After 47 years and thousands of bylines, retiring Times staff writer Eric Malnic sent the following email to his Metro colleagues and left the Spring Street newsroom to a standing ovation:

From: Malnic, Eric
To: yyMetro
Sent: 1/16/2006 5:23 PM

 
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For the newspaper disinclined, there's hoary history behind the end-of-story symbol. I'm told that at last week's in-house going-away gathering for Malnic and other staffers, the cake inscription referred to their faithfull service. Guess they need to copy-edit their cakes (see second item) better.

Also: Former Times reporter (and Time magazine correspondent) Edward J. Boyer joins the Los Angeles Daily Journal today as city editor. David Houston has been promoted to LADJ managing editor.