According to blogger Tony Castro, who cites an unnamed high LAT editor, the paramedics who responded to the call about Frank del Olmo's collapse last week were held for almost 15 minutes at the Times' security check. If those names mean nothing to you, begin here.
The California Chicano News Media Association, of which Del Olmo was a founder, has established a memorial scholarship in the LAT associate editor's name. Close to 900 mourners attended a memorial service Tuesday in Pasadena.
Update: Martha Goldstein, the Times' vice president for communications, emails that Castro's source was all wrong. "...Totally inaccurate and irresponsible. The fact is that a Los Angeles Times editor met the paramedics upon their arrival at The Times building and immediately escorted them to Frank del Olmo's office." Wouldn't be the first time that newsroom scuttlebutt turned out to be erroneous.
Uh oh, Ford must be running low on his meds again. Castro's third-hand report was mere scuttlebutt even before the Times flack spoke up. Now we have more information. Maybe he was correct, but maybe she is. As usual, the party here with the least credibility is, uh. Mr. Ford.
Posted by: Joe Gillis at March 1, 2004 01:22 AM

Why on earth would anyone automatically believe the Times VP? Why does her public relations immediately dismiss the reporting of other sources as scuttlebutt? Publicists are paid liars. Any reporter worth his salt knows this. She may be telling the truth here just like a stop watch may be telling the correct time.
Posted by: Luke Ford at February 28, 2004 09:53 PM