Letters

—Frank Ordonez
Pasadena

WILDLY INACCURATE? AHEM . . .

Regarding Jennifer Hodges’ letter on my Considerable Town article [Letters, May 23–29]: Not only did I identify myself to the entire party as “Johnny Angel, an L.A. Weeklyreporter covering this event,” I also re-introduced myself to Ms. Hodges after the Kerry phone call and asked her if she minded answering a few questions. I also asked her to write down her exact title, which is still in my notebook and appeared verbatim in the original copy.

And the quotes?

In her words, she said that KPFK deliberately acted as a gadfly “even when we’re wrong” because no one else would, and that their audience was (in her words) “aging hippies that don’t realize that politics has changed.”

Some “news anchor/writer” — anyone who doesn’t know that what they say will be reprinted by an identified reporter without the original vocal timbre or nuance knows nothing of the written word.

—Johnny Angel
Los Angeles

WINNING WORDS
(AND PICTURES)

Work by L.A. Weeklywriters, designers and photographers is vying for honors in two contests — one local, the other national. This month the Los Angeles Press Club announced the finalists in its annual contest, among whom are several L.A. Weeklystaff members and contributors. Max S. Gerber was nominated for Best Photo Essay for “The Scientists Among Us” (November 1, 2002); Howard Blume and Dennis Dockstader’s “Degrees of Deceit” (July 19, 2002) for Best Investigative/Series; Kateri Butler for Best Headline; Ella Taylor for Best Reviews and Criticism; and Erin Aubry Kaplan for Best Columnist. In addition, the “Go Food Summer Restaurant Guide” (July 19, 2002), edited by Deborah Vankin, was nominated for Best Special Section. Winners will be announced on June 21.

The L.A. Weeklyis also up for three awards in the annual Association for Alternative Newspapers contest. John Powers was nominated for Best Arts Criticism; Bill Smith for Best Cover Design; and, again, Max S. Gerber for Best Photo Essay. Winners will be announced at the AAN convention in early June.