Follow the link at right for the audio slideshow from this morning's meeting – F-22 Raptors at the Skyfest preview.

Although the F-22 Raptor, the newest Air Force fighter aircraft has been around for a few years, the 2008 Skyfest is the first time Spokane area residents will get to see it fly. Major Paul Moga, a Raptor pilot, talks about what the Raptor means to the Air Force. He will fly the 12-minute demonstration flight at Skyfest. Produced by Jesse Tinsley

Ella's Supper Club closing

Last call for Ella's? In this week's cover story, 7 writer Isamu (Som) Jordan investigates. Video produced by Thuy-Dzuong Nguyen

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Duncan takes over jury questioning: Such drama so far, and with more details developing, editors said there will probably be even more drama. Some editors wondered when the case would get national attention because of how strange it is, but then again, Duncan is "just a psychopath who spent most of his adult life in prison" – not Michael Jackson.

Editors really liked the bright colors here:

Workers from Belfor Property Reconstruction pull insulation and sheetrock out of the lofts in the upper floors of the Joel building Wednesday August 6, 2008. Christopher Anderson photo, The Spokesman-Review. Read the story: During Joel cleanup, businesses moving on

A few slices from the Voices

• City officials move to save farmland: Council seeks acreages in Latah Valley
• Residents ponder what's next: Myers' Mobile Home Park closing after dispute with city
• Owner breathes life back into pet llama: mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a tall long-necked furry creature that is choking.

Coming up

An update on a cat hoarder, update on a powwow, and Doug Clark and Mayor Mary Verner will be on the air today with Rebecca Mack, during the 11 a.m. to Noon hour – AM 790 KJRB.

A handful of people have called in to lobby for The Spokesman-Review to remove their names from the diploma fakes list. One man called to say everybody in his town thinks he's a fraud - He argues that his name should be off the list because he bought a diploma not for himself, but as a birthday present for his wife. No name removals, city editor Addy Hatch and editor Steve Smith said - The list comes from the government and S-R just happens to be one of many parties with a copy.

Kudos

Maggie Smith, 8, and her sister Mary get a shower after their dog Holly takes a dip at A.M. Cannon pool Tuesday evening. The pool was celebrating its last night of swimming by allowing pet owners to bring their pooches for a swim. Rajah Bose photo, The Spokesman-Review

Coming up

Doug Clark will be writing about his experiences during Night Out Against Crime, where his original idea was to hang with the mayor and the police chief, but unexpected things happened... ("At least they didn't Taser him," Smith said, "That's always my fear.") More details in Thursday's Doug column.

Videos

Produced by Colin Mulvany

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Produced by Nick Eaton

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The Spokesman-Review is on the air with Day 2 of the new talk show, On The Record with Rebecca Mack at 790 KJRB from 11 a.m. to Noon. The show does not stream but the whole thing will be archived online all day until the next broadcast. Editor Steve Smith will be on the air shortly to talk about whether the newspaper industry is dying - he's sitting outside the studio right now and the "On Air" light is up. For those of you who remember Mack, she worked with Mark Fuhrman on his morning show.

Added at 11:22:
The first caller ever - John - calls in to ask wouldn't it make sense if the Spokesman-Review had a separate, bigger section for public input, "by the way, I'm campaigning for state senate--"

Added at 11:26
At which point they cut to Smith to answer the original question, including a little background information on how letters to the editor are selected. e.g. one letter per person per 30 days, 200 words limit, no bold endorsements or thank yous, issues of substance, no libel and slander, no insults...

"That doesn't leave much," said Mack.

Kudos

• For Blue Angels, a time warp: NAS Spokane veterans recall dazzling '50s shows
• Candidates focus on quick relief from high gas prices
• Legislature candidate could cause stir: C.J. Rose, who is openly gay, challenging Harwood
• Damaged cell phone? Spokane shop's business picks up during lake season
• Then & Now: Zach Gourde
• Doug Clark: Potty products purveyor giving casino royal flush
• 5 things you should know about sunscreens

A refresher: Nine newsroommates were given the task of restocking a newspaper's content. In a nutshell, the question was if you could make a newspaper from scratch, what would be inside it? The resulting proposal went in favor of content that is local, relevant and socially-rewarding. The report came out a couple weeks ago but the addendum was finalized by this past Friday. Here's the final report in question, from the most recent task force (PDF, 12 pages excluding title).

The addendum, which is a proposed beat list or "head count," can be downloaded here (PDF)

FYI for transparency purposes, Daily Briefing was on the draft team.

Kudos

MULTIMEDIA: For yesterday's "New call to arms" story about the National Guard training in Yakima, reporter Jim Camden and photog Rajah Bose drove out to the training grounds for a double feature, for print edition and audio slideshow.

FROM COURT: Also interesting, editors said, the latest Boise report (Betsy Z. Russell) on Joseph Duncan acting as own attorney.

LIVE TODAY: Rebecca Mack is on the air right now! AM 790 KJRB. Photo below is Mack interviewing reporter Jim Camden. For future reference, you can call in during the show and share your thoughts: (509) 232-0790.

In other newsroom news

The new phone system went live this weekend. Which means if readers try to phone in for whatever reason, and something weird happens on the line and we lose them, our apologies.

"[The phones]'re working - we just don't know how to use them," deputy city editor Dave Wasson said.

Recently, The Spokesman-Review began installing a new telephone system. Slick black telephones each with a total of 33 regular buttons, two pairs of scroll buttons and a color welcome screen.

Each phone loads six lines and has four ringtones. Users will be able to transfer, "park" and conference-call, and make calls or check voicemail using matching computer software. And then inevitably, someone in the building will call the Help desk when they accidentally change their menu language to German.

"Nobody ever call me – ever," said S-R morning radio man Dick Haugen. "Send an owl."

The new ringtones will make the newsroom sound like a spaceship:

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In addition to collecting a round of kudos from the regular meeting-goers, editors asked around among the high school journalism camp participants - Anybody pick up and read the paper this morning?

One student said she'd read the story about teacher sex abuse allegations

Another read the story about the fat cat.

The "By the Numbers" breakout item on page 1 of the Northwest section got some attention too.

And at right, another classic Plonkavision shot featuring partial people.

“It’s perfect weather for cheerleading”, says Bellrose High School cheerleading manager Karen May-Healey of Alberta Canada, July 31, 2008, as her squad and a handful of local and regional teams descended at Gonzaga University for 3 days of instruction and fun. Brian Plonka photo, The Spokesman-Review

Shazam!

Also today's big blowout package is Spokane7's Acoustic Explosion, our biggest ever, with video interviews with and exclusive performances by each featured musician.

This leads into the big acoustic event, taking place at Empyrean Coffee House on Saturday and Sunday evening.

For the schedule and more, check out the story and multimedia at spokane7.com/explosion.

Making paper flowers

Produced by Andrew Zahler, this video accompanies this week's edition of the Homemaker column

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• Housing loans bite regional banks: Statements, stocks suffer as builders, developers default
• Pilots from around the world train in ... Davenport? Contains photo slideshow.
• Paisano strikes chord: Indians outfielder rediscovers touch
• Divorced candidate promotes family values: Court records include claims of abuse from ex-wife of 4th District's Matt Shea
• Learning language of gardening: Spanish class at Villa Vista blends lessons with farming
• Happy in his work: Darrell Jones, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, has been baking at Donut Parade for 35 years

Dog + goggles

Custom trailer lets dogs come along for the ride

Cosmo, a 5-year-old poodle, gets his Doggles fitted to his face before taking a ride with owner Chris Nielson on July 18. Dan Pelle photo. The Spokesman-Review. Read the story

And coming up

In this week's 7 coming Friday, an Acoustic Explosion online multimedia package - because this year we're launching video clips of interviews and performances with these seven singer/songwriters. Stay tuned.

Spokesman-Review head honcho Stacey Cowles held the first of a series of publisher's meetings this morning.

Of new developments, there's not a whole lot that can be shared publicly (business strategy and new projects and such). But here are few general points:

• We are a news-media company, he said, as result of a switch from thinking of the S-R as strictly news-paper. The overarching theme in this meeting was for multiplatform and niche marketing - bringing people or advertisers the information or audiences they need, to whatever device or access point by which they approach The Spokesman-Review, extending reach and diversifying investment.

• Revenue is still falling like the rest of the industry, but the number of readers/viewers actually consuming the information remains very strong, Mr. Cowles said. Readership surveys indicate an increase over the past few years, in people consuming S-R content. The question is how to monetize those viewers/readers on different platforms, or how to sell those audiences to advertisers.

• New radio show with Rebecca Mack starts next week - 11:00 a.m. to Noon every weekday - The show is called "On The Record." More information available from the Radio blog.

• The new redesigned Web site will launch, to the public, right after Labor Day weekend. The site will allow user accounts, browsing by tags, drilling down by subject, a smarter search function, more emphasis on multimedia, and commenting on stories and other items - among other features.

Due to content evaluation

but word is the editors watched the audio slideshow from Sunday. The story is here: Early July freeze tempers wheat farmers' optimism

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Kudos for multifaceted fire coverage, editors said. (Structural engineer to survey Dorian; Post Street closed, Wall reopened). S-R had news online slightly after 6 a.m., with an item for the radio broadcast at 6:30. Story ideas started coming in and content providers flowed in and out of the building. The resulting package includes a second-day story, building history, annotated timeline, narrated photo slideshow, map, graphic/diagram of building, raw video and produced video. Read Assistant managing editor Carla Savalli's discussion thread at News is a Conversation

If you haven't seen it already, check out this week's 7 cover story, photos and cover photo illustration by Rajah Bose:

The Inland Northwest tastes different nowadays. Once dominated by the corporate restaurant culture, the local food scene now finds itself gorging on creative, chef-driven eateries where freshness and experimentation are the norm. Read more

Staff brownbag meeting was today at noon. Editor Steve Smith went through some industry realities, and made some announcements - including plans to aggressively overhaul existing humans/schedules/tasks/management to more effectively feed different platforms such as online, radio and mobile. Senior management hopes to have a restructuring plan in mind by Labor Day.

"Print will not sustain our newsrooms, and if it doesn't sustain our newsrooms, then it can't sustain our journalism," Smith said. He explained the idea of having a "niche" publication, in the sense that S-R will probably have to become one. By "niche": Smith and assistant managing editor Carla Savalli think S-R may be headed toward a smaller newspaper, targeted to engaged/smart readers, possibly fewer than 7 days a week, probably narrower page width, and being part of a more diversified series of revenue sources for the S-R as an information company.

The industry, the economy, and other variables are bringing S-R print circulation down regardless of the news content of the newspaper, Smith said. He also went through some statistics for print and online, emphasizing that S-R should give people the information they want on the platform that they want it, as an information company.

In short, there are weeks until possible job loss, he said. "We make this work, or some of us won't be here at the end of 2008."

But one staffer asked, how do we do more platforms with fewer people, especially if for example the Online revenue has not yet matched the Print edition revenue amounts? "For the promise of future revenue," he said. His strategy right now is in diversifying the investment and to keep trucking until the revenue grows.

A murder victim | New jail? | Tribal salmon | Be pigeon-proof | Idaho min. wage

Foodies: For food editor Lorie Hutson's canning series, she went through and passed the master food preserver course (which involves homework, take-home tests, and a whole lot of studying), and includes her becoming a master canner, whom editors today called "MC Lorie."

There's also a staff meeting later with editor Steve Smith and friends.

The story can be found here: "Preserving foods can be a lot easier if we do it together"

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Today's iSalon was a gathering of reporters and editors who wanted an opportunity to ask editor Steve Smith some questions about his panic-inducing blog posting on Friday. Here's a snippet:

In the SR newsroom, we MUST understand and then embrace the notion that print is no longer our primary focus. As advanced as we are in the digital delivery of news (and this conference confirms for me that we are ahead of the industry curve, as innovative and progressive as any newsroom ), we are still too print focused.

We need to devote FEWER resources to print. Our editors ned to spend far less time worrying about print. And all of us need to be focusing on how to improve and expand the scope and quality of our digital news and information (and that includes radio).

In this week's iSalon, Smith and Savalli again strongly emphasized the need for aggressive change in the production, management and delivery of content (including room for growth in the social networking venue), giving more attention to digital content. This includes the possibility of rearranging staffing and schedules to suit multiple platform needs, overall changes in newsroom "lifestyle," Smith said. One of their goals, they said, is to integrate Online and Radio as platforms that can supplement the print revenue for The Spokesman-Review, kind of like diversifying your investment, but mostly we "cannot afford not to," Savalli said.

The concern among the newsroommates was that the revenue from the S-R's online media cannot sustain the staff of the newspaper yet, and that a major switch to online would kill the newspaper's revenue stream if the print product has to suffer from such a diverting of resources.

Smith announced there will be a staff meeting on Wednesday where everybody will talk some more, but meanwhile they assured others that the quality of S-R journalism will not be eroded - it'll just be in a different format.

Other notes: There is a content revision task force right now (the report is due Friday). S-R can expect more research groups for other topics, similar in design to the Efficiency and Content groups. There could be task forces later for "integration" and revision of management style, Smith said.

Some answer-less questions that came up (these were questions from staffers during iSalon)

• How do we know what people will want, if it doesn't exist yet?
• What would be the result of diverting resources from print to online?
• Would enough people be open to getting their news through a phone?
• What do you do with reporters and other content providers who aren't sure where they fit in, with this change?
• To what end do we radically change?

No Daily Briefing probably for most of the upcoming weekdays, due to task force for content overhaul.

Muppet thoughts!

In other news, the S-R published its first same-sex wedding announcement today (Wedding: Anderson-Warehime). Anderson and Warehime are both Spokane area residents.

One reader called to object because it is a same-sex wedding, and some readers might even cite grounds that this couple did not marry in Washington, but "Fundamentally, they're married," features editor Ken Paulman said, and that it's not the role of a newspaper to make any judgment. Announcements for same-sex marriages are published in the S-R with the same page layout/treatment as different-sex marriages.

In other notes, folks are glad that wedding announcements have not gone to a paid-model like obituaries, allowing for writing and fact-checking by a newsroom staffer.

Five-pack of thin slice kudos

Spokane's Kyle Higgins misses a hit to left field in the second inning at Avista Stadium in Spokane, Wash. Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Rajah Bose photo, The Spokesman-Review

Coming up

The latest on Google's medical records project.

And Spokane7 writers Isamu Jordan and Dan Webster will geek out about comic book heroes and graphic novels.

Their list is not likely to include Gonzo the Great, but...

Just in time for the content evaluation team (Task force #2) which starts tomorrow at noon, deputy city editor Scott Maben brought in a tabloid-size publication from The Salt Lake Tribune for show and tell. called The Buzz (click image to enlarge) is a free afternoon paper with quick news capsules that are short enough to be consumed in a matter of minutes or seconds - perfect for a commuter on a short bus ride who won't have time to read a whole story, or perfect for reading out loud to your carpool mates.

Or maybe perfect for drivers.

"They can't talk on the phone - They may as well be reading," said photo editor Larry Reisnouer.

Thick slice kudos

TODAY'S FIRE STORY: Pit smoldered before wildfire: Surgeon left blaze on vacant lot unextinguished for days, official says. For this story, one reader wrote to ask why the S-R story identified the person on whose property the fire began, Tracy Berg, and also included her street address. One editor suggested that if the fire began with a couple of young troublemakers, we would include that information just the same - the fact that Berg is an upstanding citizen shouldn't make a difference in reporting the facts, he said. Although another editor said on the other hand, there are a lot of people angry about the fire, who would be angry at Berg. City editor Addy Hatch or managing editor Gary Graham hope to post a reply soon on this topic for Ask The Editors. Kudos to reporter Parker Howell, editors said, for studying mounds of maps, charts, and other data for this story.

DR. TEETH: State records dental-related deaths, injuries: As joke, features editor Ken Paulman suggested some sexy New York Post-esque headlines such as "Death in the dentist's chair!" and "Is your dentist killing you? An investigative report!"

JOHN BLANCHETTE: On the latest Zags' soap opera: Our walking sports encyclopedia's take on the Austin Daye knee surgery.

ECONOMIC WOES: Fed says higher inflation is coming: "It's harder and harder to find anything but grim news," said deputy city editor Scott Maben who handles the business section.

CHEESE: Cold facts can keep food safe: Fridge tips go a long way toward taste, efficiency, too. Neat insight on how the French view refrigeration, and why they can keep their cheese in the cupboard. Here's an excerpt from this story by Carol Price Spurling:

Some foods lose quality when stored at cold temperatures, due to alterations in their chemical structures. Unless you have some kind of insect infestation problem, don't refrigerate tomatoes, potatoes, onions, unripe fruits, bananas, chocolate, nuts, baked goods (unless they are cream or custard filled), honey, or vegetable oils (except olive oil and nut oils).

Flour, cornmeal, wheat germ, fresh peanut butter and maple syrup are some foods that you might not normally think of storing in the fridge but will keep longer if you do.

Certain condiments are shelf stable and do not need to be kept in the fridge, although chilling will extend their life in most cases: molasses, soy sauce, mustard, vinegars, and jams. Read the rest of this story

• Inspired by tragedy: A calling to fight fires: Editor kudos for this story about a volunteer firefighter who took part against the recent Dishman fire.
• Then & Now: Patrick McKay still has a lot to 'ad'
• Now everyone can listen up: Technology enhances hearing in large rooms - about a cool new hearing aid feature
• Spin Control 2.0's take on the second day of the New Yorker cover with the Obamas
• news brief about Gozzer Ranch (scroll halfway down the page) in which we provide the name of the mother of a girl who is a potential sexual assault victim. S-R does not identify victims of sexual assault (with extremely rare exceptions?) but editors wondered this morning because people who know the mother might know the girl.

Newsroom News

Editor Steve Smith has called together a second task force for brainstorming.

Remember the eight-crew from newsroom efficiency study? That first group looked at structure and workflow and the arrangement of humans. Now a second group will be looking at newspaper content. Given a blank sheet of newsprint (etc.) what would you put in it and why?

Grover finds out that newspapers have words!!

After much anticipation, the eight-person newsroom efficiency study team held a Q&A session today about their report, which is now available for download. Their newsroommates had anywhere between 20 and 30 questions to ask about the report. Scroll down for them - but keep in mind that the questions and answers were about a newsroom structure that does not exist right now.

"We don't pretend that this is the answer," said producer Andrew Zahler, one of the eight, emphasizing that this is only a starting point for idea-storming.

There's been both support and criticism from inside and outside the newsroom during the brainstorm process, in which eight younger staffers were asked to conduct a massive efficiency study in 11 days and within a few open guidelines.

"If it's any consolation, they got rid of all the assistant managing editors," joked assistant managing editor Carla Savalli when someone brought up concern about idea of moving and transferring the staff.

THE ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS
The study was about how news content is produced, the involved publishing steps, how it gets to the outside world, and whether there is duplication of effort or lack of steps. The reason editor Steve Smith chose younger staffers was that they have less of a 'stake' in newsroom structure and are less attached to 'institutional memory,' he said at an earlier meeting. They were told to not eliminate any sectors of coverage (Voices, Business, for example), can't eliminate the print newspaper product, must conform to Spokane Editorial Society (union) requirements, ratio of editors to reporters should stay the same, can't hire or fire anybody.

PROBLEMS THEY WANTED TO SOLVE:

» Work pile-up at the end of the day as the news team approaches newspaper printing time (bottleneck)
» A decrease in amount of casual idea-bouncing conversations between reporters and editors
» Need for better communication among publishing platforms - print, radio, photo, multimedia

AMONG THE MAJOR SUGGESTIONS IN THE REPORT:

» To convert the S-R to a Noon deadline, like an afternoon paper, instead of having an evening deadline
» To have a universal grouping of copy editors, and more of them, who edit each story and trim them to size for layout and publishing on the page
» Grouping all reporters into one major category, so that a features reporter or a neighborhoods reporter can write content that is used in any or many sections ("desegregation of content" - Carla)
» Flattening the hierarchy to remove one 'level' of management
» Combining photo and multimedia staff into a Visuals department to share talent

Click in for the questions...

Read the rest of this entry »

Mid-size conversation this morning about the ombudsman column this weekend about conflict of interest. In this column, S-R ombudsman Becky Tallent made phone calls to clear up a rumor that reporter Becky Kramer has conflict of interest in covering Silver Valley property owner issues. A rumor which is not true. Editor Steve Smith said that normally a rumor by itself would not be worthy of newspaper coverage, but in this case he said things worked out.

Other notes from the morning

• Progress made on local fires (about the Valley wildfire)
• The river journey begins: Becky Kramer paddles the Spo-River. Smith asked whether it was ok that the river forum is sponsoring the trip - City editor Addy Hatch says it's fine because the river forum has people from a wide spectrum of groups, so it's a well-balanced info clearinghouse and not a corporate sponsor. They're also not funding the trip - They're just bringing people together.
• David Ryfe, on faculty for the journalism school at University of Nevada - Reno, will be floating around the newsroom for a few weeks for observation and poking.

More fun for your eyeballs

And these "Finding the Frame"s are great pieces we don't do enough of. By Colin Mulvany.

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In other newsroom news

The newsroom efficiency study is officially done. The report can be downloaded by clicking right here. Some key proposals:
- to convert the S-R to earlier production deadlines, like an afternoon paper
- combining photo and multimedia staff into a Visuals department
- Universal desk of copy editors, who edit each story and trim them to size for layout and publishing on the page
- Combining "city desk" news coverage with neighborhood news micro-coverage, so that the Voices and the main S-R can share content

To give an idea of the resulting news coverage for the Valley wildfire that started yesterday: Tomorrow's edition will have content coming from at least six different reporters, each tackling a different aspect of the Valley wildfire. We'll have story text and photos, maps and charts, and slideshows have been posted. Outside of those six people, there were photojournalists and mobile journalist(s) who went out there yesterday. More later.

Unable to find his missing deaf and blind dog, Jim Gibbard is escorted from his burning house at 9700 E. 24th Ave. in Spokane Valley by neighbor Jeri Hughes. Photo by Colin Mulvany, The Spokesman-Review

Valley bureau secondary maestro Jeff Jordan talked about packing up and evacuating his family yesterday, taking along family photographs and their six best bottles of wine. He noticed that many of his neighbors took "horses, guns, classic cars and boats" when they left.

Meanwhile a handful of reporters and photojournalists are out following evacuees to follow up on the aftermath, getting more details, personal accounts and photos. Please stay tuned - the breaking news desk will post updates as more information is available.

Page B1

Managing editor Gary Graham gives kudos for the story and photo on the softball team visit - word from reporter Mike Vlahovich, his editor said, was that the girls lined up for a couple hours to get autographs of our stars.

Tressa Radach, 12, from front and her friends Haylee Orozco, 11, and Hailee Bishop, 12, all from Moses Lake, get a close look at their idols, the 2008 Olympic Softball Team during a match against the Spokane area all-stars at Franklin Park in Spokane, Wash. Thursday, July 10, 2008. Photo by Rajah Bose, The Spokesman-Review. Read the story here

Spring comes to the trails

Outdoors editor Rich Landers said the pika in his photos (small rodent in the below slideshow) was "meeping." The pika is basis for the Pikachu. Pika is pronounced PAHY-kuh, like pica - the typographical unit of measurement or the eating disorder.

Watch for the pika and the giant marmot. Narrated by Rich Landers and produced by Colin Mulvany.

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but we like to poke fun of it too. Reporter Jim Camden says it's to determine whether "our stories are so hot, they're radioactive."

Fresh and sweet

Just released for this afternoon, this week's issue of 7 features local ice cream. Read it online here.