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Rick Flaste, the L.A. Times Features Editor who came west from the NYT with Deputy Managing Editor (Features) John Montorio a few years ago, is returning to the New York Times. Here he was Montorio's deputy in reinvigorating most of the LAT's back of the paper sections.
Montorio sent this memo to the staff this morning:
Subject: A FarewellFriends,
Rick Flaste, our Features Editor for the past two and a half years and, as many of you know, a close friend, has decided to leave the Los Angeles Times. He was one of the principal architects of the redesigned and new sections as well as an invaluable guiding light in many of the areas of our far-flung Features empire. But he's leaving the paper for a job that he feels is too good to turn down. The New York Times, where he distinguished himself for three decades, has asked him to return as an Associate Editor of the paper with responsibilities that will begin with his serving as Science Editor and then branch out into a variety of projects. Moreover, the return to the East will reunite him with his two children. I know how much he came to love and respect this newspaper and its wonderful staff. It was a difficult decision for him. I know many of you will join me in wishing him all the best.
Cheers,
John
Speaking of the New York Times, the Los Angeles magazine piece on Bernie Weinraub excerpted here on Saturday is now online. In the piece, R.J. Smith posits that by keeping Weinraub here, the New York Times shows it regards L.A. as a lightweight town.
Oh please, "anonymous," get a life. I don't know which I find more annoying: that this parochial pipsqueak presumes to tell us what constitutes acceptable diction for journalists, or that he lacks the decency and minimal courage required to sign his name to his annoying little screed.
As anyone who knows me can attest, I've been writing and saying "Cheers" (particularly in connection with alcoholic refreshment) for nearly 40 years now -- not because of any anglophilic pretensions, but because it sounds so, well, cheery. As for it being "not something EVER said in the American vernacular," apparently our anonymous correspondent is unaware of a certain hospitality-related sit-com that some 20 years after its debut continues to make the syndication rounds.
Posted by: Allan Mayer at February 23, 2004 05:39 PMAllan -- I just thought it was because you're British. Cheers! (And I say it all the time, too, in addition to "ciao.")
Posted by: Matt Welch at February 23, 2004 06:02 PMLet's get back to the subject here. What the hell is Montorio going to do without his boyfriend--I mean, the jeckle to his heckle? Could Flaste's departure have anything to do with his breakup with the chick he brought to the LA Times with him? What's her name, Micheline?
Posted by: rita at February 23, 2004 06:44 PM"Cheers," usually abbreviated, has long been used as a sign off by reporters (originally in wire messages), both here and abroad. It was adopted for brevity and uniformity, not as an affectation.
Posted by: Larry Doyle at February 23, 2004 10:02 PMIt does beat "Blow off!" for congeniality.
Posted by: Amy Alkon at February 24, 2004 05:29 AMActually, I much prefer the way Allan used to sign off his "letter from the editor" in the late Buzz: "Please buy this magazine, you ignorant West Coast sloth."
Punchy. Proactive. Profound. Cheers!
Hey, newsflash to someone named allan mayer: no one knows who you are. and the tone of you're response just emboldened my point. thanks!
Posted by: anonymous at February 24, 2004 03:31 PMi also loathe it when editors sign off with the equally pretentious `best.' if you do it, please stop.
best
Anonymous, we hope you find a job real soon.
Posted by: Amy Alkon at February 24, 2004 11:12 PMPS It seems everyone above but you knows full well who Allan Mayer is -- and, among many other things, he's a guy who has the guts to sign his name to what he posts here.
Posted by: Amy Alkon at February 24, 2004 11:23 PMFunny how many of your posts, Kevin, seem so worthy of the opportunity for some debate or intelligent discussion. Yet, often, discussion that results, such as the above, seems so infantile and 'inside blogland.'
Great site, btw. I visit often.
Cheers
Posted by: ben at February 25, 2004 02:56 PMThanks Ben. I must admit, I didn't expect this post -- which is actually pretty big, gossip-inducing news in LAT and NYT circles, and brought in a nice surge in traffic from Romenesko -- to spin off a discussion of "cheers." But there's no predicting the blogosphere. That's part of what makes life online so interesting. It also stands as another reminder that the regular readership of this blog and the core group that take the time to post comments are very different animals.
Posted by: Kevin Roderick at February 25, 2004 08:53 PM
of LA Observed
why is it that in the journalism biz, american editor types like Montorio et al, feel the need to adopt the pretentious `cheers' salutation at the end of staff memos etc. Its not something EVER said in the American vernacular but for some reason, we in the newspaper biz feel it makes us sound more british-international-sophisticated. It bugs me every time i see it.
Posted by: anonymous at February 23, 2004 03:23 PMCheers and cheerio!!