing.

Still no word on the new secret TL owners

The Nichole Dobo/Tim Gulla CV story made Romenesko's media news Web site.

Connor: If you have a question, call

In the last legs of an AP story about local newspaper ownership, Richard Connor says he's just a phone call away.

More tales from the TL kitchen

Copy editor Michele Harris appears in the newspaper talking about sauces with Mary Therese Biebel. Cameos by "Ron," "Rory" and other TL staffers.

Local deep pockets buy Fox 56, WB affiliate in W-B

The stations, WSWB and WOLF, had been in bankruptcy court. Two men currently or formerly with Parente Randolph and Martz Trailways are behind the $55 million deal, Dave Janoski of the TL reports.

Tim Gulla's CV story about the topic

Another one bites the dust: TL circulation boss out

He's being replaced by a guy from Hazleton, according to a TL story/press release without a byline. No comment was apparently sought from incumbent Donnell Giles, who is done today.

Love all over: Stephanie Kanavy of the Scranton Times and Mike Sadowski of the Pocono Record

The couple is engaged. Again, congratulations.

Kristie Grier ties the knot

It was an all-star TL cast when former Weekender editor Kristie Grier married Matt Ceruti. Congratulations.

Audio clip of Connor talking about taking over as editor

In case you missed it, here is an audio clip from Tuesday of Connor talking about Matt Golas and about taking over as Times Leader editor.

TL production boss out

Brett Shoemaker quit or was fired earlier this week, the CV reports. Update: The TL, in fact, reported this on Wednesday in its story about Connor replacing Golas.

TL lawyer says they won't fight subpoenas, except Iseman says they will

Two papers, two stories. In the TL (click above), attorney Ralph Kates says the newspaper will allow Ed Lewis, Dave Weiss and Terrie Morgan-Besecker to take the stand in the Hugo case. In the CV (click below) Dave Iseman says the newspaper will likely fight the subpoenas, which is newspaper custom. The CV is still on the fence on how it will respond.

CV story on Hugo case, media subpoenas

TMB, Dave Weiss, Ed Lewis subpoenaed

The subpoenas of the three TL reporters are part of DA Dave Lupas's effort to get Peter Paul Olshefski off the Hugo case. Lewis is being subpoenaed in his capacity as a CV reporter. How will that work?

Burying the lead: Connor says he and Golas would kill each other

Or something like that. The second-hand quote is in the 99th graf of Renita Fennick's gloves-on story about how Matt Golas got fired. Nichole Dobo's story in the CV was unremarkable except that she could not reach Golas for comment even though he lives four blocks from the paper.

TL owner will work as editor and publisher

Golas fired from the TL; Connor takes over as editor too

Will we ever find out how Matt Golas did playing the ponies? This makes the third editor in a year and a half in Wilkes-Barre.

TL staff editorial sending Pat McHugh into the sunset

Farewell, Pat McHugh. We hardly knew ye.

It's official: Rich Connor takes over the TL

The $65 million deal was sealed Friday afternoon, Renita Fennick reports.

Alan K. Stout will miss Pat McHugh

Another positive sendoff piece. Is someone counting these?

More of the McHugh lovefest, and an invitation to Times-Shamrock journalists

Intriguing. Buried in the last legs of another McHugh canonization piece (we love his laugh!) is this line: "We’d love to give local, seasoned journalists a shot at working at the best newspaper in Northeast Pennsylvania. You know who we are talking about. Spice up your work life and give me a call." Have others at the CV and Scranton Times been in talks with Golas? Is Ed Lewis not the last to change teams?

Making it legal

The good people of Towanda won't tolerate any living in sin. So before George Lynett's son moves up to Towanda with his girl to be the publisher, they better make it legal. Two days after his appointment was announced, his engagement is announced. Katey Lisk is also a Times-Shamrock employee. The big day is Sept. 2.

Second-quarter radio numbers are in

Note that the only radio guy quoted by the CV's Mary Ondrako is a former Times Shamrock employee.

More on McHugh

TL editor Matt Golas continues his sendoff for publisher Pat McHugh with another newsroom note.

Ed Lewis joins the TL!?!

Matt Golas, in his newsroom note, reveals that the Ed Lewis whose byline is in the newspaper is THE Ed Lewis of the Citizens' Voice. How often does this happen? How did Ed's departure play out on North Washington Avenue?

McHugh: "This is not a resignation"

Then it's a firing, I guess. The story was tops on Romenesko's left-hand rail this morning.

Here's the Voice's weak story:

New TL owner returns to post as publisher

Here's the Matt Golas newsroom note on McHugh's departure:

Morning note: Who is McHugh?

McHugh out at TL

Rich Connor will take over as publisher. Now, if he could just sell that McMansion....

The TL´s Golas goes after the CV, accuses it of yellow journalism

TL editor Matt Golas uses his Monday newsroom note to really beat on the Voice, calling them minor-leaugers and worse for a Sunday Voice house ad trashing the TL. The Voice piece is not online, not surprisingly.

Former CVer, TLer injured in softball accident

Len Brussock, who worked at both Wilkes-Barre newspapers for a total of 48 years, was umpimg a softball game when he was struck in the face with a bat. He´s lost the sight in one eye.

Times-Tribune biz page blows the publishers

A story (two, in fact) about a new service that is coincidentally owned by the Scranton Times-Tribune: "When mWIRE launches Monday, consumers will be able to call an automated telephone service, leave a message of what they want and how much they will pay, and several merchants may call back with offers.

“This service turns the Yellow Pages on its head,” said Matthew Haggerty, mWIRE project manager for Scranton-based Times-Shamrock. “Here, all you have to do is make one phone call and let the merchants compete for your business.”

Jesus. And people wonder why the Lynetts have a bad journalism reputation with some people.

Here´s the sidebar to this fine business journalism:

Local search´s launch part of broader trend

Another turn in the TL´s FOI suit in Hazleton

The newspaper has been trying to get ahold of the test scores of police officer candidates in Hazleton. The city has resisted, and has been joined by the state FOP.

Tom Mooney, we hardly knew ye

Longtime TL reporter and copy editor Tom Mooney retires, and Mike Liechty throws a party in his honor. Read Steve Mocarsky name-check Mary Therese Biebel, Jerry Kellar, Joe Soprano and Dawn Shurmaitis.

Best. News. Ever. Casey Jones starts blogging

When Casey Jones starts blogging, you know the end is near. Check out the first one at:

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/breaking_news/15038812.htm

TL: Kingston mayor´s lawsuit is full of crap

At least that´s what TL lawyer Ralph Kates says.

Former TLer Chris Doyle promoted in Florida

Doyle, who worked at the Times Leader back when, is escaping DeKalb, Ill. for a VP´s job in Naples, Fla. Kudos.

Ch-ch-changes in Scranton, a Lynett moves to Towanda

The general manager of the Towanda paper is the new general manager of the Scranton Times-Tribune, succeeding Hal Marion. As part of the same deal, George Lynett Jr. moves to the GM job in Towanda.

W-B paper breaking the balls of the Scranton diocese

The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader is going after the Scranton diocese big time. Coincidentally, The Scranton Times and the Lynett family has always had a reputation as apologists for the diocese. The series seems to imply that the diocese has gotten a free pass up in Scranton. The series also takes pains to point out that TL editor Matt Golas and publisher Pat McHugh are Catholics. Read the stories and post what you think.

Read the TL stories

Old Sunday Independent publisher ticked that his paper didn´t get a mention in TL

Harp Heffernan writes in that the TL didn´t mention the Sunday Independent in his history of NEPA recently. Sorry, dude. Maybe you shouldn´t have sold out.

Catch up on the news in local radio

with Mary Ondrako, the radio columnist who once referred to "jass" music. This week: The polka and bocci shows on WNAK are moving but not disappearing.

Local leaders grit their teeth, tell TL how happy they are to be in a two-paper town

Of course big shots are going to tell the TL they are pleased with the continued existence of the TL. Of course, if they said anything else, their asses would be beat in print for weeks.

TL letter writer: We need a two-paper town in Scranton

Another lover of the TL writes a letter to the editor.

Goodbye Brian Malina, Tom Mooney at the TL

Malina is leaving for a nonprofit and Mooney for retirement, Matt Golas reports in his newsroom note. The TL is also hiring, he said.

It's confirmed: $65m for the TL

At least that's what Reuters says. Kudos to Renita Fennick for getting the right number days ago. Now, if she could only find out who owns the newspaper....

Incremental news (again) in CV libel case

The TL scooped the CV on its own libel case the other day. A turn-of-the-screw story on the case of Thomas Joseph, who the Voice allegedly made look like a wise guy.

How the CV did it

What hotel? Classier than the Host Inn?

How the TL did it

Read the Matt Golas newsroom note. Also, here are his words from Marketplace on NPR:

Matt Golas is editor of the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.
He says a different storm is prompting residents to
take action.

MATT GOLAS: "In the wake of Katrina, people take this
more seriously. They saw what happened down there. In
this case though it's not a hurricane, it's a
slow-rising river. It's one of those things where a
few feet will make a difference in millions of
dollars."

TL, CV, abandon downtown offices

The Voice will be working out of Scranton and out of a motel; the TL will be working out of a motel also and printing in Philly. The CV will print at the Times-Tribune plant in suburban Scranton.

Most of metro W-B ordered evacuated

THe mandatory evacuation includes everyplace that flooded during Agnes in 1972. Downtown Wilkes-Barre, home to the Voice, the TL, the TL printing plant and the WBRE/WYOU office on South Franklin Street. The order was issued an hour ago, but the TL still doesn't have it on its Web site. Kudos to the sleepy CV for getting it on their site in a timely fashion.

UPDATE: Matt Golas was just on Marketplace representing the "Time Leader," according to the newsreader.

Connor bobbin' and weavin' when it comes to his co-owners of the TL

New managing partner/owner Rich Connor says he can't say who the owners are, but promises they won't interfere in the news operations. Right.

Oops!

Nothing like misspelling the name of the new owner's daughter on Page One to get things started right.

Incremental news in CV libel case

Some more evidence has been added to the case. Probably could have been briefed out.

Web flood coverage so far: crap

This will change in a few hours, when Web pages are updated to reflect Wednesday's editions. But at the moment there is little coverage of what could be the worst flooding since Agnes, even though locals and diaspora alike have been aware of the impending doom since late Tuesday afternoon.

Every news site should already be full of reporting, photos, and video clips. Not later this morning, not this Sunday. Now. Here's how things look at 1 a.m.:

Voice: F. Flood? What flood? No mention on its site. Amateur hour.

TL: Lowest possible D-. Nothing on the main page but glee about their new owner. If you drill down to the 'breaking news' section, news of the mandatory evacuation of South Wilkes-Barre is stuck in the police briefs. No photos or video. Only the Voice's low standards saves them from an F.

Scranton Times-Tribune: C-. Two bylined stories, one of which is pretty good. Some links. But no photos (just one thumbnail) or video or audio.

WNEP: C+. They've got a great slideshow (130 pix) of viewer shots. That's what people log on to see. It's inexcusable that the papers don't have the same thing. NEP also has a few stories, including a good roundup.

WBRE: D+. A couple stories stating the obvious (it's flooding!) and that's it. Their grade was improved with the story about two people drowning in Hazleton, a story no one else bothered to report.

WYOU: F. Nothing but a list of evacuated streets. Why bother even having a Web site, fellas?

Eff you, "strongman boss Tony Ridder"

Leading off with the Matt Golas newsroom note crowing about the sale, here's today's news:

Photos of the staff (many newsroom people pictured) while Rich Connor speaks to the TL newsroom (audio clip + slideshow)

Rich Connor really beats up on Tony Ridder

Staff editorial (retread of yesterday's)

An excellent, if positive, profile of Rich Connor by Joe Butkiewicz

Renita Fennick's mainbar

Tom Mooney, who is retiring Friday, writes about how he fought to get on to Connor's 1980 TL

Rich Connor tells the staff about why he bought the newspaper (audio clip)

Connor talks about battle with the CV, then and now

Pat McHugh announces the sale of the newspaper to the staff (and leads a round of applause for Renita Fennick!)

From outside the TL....

That strikebreaker Connor is back in town, Tim Gulla at the CV reports

Uh-oh: Connor tells the Voice he won't identify the local investors

Nichole Dobo of the voice writes a history of the TL and particularly the strike era

CV staff editorial: We're local, we will always be here for you

The AP's Mike Rubinkam writes about the sale

Done deal: Former TL publisher Connor buys the paper

There's all kinds of stories this afternoon. We'll round them up here. As of 3 p.m., the Voice didn't have a story on its Web site. Typical.

TL editorial: Eff you Lynetts, and p.s. we'll be better now with the 'corporate shackles' off (?)

A brief history of the TL

E&P credits Renita Fennick's reportage

The Scranton Times used Mike Rubinkam's AP story

EARLIER: Detailed Fort Worth Star-Telegram story abour Richard Connor and his bid to buy the TL

Joe Butkiewicz writes about the life and times of Rich Connor

Renita buys it: TL sale to the Lynetts isn't going to happen

Is Renita Fennick just reading tea leaves or does she have the inside dope? Time will tell. Still, the press release-style remarks from TL department heads ("The best word is ‘wow,’ that’s how I’d sum up the work of our team,” said Susan Kahlau, the Times Leader’s vice president of advertising") was unseemly.

CV to spend $1.5m on press upgrade

Obviously, some people are taking this as a sign that the Lynett bid for the TL is DOA. Time will tell.

TL says Walzer lawsuit is full of it

It's all boilerplate from the TL in reply to former editor Allison Walzer's lawsuit. One interesting note: The TL has hired a Philly firm, not a local one, to defend itself against the suit.

Read the CV's report, a day late

A bit of evidence added in Joseph/CV libel case

Incremental news in the libel case that businessman Thomas Joseph filed against the CV.

Rumor: Someone is hiring for a new newspaper in Scranton??

I'm calling bullshit on this rumor, which started on a Scranton politics message board. Here is what someone wrote lat week: "Believe it or not, this came from a non-political friend who also hates the [Times-Tribune]. She's a staffer at Penn State and came across job placement ads for her students. They are looking for reporters, circulation people and whatever other jobs a newspaper needs. 25 jobs to be exact. It's for Scranton and area according to her."

Penn Staters? Care to add some insight to this?

Scranton Times turns blind eye to suicide of famous husband of local woman

Many people read about the suicide (shotgun to the head + anchor tied to an ankle) of Phillip Merrill, publisher of Washingtonian magazine as well as namesake of the Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. You may not have known that he is married to a NEPA girl, a fact Terry Bonifanti reported in Saturday's Scranton Times-Tribune. Strangely, though, the newspaper omitted fact that Merrill killed himself. Bush league.

Read the Washington Post's thoughful and sensitive story about how friends are shocked at Merrill's suicide

Golas to TL newsroom: You're the best

Also, other KR people tell Pat McHugh that they think the Times Leader is very well written. There are still other KR people?

TL continues with Sunshine Law suit

The Times Leader is still fighting Luzerne County over its vote to stop reassessment. It's a Todd Meyers story.

Friday was the last day at the TL for Todd Meyers and Mike Buffer

Towns editor Todd Meyers is headed to Pittsburgh and reporter Mike Buffer to Vineland, N.J., editor Matt Golas reports in his newsroom note.

Stop the presses: Religion columnist to stay at TL

Steve Corbett drops off the face of the earth and no one said a word. A priest from Hazleton who writes weekly column for the granny set -thinks- about leaving and it's cause for non-stop coverage. Regardless, rest easy, folks: Father Bob Timchak will continue to write about Catholics for the Times Leader.

Matt Golas writes about how Sandy Snyder looks at him and about how everyone (not just the papists) loves Father Bob

Consolidation at WYOU/WBRE

One guy, Ron Krisulevicz, will replace news directors Frank Andrews Shimkus at WYOU and Paul Stueber at WBRE.

Union at Harrisburg paper is dead

Unionized newsroom workers in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, take note.

Plains Township woman loves the TL

Another letter from a mournful reader. Where are all the letters that say "good riddance?"

"No feature writers wanted"

That's the headline on journalismjobs.com from those "hard-core" newsmen at the Bloomsburg Press-Enterprise. "If you dream of working at a daily paper where the reporters and editors love hard news, this is the place," reads the ad.

On Thursday's front page: "DANVILLE — More motorists downtown are getting pinched with parking tickets thanks to the police department's new summer intern."

Newspapers are profitable, according to local biz story

Unfortunately, Jeff Sonderman's Scranton Times story about the lucrative nature of newspapers makes no mention of the owners of -his- newspaper, the Lynett family. Typical.

The companion story leads with quotes from... an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal. The story is filled out with interviews with current and former Scranton Times employees about how bright the future of daily newspapering is. Business journalism at its worst.

Alan K. Stout takes a look back after a year at the Weekender

Even the Weekender is muckraking, Alan K. Stout reports, because it did a story about boob jobs.

Former TL publisher Rich Connor still interested in buying the paper

There was another tour of the paper Tuesday, the story notes, but Jerry Lynott didn't know who was on the tour.

CV says BIlly D. indictment makes its allegedly libelous story OK

Judge Mark Ciavarella will rule on whether the Voice can add Billy D.'s indictment, which was unsealed after testimony in the libel case ended, will be added to the record.

Former TL designer Rob Fucci checks in

Fucci, now back in Massachusetts, is praying for the TL.

Louis DeNaples talks with the Scranton Times

The Scranton Times published Sunday a huge package about Louis DeNaples, the "Dunmore businessman" who is reputed to be the man behind the man when it comes to everything in northeastern Pennsylvania. DeNaples is trying to get a slots license, so it's now in his interest to talk with the press about how clean he is. Tough journalism or puff piece? Read the stories and discuss.

TL newsroom thinks Times-Shamrock sux, deluges Gary Pruitt with e-mail

Missed this story yesterday afternoon from the AP's Mike Rubinkam on how the TL is the last kid on the playground.

Iseman writes of the bureau, lesbians, and gargling

But not of Times-Shamrock, McClatchy, or Knight Ridder.

Letter writer: I love the Times Leader

Connie Storer of Wilkes-Barre is the author

The TL's story on how it's the last KR orphan

Interesting tidbit from the story: Renita Fennick states as fact that Pat McHugh is leading a group of bidders. Though McHugh is quoted in the story, no one asks him about it.

The upshot of all this: the TL can now claim to be Knight Ridder's flagship newspaper.

WYOU down to five reporters

This comes from Beale's Bites, an excellent NEPA television news blog.

Read the TL's lawsuit against Skrep and Vonderheid

The TL published the text of the suit on its editorial page. There you have it. You do wonder why the commissioners would want to continue to keep Luzerne County in 1965.

And then there was one

Wilkes-Barre always has to be special, right up to the end. McClatchy has sold off all its unwanted newspapers except one: The Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Is there a bidding war? Or are there any bidders (at the minimum price) at all? If you were expecting any insight from the TL business staff, your expectations were misplaced.

Stacy Brown of the Scranton Times gets a plug

Having met Stevie Wonder qualifies as newsworthy in Scranton, since a reporter for the Times was written up for his connection to the Wonder family.

TL goes after Luzerne County in FOI suit

Despite all the hot air in the Walzer regime, it seems like the TL has really ratcheted up its FOI vigor in the Golas regime. This time the target is a potentially illegal vote on the part of the Luzerne County commissioners.

Was Sembrat a virgin?!?

The Delaware County (Pa.) Times has a sweet tabloidish story about TL sports writer Steve Sembrat, who got two to four years Monday for trying to hook up with a little girl he met on the Internet. The little girl was a cop. Not to ruin the story, but a couple highlights:
-- Sembrat "raised a handcuffed arm to wave at a colleague from the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader"
-- "the defendant was quoted as stating that he never had a sex partner"
-- He never, ever, ever thought about tying up young girls and having sex with them until 2004.

Sembrat gets two to four years

Terrie Morgan-Besecker makes the trip to Media to write the last story of the man who, when accused of soliciting sex from an underage girl, confessed. To Dave Iseman.

Steve Corbett, en espanol

Sure, it's a year old. But read a story that a paper in El Salvador wrote about former TL columnist "Steve Corbett, columista de Santa María Time, ha escrito columnas desde que el juicio de Michael Jackson dio inicio en la corte de Santa María, California."

The words "Renita Fennick" appear on Romenesko

Very exciting. Let's just hope Renita has a job by the end of the week.

TL is hard-hitting, CV easy to read while pooping

That's the Sunday morning insight on the TL letters page from Dick Holodick of Wilkes-Barre. Are these letters for real?

Diamond City editor: We love our bosses

"He's young, hip, and one helluva motivational speaker," Gene Padden gushes of CV publusher Scott Lynett. Of the CV: It's "a strong paper with a loyal readership." Quite a love-in down in Wilkes-Barre.

McHugh leading group to buy TL??

The plot thickens. Saturday's TL cites an anonymous source who reports that publisher Pat McHugh has an assembled an ownership group of Philly money to buy the TL. Be sure to read the comments on the official TL discussion board at the bottom of the page.

Todd Meyers, Jon Fox quit the TL

Two more bite the dust: Meyers, the city editor, and Fox, the Wilkes-Barre City Hall reporter, are departing for greener pastures. Matt Golas doesn't say exactly where in his newsroom note, but Meyers will be doing PR (where?) and Fox will be working for an outfit in D.C.

CV letter writer: I like two newspapers

Idea: The CV closes while the TL lives on

Interesting, Renita Fennick. Interesting. Recommended reading.