Poynter Online
Go


Top Story

Public TV, Radio Stations to Increase Local Investigative Coverage
Most Recent Articles
1.Poynter's Times Publishing Co. sells Governing
5:15 PM Nov. 20, 2009
2.Recommendation for Fewer PAP Screens Sure to Set Off Controversy
10:32 AM Nov. 20, 2009
3.Gene Patterson to Jack Nelson: Save Us a Desk Up There in That Celestial Newsroom
7:03 AM Nov. 20, 2009
4.Public TV, Radio Stations to Increase Local Investigative Coverage
6:19 AM Nov. 20, 2009
5.Woods: Plagiarism Never Justified
3:47 PM Nov. 19, 2009
Most E-mailed
Recent Comments
Recent Tags
Community Activity

Poynter Training
Poynter Seminars
Small, in-person training experiences.
1.
A New Curriculum for a New Journalism - Jan. 6-8, 2010
Apply by November 23
2.
Multimedia Journalism for College Educators - February 1-5, 2010
Apply by December 14
3.
NewsU: Write Your Heart Out: The Craft of the Personal Essay - January 25-February 19, 2010
Apply by January 4
News University
Today's most popular courses on NewsU, Poynter's e-learning site for journalists.
Webinars
Our online classroom is just a click away. Learn more.
All Webinars

Poynter Forums

View Forum Post

Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 8/22/2008 3:09:50 PM
Title: Sacramento Bee drops ombud position
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
DATE: August 22, 2008
TO: Communications Group
FROM: Cheryl Dell
RE: Public Editor

This note is to let you know about a change that we will be publicly announcing next week. Effective September 1, Armando Acuna will move from the position of public editor into a new role as associate features editor in the newsroom.

We are making this change as part of our ongoing restructuring, a process that has involved a constant focus on our mission and the priorities that serve that mission.

The public editor role has been a valuable part of The Bee's operation for several decades. Armando has excelled in the job since 2005, and the change reflects in no way on his performance. Instead, the decision acknowledges several realities, the most pressing being our company's need to focus our resources on newsgathering, advertising sales and customer service. We are examining every position with an eye on these priorities.

Times have changed since the era in which many ombudsmen and public editor jobs were established. Readers now have multiple ways to be heard within the newspaper and in the community. Bee journalists are accessible via email, and we publish their phone numbers as well. Our story comments let readers complain openly about parts of coverage they do not like. Newspapers in general have become more accessible to the public. Most recently, Editor Melanie Sill has been writing a weekly column as a way to converse regularly with readers. And I interact with readers via phone or e-mail virtually every day.

In the newsroom, Armando will report to Features Editor Cathie Anderson and will work with her in guiding our reporting and shaping our coverage. He also will work on occasion with coverage in other parts of the news operation.

Armando began his career in 1973 as a reporter with the San Jose Mercury News. He worked there for 12 years, covering state government, City Hall, politics and other issues. He also worked for the Los Angeles Times for 15 years, including stints as that newspaper's Sacramento bureau chief and city editor of its San Diego County edition. Armando briefly worked under former Gov. Gray Davis as an assistant secretary for the State and Consumer Services Agency before joining The Bee in 2000 as deputy sports editor. A year later, he was promoted to sports editor.

Armando's last column will appear Aug. 31. Please join me in thanking him for his fine work as public editor and wish him continued success as he rejoins the newsroom.

View Complete Forum Topic

Username
Password
New User? Signup Now
Poynter Careers
See All Jobs
Add Your Resume
Post Your Job
Become a Member
More media jobs